Page 55 of Power of Shadow

The very thought stings. I’m to blame for this situation; that’s true. But I don’t want her to be afraid of me.

These thoughts are unbearable, so I bang my head against the wall. I have to find her and explain everything.

Determination tenses my muscles.

After a swift and complete wash, I hop out of the shower. A moment later, I’m standing in a fresh shirt and new tailored pants.

The paperwork waiting for me makes me sick, but I have to take care of it. Evil never sleeps, money never waits.

I walk to the office, but as I head for my desk, something stops me in my tracks. A song playing in the club below reaches my ears. I’ve heard it before, but it’s not the melody that stops me; it’s the lyrics.

’Cause I’m feeling like a ghost

Drifting

Through the shadows of the night

I’m waiting for you

Through the shadows of the night.'

A few blinks, and I understand. I just know...

Instead of going to my desk, I slowly walk to the gallery window. On the east stage, directly opposite me, she stands in the shadows. My Shadow. In all her glory, wearing a mask. She looks into my office window like she knows I’m here, as if she can sense me. Even though she can’t see me.

Admit it, she’s got bigger balls than many men.

What would happen if someone recognized her in that mask? Why is no one—not even my security guards—reacting to this? Do these idiots think it’s part of one of the girls’ costumes? And who let her in there in the first place?

Questions pile up in my head, and I don’t have an answer to even one of them.

More importantly, Shadow is coming to my club. She’s coming to me. And that means...

She already knows who I am.

I shake my head. For a moment, I can’t believe she’s here, but I should have expected it. She’s wicked smart. And that alone turns me on like hell.

She’s standing down there waiting for me. My blood boils when she continues to look at me and starts swaying her hips.

“Fuck.”

I rush to the door like a hungry dog, run down the hallway, and without patience pound on the elevator button. God knows why I’m not using the stairs, but if I turn back now, I’ll only lose more seconds. I can’t afford that.

Finally, the door opens, and I’m on my way down.

Even so, it’s too slow.

When the door opens again, my eyes instantly find her.

A small smile appears on her lips. She reaches her hand out toward me and beckons me with her index finger and I, like a lovesick mutt, follow her. I’m totally powerless against the thread that connects us. This feeling—

The same song begins again.

I don’t know how she organized it all and how many people around me she bribed to make her stand here at this very moment. All that matters is that she’s here. I’ll deal with the rest later.

When I stand right in front of the stage, I swallow hard. As if hypnotized, I just stare into her green eyes. And when she sways her hips in ever wider circles, tempting me more and more, my eyes can’t leave her body.

Green eyes...