Page 28 of Dancing for the Minotaur

“Stop calling me that!”

Terra yanked the curtain open, looking for help. Of course Marty wasn’t outside or anywhere near the VIP Lounge as far as she could see. She was on her own.

She hurried out of the lounge and down the hallway, half expecting Orlov to come after her. She didn't stop until she reached the dressing room.

Candy looked up as Terra came through the door. Her anger and terror must have shown on her face because the younger girl was worried at once.

“Whoa. What happened?”

Terra shut the door behind her and locked it.

“What are you doing?” Crystal asked.

Terra didn't answer. Her hands were shaking so hard she could barely work the lock.

“Terra?” Candy's voice had lost all its teasing. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

It came out harsher than she intended but she didn’t care anymore. She just wanted to get out of here. She wanted to go home and be sure that her babies were safe and that no one had bothered them.

She crossed the room and grabbed her purse, preparing to leave.

“Did Orlov do something?” Candy asked, wide-eyed.

“Yes.” Terra said shortly.

“What?” Crystal wanted to know.

“He threatened me and stalked my kids.” Terra still couldn’t believe it.

Candy and Crystal couldn’t either.

“Oh my God, that’s horrible!” Candy gasped.

“You have to tell Marty!” Crystal added.

“Why? So he can ignore me some more?” Terra demanded.

She tore open her purse and began digging through it. For one panicked second, she couldn't find what she wanted and she thought maybe she'd finally thrown it away.

Then her fingers brushed stiff cardstock, and she pulled out the white business card.

TAUREX

Intergalactic Imports

The local number was printed beneath the name.

Terra stared at it.

Taurex could see into her mind when he touched her–that still frightened her.

She didn't understand the connection between them or why her body reacted to him the way it did. She didn't know if she trusted him and she certainly didn't know if taking a job from a gigantic alien who apparently thought she was somehow “special” was the smartest decision she'd ever made.

But she knew something now that she hadn't known two nights ago–she couldn’t go on with this line of work any longer.

Stripping had always been a dicey choice, but it had put food on the table and clothes on her kids’ backs. Now, however, it had put them in harm’s way. They were in danger because of her stripping–she had to end it here and now and never look back.