Page 4 of Allegiant

Darkness yawns before me. It’s a never-ending pit threatening to swallow me whole.

I let the final dagger fly into the center of it.

It doesn’t go away.

Time to find a different way to disappear for a little while.

It takes no effort to find my smile. It’s never far away, even if it feels like it is.

Mr. Tall-and-Handsome is staring at the target, mouth slightly agape. My smile deepens as I sashay over, stopping in front of him. “See something you like?”

His eyes slide to me, and he jolts. I must’ve caught him off guard. My grin deepens as I slip into the familiar pattern of flirting. “I saw you watching me back on the dance floor.”

He smirks. “Who’s been watching whom?”

God, that voice. It’s rough and smooth at the same time. I want to hear it whispering dirty words in my ear while his big hands pin me to a bed.

I cock my head, running my gaze over his outfit, totally unsuitable for a nightclub. “It’s that coat you’re wearing. You look…hot.”

He runs his eyes over me. “You look…hot, too.”

I swipe at my forehead, knowing that’s not what he meant. Not what I meant either, but I love the game we’re playing. “Thank you. Knife throwing is a lot of work. Takes a lot of…stamina.”

Fuck, I hope he has enough to keep up with me. Most men I hook up with don’t.

I’m tired of being disappointed.

“Care to give me some tips?” He shoves off the pillar and moves toward me. I suppress a shiver as he towers over me. Jesus, he could break me with one hand.

That thought shouldn’t be as hot as it is. My mind never used to get this dark, never used to like the idea of being broken.

Guess that’s what happens when you’re already broken beyond repair. There’s no hope of being fixed, so you might as well lean into it.

“For dancing or throwing?” I smile brightly as I recall his awkward shuffling on the edge of the dance floor. “Seems you could use a little help with both. I saw you dancing against the wall… If you could call it that.”

He doesn’t speak, just studies me closely. Shit, have I hurt his feelings? I don’t like that I might have.

I don’t like it at all.

My smile falters. “If you want, of course. No pressure. I’m easy. Easy-breezy.”

At least, that’s what I make everyone think. The only person who knew the real me ended up dead.

It’s why I can’t let anyone else in.

The man reaches out to touch my hip. Heat blooms under his hand. “Oh, I want. I want to learn all of your moves.”

Something snags my eye. It has my pulse racing quicker as a million questions tumble through my mind.

I don’t let any of them show on my face. Biting my lip, I lean closer and slide my hand under his coat. He inhales deeply, unaware that I’m slipping the dagger I spotted from its sheath.

I twist suddenly, letting it fly from my grip. It sails cleanly through the air, sinking into the center of the target.

I glance back over my shoulder to see his full lips are parted. He’s staring at me like he’s trying to work out all of my secrets.

He doesn’t have a hope in hell.

I keep those locked down. It’s my coping mechanism. It’s the only way I can make it through each day.