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Chapter 16
Everything about the Bluestone House was beautiful. Even though the upstairs seemed more antiqued, it was clear that someone had put time and effort into modernizing the downstairs portion of the mansion as much as possible without losing the antique ambiance. The pillars along each side of the room were adorned with lush greenery. It smelled real as I passed by. It must have been expensive or hard to keepup.
Marv spoke quietly in low tones. Somewhere, Texas and Bellamy were sequestered in one of the cars with a couple of Texas’ laptops and headsets. Both Marv and Knix wore their earpieces tonight. Now, more than ever before, I felt left out, and I was angry. Knix had tried to explain to me that it was because they didn’t want me drawing the attention of whoever we were tracking. We weren’t sure yet if these girls were really being raped, but if they were – I understood where the guys were coming from. Didn’t they see, though, that with a little risk, we could catch this guy and get him before he could hurt anyoneelse?
I stood off to the side as Marv observed the room and relayed what he was seeing to whoever was on the headset with him. I rolled my eyes. I could have at least done that much. Knix twirled a blushing Delilah across the dance floor, and I could see it in her eyes; Delilah was absolutely taken with him. It made me want to punch her out and that made me feel even worse about my situation with theguys.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Isador left her date – escort, I reminded myself… Marv was not my date either – and approached me. “Hey,” she said, “what’s up with him?” she motioned towards Marv as he stood by one of thepillars.
I shrugged. “I don’t think he’s feeling very well,” I lied. It kind of amazed me how easily lying was starting to come to me now. I didn’t even have to think aboutit.
“Oh, that sucks,” she said. “Well, do you want to dance with my escort?” she offered. “My feet are so sore. It was such a bad idea to wear these shoes tonight.” She stuck her foot out and showed me the startlingly beautiful, gem encrusted heels. Despite their beauty I could tell that the back of her heel lookedred.
“New?” Iguessed.
She nodded. “First time wearing them too,” she admitted. “It was stupid, but they were so pretty.” She sighed. “That’s what I get for falling in love with pretty things.” I could say the same, but I wouldn’t meanshoes.
“So, dancing?” sheasked.
I shook my head, but smiled. “No,” I said. “Thanks for the offer, but I think I’m okay righthere.”
She looked at me for a moment before flicking a glance over at Marv. “Okay,” she said, though the way she said it made it sound like she thought it was anything but. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.” She drifted off just as Marv came back around the pillar and put a hand on mywaist.
He dipped close to my ear and whispered, "Knix just saw Wallace headingupstairs."
My head jerked up and I looked around. I hadn't realized it, but Knix and Delilah were both missing. "Where–"
"Hold on, let's dance." He grabbed my hand and led me to the dance floor. I wouldn't have minded so much – we had danced together before on Sweratt Island – but just as our feet touched the dance floor the quartet struck up the waltz. I could have freaking died right then andthere.
"No," I hissed. "I'm not good atthis."
Marv looked down at me like I was crazy as he positioned his hands on my waist and raised my hand in his. "We've danced before," he said. "You'll befine."
"No, you don't understand, I–" Before I could finish my sentence, Marv had yanked me into the twirling masses of dancing couples on the floor. I whimpered and nearly head-butted him as I tried to stare down at my feet. What had Mr. Giovanni taught us? One. Two. One. Two. Step. Step. One of my heels jabbed Marv's foot and he winced looking down atme.
"What's wrong with you?" heasked.
"I'm counting," I snapped. "I told you. This is the waltz. I can'twaltz."
More of thatHarlow's crazylook. He rolled his eyes. "You're fine," he assured me. "You're just over thinking it. Here, let me–" Marv wrapped one of his arms fully around my back and his muscles flexed as he lifted me fully onto his feet. The toes of both my heels were pressed firmly to each of hisshoes.
"Won't that hurt?" I askedhesitantly.
He shook his head. "No, if there's just a constant pressure, it's much easier to manage than you stabbing me with the point of your heel every time we turn." He grinned as he looked down at me before his face sobered and he looked up and over my shoulder. "Knix took your friend out on the balcony. We're gonna cross the dance floor – make sure we're seen and then we're going to headupstairs."
"Do you really think Mr. Wallace is the one we're after?" Iasked.
Thunder gray eyes met mine. "I do," he said. "Why?"
I shook my head and clung to him as we whirled around. My feet stayed firmly planted on his. It really wasn't so bad like this, I realized. In fact, it was quite nice. We weren't really waltzing, but no one was paying attention to ourfeet.
"Har-ley?" Marv grunted and corrected himself before he finished with my real name. I smirked and looked up at him, meeting his gaze. "Why did you askthat?"
I frowned and then my nails dug into his shoulder as he took several steps that ended with us on the side of the dance floor. "Because I'm not too sure," Iadmitted.
"About Wallace?" Marv clarified. I nodded. Marv was quiet for several moments as he moved us towards a back door. It looked like it led toward the kitchens. I could smell food and hear the clanking ofdishes.
"Come on." Marv had me step off of his feet and then took my hand. Together, we hurried through the doors that had caught my eye before. I was right, it was a kitchen. No one paid us any mind though. Either the workers were too busy to notice, or they just didn't get paid enough to care that two people in formal wear were running through their kitchens in the middle of a big party. Whatever the case, Marv and I managed to get to the hallway without anyone stoppingus.
