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9
CLAIRE
I wakeup alone in bed, the sheets already cool when I reach my hand out beside me. Griff came in last night while was I still sleeping, but when I felt him slide his arms around me, I stirred. When I turned to face him, fresh from his shower, I couldn’t hold back. I rolled him over and climbed on top of him, taking him at a lazy, slow pace. I probably have his fingerprints on my hips from where he gripped me as he came.
I turn my head with a small smile on my face at the memory. A still warm cup of coffee rests on the nightstand next to a note. I reach over and pick it up.
Tsarina,
I had to get to work for early meetings this morning. Take as long as you want to leave. As far as I’m concerned, you’re always welcome here. I’m leaving you a key. Use it as you wish. I also bought the shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face scrub you use to keep here. I set them on the counter for you.
Griff
My chest swells with warmth at the thoughtful gesture. It’s not surprising that he’s attentive to detail, he has always been this way. I grab my phone off the charging pad and unlock it to check messages and email. There’s a text from Mom, and I delete it without opening it. There’s an email from the ballet company. I read through it but already know everything it’s going over about the process for tryouts in two weeks.
The thing that surprises me, though, is a text from an unknown number. I open it up, and my heart drops to my stomach at what I see.
Unknown: I know your secret.
Unknown: Pull out of tryouts for principal dancer and I won’t tell anyone.
Under the two messages is a picture of me leaving my MS specialist’s office. It’s a picture from my last appointment. I give myself one minute to panic. One minute to imagine every bad outcome. Then I lock those emotions down. I’m not cowering to some asshole who has to resort to blackmail.
I fling the covers off and go straight to take a shower. This is just the distraction I need from my broken dreams. I’m going to find out who this person is and destroy them because that’s what Volkovs do.
While I shower, I contemplate asking Griff for help. I know he wouldn’t mind and would probably prefer I do so, but I feel like I’m leaning too much on him. I don’t want to be too much of a hassle when he has NNC and the new company he’s starting with Con on his plate. Obviously, Con and Lilith are out of the question to go to for help as well.
Not just because I’m not ready to tell them about the MS but also with the girls. Now that I’ve been distracted by Griff, I think I can handle going back to the hospital and seeing them before practice today.
I grab an apple from the basket of fresh fruit on Griff’s counter and put my coffee cup in the dishwasher. Marco should be downstairs waiting for me by the time I make it down to the lobby. The doorman nods as I walk past.
“Good morning, Marco,” I say as I slide into the SUV.
“Good morning, Claire. Going to see Ms. Nelson today?”
“Yes, please. We’ll stop by before you drop me at the studio.”
“Very well,” he pulls out into the midmorning traffic.
I feel so much better as I walk into Lilith’s room this morning. I stopped in the gift shop for a small floral arrangement. Hopefully, it’ll smooth over any bumps from my hasty exit yesterday. I knock lightly once, in case anyone is sleeping.
“Come in,” Lilith’s voice is muffled through the door.
“Hi,” I whisper as I walk in.
Lilith is sitting with one of those curved pillows in front of her while she nurses one of the girls. She looks up at me with surprisingly clear eyes for a brand new mom of twins. I can almost see the love pouring off her as she gazes down at her daughter.
“Which one is this?” I ask as I come up beside her.
“Nora.” She smiles up at me. “She seems to be the calm one. Barely fusses unless she’s hungry.”
“And Elle?” I ask with a grin.
“Total opposite. Always making noise, super feisty.”
“Can I hold Elle?” I go over to the sink and wash my hands while I wait for her answer.
“Of course, she’s just been fed, so she should be sleepy. I told Con to go home to shower and take a nap.”
