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My cheeks heat while her smile widens. “Sorry. I’m a bit dramatic.” She pouts playfully. “I like to make an entrance.”
Her smile is contagious. “I’m Kendra. I’m so glad I could meet you before…well…this.”
She giggles adorably, extending her hand, which I take. “I’m Wren.”
“Sorry about yesterday.” My eyes widen as she shrugs delicately. “Mr. Burton is…truly one of a kind. Though his interest doesn’t lie with me…if you get my drift.”
Her eyes drift down along my latex-covered form, giving me an openly approving once-over. “He’s got impeccable taste, I’ll give him that.”
Lucia enters behind Kendra as my cheeks flush yet again.
“Kendra.” My companion's name is an angry bark, totally at odds with how I usually see Lucia – unless she’s arguing with Vaughn.
Kendra jumps to attention as Lucia gives her a dark stare. “You’re up first, per Mr. Burton’s wishes. Let’s go.”
Her eyes shift to mine, softening as she grips my arm comfortingly. “You’re to be second, Wren.”
“He’ll be so mad I broke curfew.”
My cheeks flush as she wiggles her eyebrows mischievously. “That’ll all be forgotten when he sees you. Just you wait and see.”
My stomach dips, remembering his indifferent features as he’d stepped onto the elevator before going downstairs in his impeccable black suit for his evening shift at Rogue.
I feel like shit for keeping my involvement in tonight’s event a secret, and despite Lucia’s reassurances, I can’t stop my rising anxiety.
“Stay here until I come for you.”
She smiles encouragingly, and I nod once before she leaves with Kendra in tow. The noise from the stage area assaults my ears with a mixture of music and loud voices before the door closes with heavy finality.
Too late to back down now, little bird.
* * *
VAUGHN
I can feel Wren’s eyes on me the entire time, right up until the doors of the elevator close, and it’s only then that I expel the breath I’ve been holding.
As I strode from my room, I was a hair’s breadth away from falling to my knees and begging forgiveness for my harsh treatment of her yesterday. I’d barely managed to catch myself, knowing that to do that would lead me down a road from which there would be no coming back.
To do that would mean admitting to feeling something I havenobusiness feeling.
I will do everything—every fucking thing—in my power to keep her from all harm.
The vow I’d made at Renzo’s graveside runs through my head, reminding me beyond reasonable doubt that I need to keep her at an arm's length. Because of all the things that could harm her right now, being within my reach is the most harmful of all.
Breathing deeply, I step off the elevator to find Lucia waiting. I barely stifle an eye roll.
“What?”
She stands tall, pushing her chest forward. “Reconsider my offer to buy into Rogue.”
I brush past her with a brusque shake of my head. “Jesus fucking Christ, Lucia. Not this shit again.”
She follows me, hot on my heels, as I scan the staff quarters for Randolf and Chloe, floor managers forRaptureandRisquétonight.
“I’m giving you one last chance, Vaughn. You’ll be sorry if you don’t take me up—”
I whirl about with a growl, cutting her off when I hear her tone is even more malicious than usual.
