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Her anger appeared to lessen, and she said, “I was selected for the ballet company when I was sixteen and danced for eight years before I blew out my knee. In a matter of seconds my career was over. It’s been two years since I’ve performed on stage.”
“I can’t imagine how difficult that had to be. How did you hurt your knee?”
Her left eye slightly twitched as she stared at me.
Ignoring my question, she said, “What do you want? We’re not friends, nor will we be. Asking about my life won’t change the fact that I hate you for saving me.”
“What if it did, Giselle? What if you found a passion that set your soul on fire again, something to live for?” I sure as fuck wasn’t her counselor, but I’d had more than my fair share of dealing with the same issue. Maybe there was a chance I could reach and save her.You can’t fix her. Stop trying.I mentally gave the inner voice a quick fuck-you.
She blinked at me, shock registering briefly in her features before her walls slipped back into place. “I don’t know how to answer that because no one has ever asked me before.”
The beep of the alarm system reached my ears and the sound of Donovan talking alerted me he’d returned. Footsteps traveled in our direction, and I positioned myself in the hall near the door.
Giselle rubbed her arms as though she was fighting a chill.
“Giselle?” Donovan called to her.
“You’re back early,” she said, stepping out of her room.
“Short meeting.” His steely grey eyes landed on me. “My schedule has changed, so I’ll be with Giselle for the rest of the day and night. You’re free to take the evening off, Zayne.”
Giselle visibly tensed, her shoulders hiking up before she forced them down again.
“What time would you like me here tomorrow?” Mentally, I was already making plans.
“Ten is fine. Have a good night.” Donovan said, dismissing me.
I nodded, then walked past Donovan and Giselle. As I strolled toward the stairs, I heard Donovan speak in a hushed tone and glanced over my shoulder at him. His smirk was cocked and charged like a loaded gun. Moisture filled Giselle’s hazel eyes, and my pulse stuttered. Why did Donovan hold so much power over her? It was clear that she was terrified of him, and I promised myself that I would find out why.
I removed my cell and sent a quick text. By the time I’d reached the manor’s front door, my phone had buzzed with a response. Beautiful. I had plans, and I couldn’t wait to unwind.
* * *
I’d optedfor a nice pair of jeans and a blue button-down for comfort since I wasn’t working. It was nearly eight that night when I spotted the entrance of 4 Play. When I arrived at the back of the line, I quickly discovered the corded-off section and Mykel, one of the bouncers I’d met when on assignment for Holden and River.
As I approached him, a grin split his face. Rolling my sleeves up to my forearms, I returned his smile. The weather had turned out warmer than I’d anticipated.
“Z-man.” Mykel Vandenberg slapped me on the back. “Good to see ya.”
“You, too. Is there room for one more inside?” I nodded to the club.
“Holden and River let the staff know that if you show up to let you in and call them. If they’re not here, they’ll be on their way.”
I rubbed my hands together, excited to hang out with my friends. “Sounds great. I’ll be at the bar.”
Mykel lifted the rope and let me in. Waltzing through the front door, I eyed the area. It had been several months since I’d been here. I’d headed to Canada for a while once my assignment with Holden and River was finished, taking a bit of time off but helping Pierce and Sutton with the business in order to stave off serious boredom. Now that I was back in the States and on a job, I was happy to connect with friends before my new assignment got too hectic.
The bass thumped through the club as the purple, blue, green, and red strobe lights lit up the dance floor. Quickly glancing around, I identified the bouncers and security as I reminded myself that I was off duty for the evening. I never fully relaxed unless I was with Vaughn, Pierce, and Sutton, though, and even then, I was still alert to my surroundings.
The second I spotted Brynn sitting at the bar, my attention landed on her long red hair and black jacket.
Once Donovan had given me the evening off, I’d texted Brynn and asked if she wanted to meet. Even though I intended to chat with her concerning Chance, I also wanted to catch up with her while waiting for Holden and River.
Brynn glanced over her shoulder toward the entrance, her smile lighting up the room when she spotted me. She slid off the barstool, revealing that her silver top was tucked into her dark wash jeans.
“Hey, Zayne.”
I pulled her in for a quick hug, slightly confused that I hadn’t had my normal reaction when I saw her—that of feeling completely immersed in her presence.
