I snort, shaking my head. I probably shouldn’t have, and I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but the feminist in me is choking on my rage, and well, she’s a powerful bitch.
I tilt my head. “Right, of course, you think because I’m a stripper that I open my legs to every man that shoves a hundred-dollar bill beneath my panties.”
“Well, don’t you?” he retorts, and his quick wit makes my eyes snap to his. He’s baiting me, his smug face proof of that.
“Open my legs?” I ask, and I’m well aware that this is probably the most words I’ve spoken to anyone in one whole sentence, at least in a very long time, but what can I say? He’s a siren to my voice box. “Of course, I do. But in the fashion that you’re implying? No.” I want to say unfortunately.
He rolls his eyes, glaring straight at Delila. “Not happening.”
“King…”
“What makes you think she can handle the cage?” he asks.
Delila leans forward and whispers something into his ear. Kingston freezes, and then all humor on his face is gone as he brings his eyes back to mine. “Fine.” He leans backward and whistles to someone inside the RV.
Delila steps backward, rolling her eyes. “Sorry you have to see this.”
“See what?” I ask, just as movement catches my eye and a half-naked girl struts down the stairs, shoving a bra over her head. I quickly look away, mainly because she’s had her tits out, and she’s not getting paid for it.
Kingston takes a seat on the step and shoves some combat boots over his feet. “Well, come on then, Little Bird, let’s see if you can fly.”
It’s different this time. Lights are out, and it’s darker, the sun long since burning to ash. All I hear is my breathing, the heavy exhales and inhales from my chest. I run my palm over my legs in an attempt to swipe the sweat, but that’s all just an inner ploy to distract myself from the fact that I’m standing in the middle of a makeshift stage, in the pitch black night, with no idea on what is about to happen to me next.
I close my eyes and lick my lips, focused on my breathing. If they wanted to kill you, Dove, you’d be dead. Chill.
The first thing I feel is the sand beneath my shoes vibrate. The first thing I hear is the clinking of metal, and the first thing I think to myself is…what the fuck have I gotten myself into?
“Breathe, Little Bird,” a voice whispers over the nape of my neck, sending chills down my spine. Something covers my eyes and is being tied to the back of my head. “We’re not going to hurt you—much.” That was a different voice, and I turn in an attempt to chase the owner, but I’m met with darkness everywhere. I can see a spotlight through the blindfold, but it’s not clear enough to make out who is around me.
Fingers drag up my arm, setting off goosebumps.
I flinch away.
Someone chuckles, only this chuckle I recognize. “What’s the matter, Little Dovey…” Kingston starts, and then he leans forward, his lips skating over the back of my ear. “Don’t like shadows much?”
I still, my blood turning cold. “What?” I whisper, reaching for the blindfold, but someone halts my movements by forcing my arms to my back. Cold metal from the handcuffs latch around each wrist. “What did you just say?”
He ignores me, and I’m being pushed down to my knees. Did he just say The Shadow, or did I imagine it? It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve imagined myself into thinking The Shadow is present or has whispered something into my ear. It usually comes during a nightmare, but I’m almost certain Kingston just said what I think he did. Regardless, he’s obviously meaning the shadows that I see through the blindfold. My paranoia will kill me one day.
“Stop!” Delila yells out from somewhere. “I didn’t say perform one of your acts on her. I said incorporate her into the act.”
“First of all—” I think that’s Killian. “How are we supposed to incorporate her into it without showing her what it is that we do, D?”
Silence.
“Because we can save that for her first night. We don’t give swimming lessons; we throw people into the deep end and hope they can swim.”
I pull on the cuffs. “Can someone take the blindfold off?”
“No,” Kingston growls out. Goosebumps stand to the surface of my skin.