Blood & Power

la smoke clung to

d, her voice low and meas

. Her heels wobbled as she dipped forward, hair brushing the black-l

lled rosé in her hand. She didn't drink it. She onl

ted. You want to be in the lineup Friday night? You don't

ed. Too fast

off before the

uiet in the daylight. Velvet Vice didn't open until ten, but this was the only time

voice called fr

flinch. She

k he

and wearing that face she hated-half panic, half

hea

bricks.

d slowly thro

no origin. No t

ht it in?"

uy. Eastern accent. W

was linen, bone white. Immaculate.

t him

? He said

d gone

No one argued w

et ropes. The stage still smelled like sweat and ambition

she allow her

from

the

. Didn't drink it. Just watched

hone

wn Number: You'

screen. Then del

d her without

knock c

e never kn

in," s

num blonde. Baby pink lingerie. Pretty in

Lady. Go

ne n

ip. "There's a guy outside. Sa

s narrowed.

in a black Benz. Said

mach we

wait. Ten min

there, frozen. Marcus. That name h

put a bullet

d beneath the desk. Her hand closed

back, it wasn'

d. The hallway was slow, only a flickering on the emergency ex -lean was b

inst the wall like he belonged there

now. But not tir

eyes raking her like h

got five

hands. "Just

n behind her ba

making moves. Got your own distribu

ou want

"Still got

ok one st

o say, Marcus. Befor

r's losing patience. You'

ndoned when

ed. But s

ene," he said, voice low. "

ut hi

om

dn't

n close, lip

of dying. But I'll make da

e stepp

't foll

like she hadn't

back in place. Her reflection in th

ow she ne

s clean. Lab says high quality.

p. Rotate the gua

nd the lineup

Replace he

"Honey's your

ey's soft. I don't

dn't

k down, eye

ne buzz

n number again: H

the words, her

ything. Honey didn

ickly, scann

Noth

ked the

looped.

was in t

ready breached

didn't k

the club ope

usic. Swe

orites. Selene watched from her perch above it

elt n

aw June stu

usual

oll

n. Pushed thr

gasping. Eyes wide, han

beside her, h

ou take?" s

oved. But no

lse wa

ag. Pulled out a sma

to June's thigh. P

ared bes

l month," he said. "

e loo

the stage flick

phone buz

n number: Told yo

ood ra

s scanning the floor.

hey weren't comi

coming for

know who she'

t

was w

it

ready let hi