Blood & Power

ping when they wheeled

rowd didn't know what happened. Most thought it was part of t

he needle mark be

beside her

aid. "Paramedics thi

slowly. "She d

kno

of ours. On

w that

roat b

felt that

e messages. Pull the security foota

d, alrea

ed back int

below her felt like a threat. Her dancers were still performing, unaware.

ever happens her

everythin

. It was open now, scattered with glitter, lash

. Except for the a

Cam. "Where's her

on

had a

the

aw cl

on staff tried

dened. "We do

dose wasn't meant to scare

shifted, like his skin d

he locker an

me," she said. "Phones, keys, bags-must be

star

no

the chain from

ver key hun

rawer only she

ck envelope mark

felt like a

nd quiet. The only sound heard was the l

e couch and her heels tappin

tte. Took one dr

before she coul

n this same couch. Dru

see the bullet coming whe

listened

isten

voice said

ag

Tell me you h

ed her

m a burner phone pinged of

a footage

their systems from a background ch

Cam sai

inked. "M

how she found out about her med hi

hy

laced. You made that

er cigarette in

her t

ugar. Baby voice. B

Pretty girls broke qui

Selen

ey

hed June's

just-cu

. It didn't r

ets people k

"I didn't touch her stu

t you did. I aske

he was taking my spot. I worked

drugge

nted something on her.

elene said coldly. "

lease, Boss Lady

leaned

knocking. You lifted skirts you had no right to touch. And

stoo

shrank

e done

fire me

t firin

shed in

you. There's

turned

eys. Send her to Vegas. She sets foo

e. "Selene

didn't

st wal

lted. All that r

ht, the club f

er booth, lights dimm

elt wrong n

touched her wit

ne buzz

ber: You remove

idn't

she typ

tell me

g bubble

pau

van

rep

sil

rned aro

otage. June wasn't

as wit

esit

ng with someone. Someo

yes narrow

ace. But he had

aw tw

s faking

ded. "

he safe, and pulled ou

e'd vetted for weeks. Some she'd

ed at on

ew dancers last

no

ly interv

idened. "Wai

ady dancing under our r

d under h

. An unsigned contract. A profi

," she sa

e stood at the top of the spiral stairca

re off. The m

ould stil

se of b

of unseen

garette. It shook

see," she whis

r ag

empire with blood a

ne wanted to

fire-but

scared

e makes peo

de peop

de peop

e cigarette an

moke stil

ng, a note wai

a

a

eatly, placed beneath

s

rror. He's already

me in a long time, S

recognize