“Blame it on years of practice. I nearly broke an ankle twice learning it.”
“Who taught you?” Sam asked. She’d been quiet most of the night, seemingly happy just to be present.
“No one at first. Took classes later on when I could afford them.” Evie brushed her hair back theatrically. “I hardly needed it. I’m a natural.”
Blake cackled. “Cockiness looks hot on you.”
“As does that outfit.” Lily’s voice was more slur than not. Her gaze was distant, and she was wearing a goofy smile.
“I think you—” Lily was interrupted by a hiccup. “I think you have the attention of everyone in here. I saw someone salivating before.”
“That may have been your reflection in a shot glass,” Evie said. Lily made a face at her.
Blake and Evie had wheedled Lily enough that she’d joined them for a round of shots, and then one had turned into several while Evie was away on the stage.
Evie was barely buzzed, while Lily looked like she’d drained the bar. The poor woman was plastered.
Evie would feel bad, but she and Blake hadn’t pushed herthathard. Lily had wanted to be more than tipsy.
“I think you’re done for the night, missy,” Blake said.
“Nooo…” Lily whined and Evie laughed seeing her lean against the bar. She looked out at the crowd with the slow, confused gaze of someone too intoxicated to know they were staring.
Evie was about to voice her agreement to cut Lily off when she noticed Blake and Sam looking at someone behind her. Blake’s eyes widened, and Sam’s face lit up in wonder.
“Woah. Those are some cool contacts.”
Evie tensed. She knew who the two women had spotted. She turned, looking right at Natalya’s smiling face.
She wore an elegant black dress and suit jacket that hugged her in all the right ways. Her dark hair fell in bouncy, beautiful curls, and her violet eyes glittered. And she looked highly amused.
“You’ve been drinking.”
There was a too-long pause as Evie stared at her. She hadn’t expected Natalya to be there, and the sight of her made Evie’s heart feel like it had floated into her throat. She was suddenly beyond thankful that the club was dark. She had a feeling she was blushing.
“A little.” She’d only had the one shot and a few sips of a drink, but the words came out in a way that made her sound drunker than she was.
Natalya turned to the man standing behind her. He was huge, olive-skinned, and wearing long fingerless gloves and a black shirt that was too tight over his chest. He had red, slitted eyes.
“Alcohol is a poison, Drago,” Natalya said. “When you were told to look after the girls, protecting them from toxins should have been high on the list.”
“Apologies, La—” He stopped himself. His voice was like thunder. “Apologies, Natalya.”
Natalya smiled at him, not really upset. Then her eyes found Sam, and the smile dropped. She suddenly looked not only angry but downright threatening.
Sam didn’t notice. Her eyes were locked on Drago, her lips parted. He stared at her in turn, face unreadable.
Then Sam noticed Natalya’s steely gaze and quickly turned away, hunching against the bar.
“What isshedoing here?” Natalya was still staring at Sam.
“I invited her,” Evie said, making Natalya switch her attention back to Evie. She looked surprised, and Evie shrugged. “She was lonely.”
Natalya’s demeanor remained tense for a few more moments, but then she eased. She smiled with an oddly genuine appreciation that made Evie feel like she was still on the stage, spinning around the pole.
“You really are sweet,” Natalya said.
The compliment, said so easily and in front of everyone, stunned Evie into silence. It was saved from being awkward when a very drunk Lily moved past the two fiends, only just avoiding touching Natalya.
