But he’s watching me now, his gaze piercing even in the semi-darkness.
So I revel in it, dig deeper still and infuse every ounce of feeling into the second half of the song.
When I finish, the whole bar is quiet.
At first I’m terrified I’ve done something wrong.
Then I see the shock on their faces.
Bella, the waitress I was talking to when Mysterious Guy walked into the break room, drops her tray on the nearest surface and starts clapping wildly.
“Way to go, girl!” She’s grinning like mad.
Others follow in prolonged applause, and relief bursts out of me. I can barely stop smiling as I finish the next six songs that take me to the end of my shift.
Barry moves down the bar toward me when I step off the stage.
He opens his mouth but Mysterious Guy is there, intercepting Barry before he can talk to me.
He orders a beer, and Barry frowns before he reverses direction to get the order.
The guy turns to me. “Ready to get out of here?” he murmurs.
I nod. “I’ll just go and grab my purse.”
* * *
Matteo
I seethe eyes that follow her when she leaves the stage area, and my jaw turns to concrete with the effort it takes not to rip a few eyes out for staring at what’s mine.
When she’s out of sight I pluck my phone out of my jacket and start the timer.
Two minutes and I’m going after her if she’s not back here with me.
In the meantime I send a quick encrypted text to the tech guy I keep off the books.
Need safe house. On the QT. Top drawer. Double pay.
He responds immediately.Where. When.
My location. ASAP. Usual provisions.
He doesn’t answer but I know he’s working on it.
Next I text the bodyguards who’re never far away and put them on alert.
They’re under instructions to keep their distance for the time being but they’ll need to know the change of plan.
Nine seconds before the timer runs out, Aria reappears. Her eyes immediately search for mine and the knots inside my gut ease again.
“I’m ready.”
“Good.”
She smiles at one of the waitresses. “Goodnight, Bella.”
The other girl eyes me suspiciously before she smiles her response. “Goodnight, sugar. Text me when you get home?”