“You’re a lucky girl, Magpie, so lucky.”
“Yes, Master, I am lucky.”
Bodies gripped me, but there was no pain here. They twirled and danced with me, shifting to the beat. My heart was racing, thumping, head spinning, but there was no pain. These masks weren’t twisted and hostile, they were welcoming, holding out hands for a twirl, for a passing hug. I slammed into muscle at the top of the dancefloor and started backwards. Masque gripped my arms, stopped me from falling.
“Steady there,” he smiled. “You nearly went ass over tit.”
I balanced myself against him, and his scent was so familiar from times of old. “Thank you, si –” I almost called himsir, “sorry.”
“No apology necessary.” I could feel his eyes on mine through the hollows of the mask. “Are you alright, Faye? You seem a bit out of it?”
“I’m having fun,” I said. “I just lost my balance.” I let out a breath. “I’m fine,” I said, and I meant it. “Venetian masks can be a little disorienting for me.”
“Enough of them here,” he laughed. “It’s quite an affair, you should be proud.”
A shiver ran through me at his words. “Thank you. It was a team effort.”
He leaned in close as the track reached its crescendo. “No Andy?”
“He’s busy. In the office.”
“Shame, he should be out here.”
Yes, he should. I didn’t voice it. “I hope he’ll be joining us later,” I said, and Masque nodded, pointing over by the bar.
“Talk of the fucking devil,” he laughed. “He’s right over there.”
***
Chapter Twenty One
Andy
Topaz smiled as she slid over a whisky, and her eyes spoke too much. Way too much.
“Is she upset with me?” I asked. “Clearly she is.”
“She’s upset,” she said. “She worked hard on this.”
“I can tell.” I took a sip. “Tell me, Topaz. In two years have you ever seen the place like this? This…alive?”
She shook her head. “No, Mr Morgan. Not in my recollection. We have heavy nights, and quieter nights butthisnight… this is something else.”
Bloody masks were everywhere, and it made it hard to see what the hell was going on on the dancefloor. Some groups had broken off alone, indulging in kinky filth games brought about by Topaz’s cards, but the main thrum was packed thick with revelling dancers. I could just about make out Raven and Cara amongst it, and a few seconds later I spotted Masque at the back, tall enough to see over the rest of the bodies. He was pointing at me, and I raised my glass, only for my breath to catch as I saw Faye alongside him.
I’d been such a fucking asshole.
I downed my shot and got to my feet, heading in her direction at the same time she headed in mine. We met by the playroom corridors, and I was already speaking as I reached her, blabbering a load of crappy excuses about workload, that she didn’t hear because she was blabbering, too.
We both stopped. Took a breath. And she took mine. She was radiant, stunning, fucking perfect. Everything I ever fucking wanted.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m really sorry, Andy.”
It took me aback. “Actually,Iwas going to say sorry. It’s me who should be sorry, Faye. I’ve been a sour-faced cunt tonight.”
“You have every right to be,” she said, sadly. “This club is a massive beast, I never really gave you credit for how hard it must have been to fly solo. I never even said thanks. So, thanks.” She smiled. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to say that.”
“Faye, look at this place. Look at what you’ve done here.” I gestured to the balloons all around us, to the crowd going wild. “This is amazing. It’s fantastic. You’ve done yourself proud, you’ve done us proud. I was just too much of a sulky, bitter sack of shit to give credit where it’s due. I’m not used to needing to, but that’s no excuse.” She pressed her fingers to her lips, and her eyes were welling, but she was smiling.