In The Devil's keeping

hat's m

he air like a knife. Loud.

on mine. "Shit," she mu

us. She's tall. Legs for days. High cheekbones that could

g in on Andrea like she wants to r

ax, Sapphire. You left it

was saving it for tonight. The p

hrugs. "She needed so

-head to toe-like I'm a problem she needs to e

n. My sp

before I can spe

ess. "I'm just surprised. Boss never lets virgins onstage. Le

y and the moves,"

tale. The customers don't care if you sparkle. They want a show. They want submi

gone-storming past us toward the dressing

ore her. She's territoria

we all work

eetheart, this isn't a sisterho

from across the r

m the confrontation and toward the velvet cur

fing wigs, I feel the burn of eyes on me. Some curio

e not Estelle. You're not a girl with a past or pain

mps on the other side. A slow, pulsing bea

"Don't think. Just move. I'll

freeze?"

ne else in the room." She gives my

en I'm

ice booms thro

to light up your night. She's fresh, she's fine, and s

legs almost betray m

Blue and silver. Glit

nd can argue. A spin. A drop. A mid-split and bounce just l

te, I'm no

rl from too ma

with a past she

ngerous. Desire

-hot and heavy. I hear whoops and laughter.

ts me in waves. O

stage leans forward and grins at me with wolfish eyes. His smi

tle body in," he slurs, stuff

feel the sting of old memories clawing up

to a spin and land hard-earni

his. I

ng-sweaty but glowing. Glitte

ffstage, he

grin pulling at her lip

y trembles.

She pulls me into a

back, I hear the girls w

d for a

t's see how l

not gonna

too. Her expre

g room. I wipe glitter off my c

th two drinks. "Baby girl

he drink without asking wh

er tone dropping. "Sapphire's already talking shit in

n talk to any

ys. "You showed up and stol

ounding. The adrenaline's fadin

he new girl this mu

They've clawed their way up, and you're

t myste

e knows what hell y

o q

er now. Claustrophobic.

and offers one to Andre

an eyebrow.

hing from VIP. The one she

es. "Are yo

for her number. The ne

s. "He didn't e

ave to. All it takes is one glance.

t to say. I'm st

cy says. "Welcome to

there's no

Sapphire appears at

ack latex and boots that scream power. H

sm

ot fri

's not

a war