The Woman on the Stage Read Online Jessica Gadziala

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Crime, Mafia Tags Authors: Jessica Gadziala Advertisement

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I made my way to the door, listening for a second to make sure he was gone, then ran to the vanity to pull the false bottom out of the box.

And there was a phone.

He sent me a phone?

I powered it up to find he’d already programmed it with his number. And had put a couple of notes in the app about things to keep an eye out for. But he was careful not to put any names down or anything.

I clicked a message and sent it over.

Who is Eric?

I barely got a chance to glide on my lipstick before the answer came through.

- Trying something out. Just play dumb if anything comes back to you.

I unrolled my hair so as not to seem too eager to reach out to him again.

I’ll bring the necklace to the next meeting.

The answer was swift and final.

- No, it’s yours. Keep it.

The logical part of my brain said to hold onto it just until I was sure he wouldn’t demand it back. The other part was already a little bit in love with it and wanted to keep it, however stupid that might be.

My memory flashed back to the time I spent with my grandmother and how she would take out several different velvet jewelry boxes and pull each piece of jewelry out, one by one, and tell me which man got it for her and why. And how in love with her he was.

I had exactly two nice pieces of jewelry. One was a gift from a designer when I was modeling. Another was a gift from my grandmother when I got signed.

So far, no lavish gifts from random men who’d fallen in love with me.

But one nice necklace could be a cool souvenir to talk to my future grandchildren about.

Oh, this? I got this for spying on a casino owner for a shady, handsome stranger!

They’d probably think I was lying.

I kind of liked that idea.

I checked to make sure the phone was set to silent, then added an intricate passcode to it before shoving it in the little tampon and pad zipper of my purse.

Then I slipped on my dress, my shoes, fluffed my hair, and made my way down the hallway.

I wasn’t going to go into Frank’s office before the stage. After was the best time if I was even going to chance it on a night when he already had a little upset.

I got on the stage and started my first set, glad to have something to focus on other than Frank and Milo.

Until, of course, the doors opened in the middle of my second set.

And there was Milo.

Looking just as good as the last time I’d seen him. Better. He’d forgotten to shave his stubble, and I found the shadows only made him more attractive.

He made quick eye contact with me. Then his lips curved up ever so slightly when his gaze slipped to the diamond resting against my chest—heavy, oddly grounding.

But he didn’t linger.

Instead, he made his way over to the bar, ordered a drink, and sat down.

Then, for the next two sets, his gaze oscillated between me, the gathered crowd, and his own phone.

Eventually, Frank came back in during my last set, huffing, jaw tight.

I had a feeling that poor “Eric” had no idea what the hell he’d done to piss off Frank.

When Frank made his way to the bar, there was Milo. Being all charming and newly familiar.

The two of them shared a drink and a conversation.

Then, like it was the plan all along, he and Frank made their way to the door.

Milo held the door for Frank.

But the real reason was clear when he glanced back at me.

His gaze held.

And I could practically hear his words in my own head.

Now’s your chance.

So much for trying to take it slow.

CHAPTER TEN

Roe

My stomach felt like it was at my feet even as my heart lodged itself real far up at the back of my throat, making it feel like I couldn’t draw in a proper breath.

Even my gait felt wrong as I made my way down the hallway. It was like my feet were trailing ahead of the rest of me, and my knees seemed determined to jangle together with each step.

I hoped to anyone who might see me that they would think I had to pee or something.

Not that I was about to break into my boss’s office while my accomplice had him distracted.

I tried not to glance around, to look over my shoulder, to do anything that made it look like I was up to something.

Most of the cameras in the casino were old and very obvious. And I hadn’t seen any of them in the back rooms. But that didn’t mean they didn’t exist. Or that smaller, hidden ones weren’t around.

I held my breath as I turned into the hallway where Frank’s office was situated, praying there was no guard stationed outside of it.


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