We went straight to the front of the line of people waiting to get inside the club and were waved over by the bouncer. He recognized my face and I leaned over, slipping a couple hundred-dollar bills into his front pocket, and whispered, “Do me a solid. Let Wes know I’ve arrived.”

He nodded and slapped my shoulder. “You got it, Black.”

Turning around, I met Kendra’s unforgiving gaze and pulled her closer to me. Leading her inside, I knew that I had to tell her that Madam didn’t kill Tonya and that it was Stone who was guilty of that deed. Except the timing was never right—I couldn’t do it at Madam’s, knowing she had her hired eyes and ears watching, waiting, ready to report back. Revealing too much too fast, Madam would certainly make finding Sylvia impossible—if she hadn’t accomplished that already.

We wedged our way through the swelling crowd. Tonight’s attendance was at capacity, and it made the air hot and stuffy. Keeping my grip on Kendra, I got lost in the papery feel of money being made, and, of course, the sexual desire that radiated off her hot grip.

When I came to an opening, I spun around and took her by her waist. Needing to hold her body tight against mine, I settled my thigh between her legs. As a wave of possessiveness consumed me, I wanted Kendra to know that I would do anything for her. And even though I couldn’t find the words tonight, I hoped my need to claim her with my hands was enough to reassure her that no matter what, we were in this until the end.

Pressing my lips against the center of her forehead, she had me hard with the way she looked. Her form-fitting dress glittered beneath the light, revealing her firm breasts I wanted to take into my mouth and her silky-smooth thighs that I wanted riding on top of me. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply through my nose, getting drunk on her scent, a smell all her own.

I knew the article Sylvia had written planted the tiniest seed of doubt in Kendra’s mind. And I also knew that it was my job to make sure the idea didn’t germinate and grow into something bigger. Because the threat was real, and there was no way I could tell her about the kill list I’d found at Sylvia’s apartment.

Rocking her back and forth, we spun in tiny circles while never venturing far from our original spot.

My job was to protect her. Make her believe that we would find Sylvia. And many of those questions I knew she wanted answers to would come after the discussion I needed to have with Wes.

Brushing my lips over her ear, I asked, “Can I get you a drink?”

She shook her head, not bothering to look me in the eye as she did.

“Not even a spritzer?” I grinned when hooking her chin between my fingers.

Her expression pinched when she flicked her gaze upward. “Kelly, why did you take me to the place Maria Greer was murdered?”

My lips pressed together in a slight grimace.

We hadn’t been here since we discovered the secret Wes was deliberately keeping from me. And the fact that Kendra’s best friend, Alex, was dating Wes’s accomplice, Nash Brooks, who helped him move Maria’s body the night she was murdered was enough to warrant her sudden standoffish attitude.

Kendra kept looking over her shoulder. “Is Sylvia here?”

Taking her face between my hands, I lowered my mouth close to hers and said, “Look. I want to find her as much as you do. She’s responsible for killing Maria, and she’s guilty of putting Mario in the position that ultimately got him killed as well.”

She squeezed her watery eyes shut, shaking her head. Then, when she opened them, she said, “But you blamed Madam for Mario’s death.”

My thoughts retreated inside my own mind, flashing back to the day Oscar brought Mario to Madam’s. It was like I was there, reliving the surprise all over again. “It’s complicated.” My thumb brushed her pink cheeks. “I’ve told you my reasons for wanting to find Sylvia,” I lowered my chin and my voice, “but I want to know why you want to find her.”

“To save our relationship.” Fire burned inside her eyes. “That’s what I don’t understand, Kelly. Why do you want to party when the timer has started ticking down?”

My eyes narrowed as I studied her reaction.

It wasn’t that I didn’t believe what she was saying was true—because it was. It was just that I knew there was more to it than what she was saying and I wanted to help her admit it. “Is that all?”

“This is ridiculous.”

Bringing my hand to her soft mid-section, I asked, “Revenge doesn’t burn inside here?”

When she gave me a knowing look, I knew I was on to her.

“Nothing wrong with wanting to seek revenge for what she did to you. I understand. It’s okay to water that seed and let it grow.” My head nodded. “Don’t let Sylvia get away with deceiving you the way she did—”

“Madam’s going to kill me for it.”

“But not if we kill her first.” There was a truthful glimmer in my eyes. And I knew Kendra saw it. I knew that Sylvia would be a nice catch, but maybe going after Madam was the easier of the two options. “C’mon. Let’s dance.”

Kendra clamped her hand in the crook of my arm as I led her to the dancefloor.

She felt lighter than before our little conversation and I knew that if I could continue to convince her that I was already working on a plan to find Sylvia and go after Madam, then she could stop worrying so much about running out of time.

When we headed down a flight of stairs, I glanced over my shoulder to find Kendra’s head swiveling around. Her eyes were wide and awake behind her mask, looking for clues wherever we went. But it was the same as it always was. Faces hidden behind masks, men in tuxedos and women in elaborate expensive gowns, losing themselves in the altered reality Mint created.

Kendra tugged on my hand. “Kelly, I need to know. Where was Maria’s body found, and did she die in one of the private rooms?”

I frowned, as feelings of sadness and remorse constricted my heart. “Don’t.”

“But I need to know.”

Spinning around, I growled, “It won’t do you any good.”

“It will,” she whimpered.

“No, it won’t,” I barked. “It will only give you nightmares.” My eyes darted between hers. “Trust me. I know.”

“I just don’t understand how this person I never met has suddenly decided my own fate.”

A cold breeze swirled around the nape of my neck, knowing Kendra was afraid of dying.

“I didn’t come here to find Sylvia.” I shook my head. “And this has little to do with Maria Greer.” I pulled her hand but she wrenched it back.

“Then why did you come?” She arched a brow. “And how can you be sure that the killer isn’t watching us now?”

Standing straight, I let my gaze travel over the tops of heads moving like the waves rolling across an open ocean. “I’m here to discuss something with Wes.”

Her eyes were bright behind her mask. Vigilant and cautious, watching her back, and mine.

“You’re safe here,” I said, wishing that I didn’t have to lie to her, pretend like there was nothing to worry about when inside the walls of Mint. But after Maria, even I knew that wasn’t true.

Her face tightened, naturally remaining skeptical. And when tonight’s quartet began to play, I took her by her hand and started to dance with my Bella.

Spinning her around, I needed to get her blood flowing. Her muscles were tight and she wasn’t as relaxed as I knew she could be. Keeping my eyes on only her, I guided the flair of her hips up and down my thigh, rocking her back and forth. It didn’t take long for her to warm up, and soon I could feel that she had finally let her thoughts go.

Most nights, Mint was free of outside drama. It was the reason members attended the club. To shed the everyday stress, leaving our problems at home or at the office. And with as fast as rumors spread in this town, the article Sylvia wrote about me was probably known by most here tonight. But no one cared. Members tended to ignore the drama—as if knowing that soon it would be them being read about in tabloid magazines. Instead, they focused their attention on escaping their own life drama.

Kendra clasped her hands around my neck, swinging her head from side to side and when the music faded into silence, she fell into me. Nuzzling her head under my chin, I kissed the top of her head, knowing that she was on her way back to me.

When the start of a show was announced over the loud speaker, Kendra looked up at me with big, round, puppy dog eyes and begged, “Kelly, let’s go watch.”

Feeling my lips curl at the corners, I nodded.

Minutes later, we found ourselves sitting on the second-floor balcony, hovering over two glasses of water. “Where do you think Sylvia would go?” Kendra casually asked.

“Not far.” I turned to meet her eye. “Giselle will find her. I know she will.” Tonight’s couple stepped out from behind the curtains and began stripping off their clothes. “Let’s just forget it for a while.”

She nodded and I scooted my chair closer. Draping my arm over the back of her shoulders, I raked the backs of my fingers up and down her arm. She leaned in and kissed me for the first time tonight.

The room fell silent.

All my worries disappeared instantly.

And the only thing I could concentrate on was how much I loved the way her lips felt against mine.

“I came to see one show,” a familiar voice said from the side, “but by the looks of it, the second will be starting up soon.”

Opening my eyes, I smiled and turned to find Wes standing feet away. Kami was by his side, both of them smiling. Kendra and I both stood, giving our friends a warm greeting. First, I kissed Kami’s cheek, and when Wes was done charming Kendra, I flung one arm around him and pulled him in for a hug.

“Always a pleasure to have you and Kendra at Mint,” Wes said, smiling at both of us. “And you’ll be at the gala in the Hills in two days, right?”

One brow rose on my forehead. I’d ignored the invitation I’d received when I saw that it would be at Angel’s.

“Come on. Move past your differences with Angel. Come to the gala. Let the past be the past,” Wes said, slapping my back. I didn’t know how he could be so nonchalant about Angel and who she might be involved with.

Kendra’s eyes were throwing daggers at my back that I didn’t even have to turn to see. I could feel them. But Angel’s gala might be the perfect place to put some of these pieces together. “We’ll be there,” I said, giving Kendra the most supportive smile I could muster. I’d be by her side the whole time. She wouldn’t even know we would be at Angel’s.

“Let’s talk privately in my office,” Wes said quietly in my ear.

I nodded and turned back to Kendra. “I need to talk with Wes. You stay here with Kami and enjoy the show.” She nodded and I kissed her before turning back to Wes.

Wes took the lead, greeting members along the way. And as we weaved our way to his back office, all I could think about was how I couldn’t let Madam win. Kendra meant too much to me. And I didn’t want to have to look her in her eye if there was ever a time I was forced to break the promises I swore I wouldn’t.

But, in the end, I knew the chance of me getting out of this mess alive was slim to none.