Chapter 134

Tuesday morning, Aaron was pulling his slippers on when Hugo sat down next to him. “How’s Katrina holding up?”

Aaron smiled at the talented dancer/ choreographer. Hugo knew her secret and still had it bad for Anna, poor guy. Aaron knew how he felt, which is why he’d given up trying to find another woman like her. Or even halfway like her.

Hugo and Anna danced very well together, so Aaron wasn’t surprised when Hugo chose her for his partner in his new ballet debuting during the upcoming fall season. Again. Jasmine had been his primary partner before Anna showed up, which probably contributed to Jasmine’s dislike of Anna. Aaron was glad Anna got to show that... woman... up, somewhere, though he wasn’t certain that Anna knew Jasmine had been Hugo’s partner. Wasn’t sure if telling her would be helpful or hurtful.

“She’s doing okay. She feels awful about missing rehearsals.”

“I’d rather she be at home and safe rather than here and at risk.” He paused. “Maybe I could stop by tonight and we could practice in the living room there. She might not feel so left out if we did.”

Aaron nodded. “If you want, I’m sure she’d be thrilled. There’s not a ton of room, but we could move the furniture.”

“Sounds great. I’ll call her at lunch.”

Vincent clapped his hands and warm-ups began. Aaron closed his eyes, enjoying the movement of his body as his mind drifted to thoughts of Cameron.

Suddenly, his chest tightened and his heart squeezed as a heavy weight fell over the studio. He grabbed his chest and opened his eyes. The other dancers didn’t seem to notice anything wrong. Was he having a heart attack? The room felt dark, even though sunlight streamed in from the windows as it always did. His stomach churned and he turned to stare at the doorway of the studio.

“What’s wrong?” Hugo whispered.

Aaron slowly shook his head. Something was coming.

Five seconds later, the door slammed open. Tom walked in, eyes searching the room until he locked on Aaron’s. He widened his eyes and gave a quick shake of his head.

Darkness entered the room. “Devin,” Aaron whispered.

The music stopped abruptly and, as one, the dancers all turned toward the door. Devin stood just inside the doorway, an invisible cloud of darkness swirling around him. His eyes were lit with a raging fire. Aaron would have sworn he saw his eyes flash gold as he searched the room. Nate and Justin knew who he was. Vincent, too. But everyone else was clueless that the most powerful man in the country had just walked into their studio. Some of the women even gave him flirtatious smiles.

Idiots.

“Can I help you, Mr. Pendleton?” Vincent asked politely, walking over to the men. “You’re Devin Andersen, correct?”

Devin narrowed his eyes as he turned his head toward the ballet master. “You wanted to take Anna away from me.” He spoke softly, but his tone was ice cold and Aaron shivered, glad he was on the other side of the room.

“I wanted to have one of the best dancers I’d ever seen in my company. It had nothing to do with you.”

“Anything Anna does is my business.” He turned and looked around the room again, then pulled something out of his pocket. “I’m looking for someone.” His voice was loud in the silent room. It echoed against the hard walls and floor and swirled around the dancers. Aaron shivered. He held up a photograph of Anna. “Have you seen this woman?”

The dancers looked at each other, their eyes wide. A few even trembled under Devin’s heavy gaze. Everyone in the room would recognize her, but no one stepped forward and volunteered any information. The only sound was Devin’s leather shoes slowly tapping against the wooden floor as he strolled around the room, holding up the picture and watching everyone’s face as they looked at it. Aaron would have sworn he wasn’t the only one holding his breath.

Hugo walked over and took the picture from him, studying it for a long moment. “She’s pretty.”

“She is. Have you seen her?”

Hugo handed the picture back to him. “No. I haven’t.”

Devin studied the tall dancer, his eyes full of suspicion. Hugo was well respected in the company, and for him to declare he hadn’t seen Anna would make the others reluctant to contradict his words.

Movement nearby caught Aaron’s attention, and he turned to see Jasmine glaring at Hugo. His stomach twisted as Jasmine opened her mouth.

“I’ve seen her.”

A smile crept across Devin’s face. Aaron stared as Devin slowly walked to Jasmine, his eyes hungry. “Where?”

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened, her jaw trembling. She glanced at Aaron, who shook his head.

“I mean . . . I think I did . . .”

Devin stepped closer and leaned in, speaking low into her ear. “Anna likes to steal men away from their women. She likes the power it gives her over them.” He gazed into her eyes and trailed his fingers down her neck. “Did she steal one from you?”

Jasmine blinked and sucked in a shaky breath, but as she turned to gaze into Devin’s eyes, her fear gave way to blind infatuation. “But I got even?—?”

“Alright, Devin.” Aaron stepped forward before Jasmine could give him any information, his mind whirring for something—anything—to keep Anna out of danger. “Yes, she was here.”

Devin wheeled around. “Was?”

He nodded. “We went on tour last week. She didn’t come along because she told me she was leaving. She didn’t want anyone else to know, but she got accepted to the Paris Opera Ballet.” That would be believable to everyone here. She was that good.

Devin’s eyes flashed but didn’t make any other movements. His hand was still on Jasmine’s neck. “And you didn’t think it strange that she was here without me?”

Aaron shrugged and jutted his jaw, hoping he looked uninterested. “I didn’t think she’d run away. She’s not stupid.”

Devin stared for a moment, then looked at Tom. He shook his head. “No, I can still feel her. She’s still here. Where did she stay?”

Aaron glanced at Tom, who looked up from his phone and gave a tiny nod. “With me.”

Devin blew out a breath and slowly shook his head. “You are a stupid, stupid man, Aaron.” He released Jasmine. “You would dare hide Anna from me?”

“How was I supposed to know she ran away? She just...” He waved his hands in the air. “Showed up one day.”

Devin looked around the room again. His eyes stopped on Nate, and then on Justin. “I thought you had been fired in San Francisco.”

Justin lifted his chin. “It was a bogus charge. I left of my own free will. Isaak just didn’t want to admit he was wrong.”

“Something is off.” Devin turned back to Aaron and pointed at him. “Take me to your apartment. Now!”

Shit. “I need to change shoes.”

Devin frowned and huffed, then nodded and walked back to the doorway, speaking softly to Tom.

Aaron sat down and pulled his slippers off. “Hugo!” he whispered, doing his best to not move his lips.

“Yeah.”

“I’m leaving my bag here. Get my phone. Oh-five-two-two is the pin. Call Wilhelm. Tell him what happened. As soon as I’m gone, do it. I don’t know how to keep him from finding her.”

“Do you want me to call her and tell her to get out?”

“Call Wilhelm first. He’ll tell you what to do.” Aaron slowly stood and slipped his flip-flops on, giving Hugo a desperate look. “Hurry.”

Hugo nodded and Aaron turned and walked as slowly as he thought he could without being obvious. How would they keep Devin from getting Anna?

He shot Jasmine the dirtiest look he could muster as he walked by. He would personally strangle her if Anna was hurt. At least she had the decency to look ashamed.

Anna huddled on the couch, hugging a pillow to her chest. Her mind was hazy... unfocused... as if it were being scrambled from outside forces. She was freezing and feverish at the same time. Her body shook uncontrollably. She couldn’t put a coherent thought together to even try to figure out what was going on.

Something vibrated next to her and she stared hard at the plastic rectangle. What did she do with that? Press the green button.

“Anna? Anna?”

She heard Wilhelm’s voice faintly. “Wilhelm?”

“Pick up the phone, Anna. Put it to your ear.”

Anna did as she was told. “W-Wilhelm?”

“Where are you?” His voice was clearer now.

“In m-my a-apartment,” she said in a shaky voice.

“Go into your bedroom and shut the door. Lay down on your bed and stay there until I call you back.”

He ended the call and Anna stared at the floor, sucking in desperate breaths. No matter how deeply she tried to breathe, she couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen.

Bedroom. Anna staggered to her feet, her knees shaking as if she’d never walked a day in her life, then stumbled into her room, barely remembering to close the door after she walked inside. She fell onto her bed and curled into a ball.

Devin is coming.