Chances Are(16)

A sharp pain in his left hand made him realize he was gripping the table so hard, the edge had cut into his palm. Relaxing his hold, Jake told his body to do the same. He had known he’d have a hard time with this—dammed if he had known how hard.

Shifting uncomfortably in his chair, he ignored his physical response to the beautiful, sexy woman on stage, and tore his eyes away from her. The fact that he had watched four other women dance just as provocatively wearing even less clothing and hadn’t been the least bit moved didn’t matter…couldn’t matter.

His gaze roamed the audience who seemed to be eating up the performance. Based on the ear-splitting wolf whistles, Dark Angel was a definite hit.

Even though the killer wouldn’t come after her on stage, Jake carefully assessed each man. It was too dark to see faces but he had good enough night vision to observe body language. Not the best way to identify a killer, but seeing something ‘off’ could help pinpoint a possible suspect.

Tonight, on the way back to the apartment, would be the real test. Angela would walk home, seemingly alone and vulnerable. If the killer was watching tonight’s performance and followed her, he would get the impression that Angela was easy prey. Jake looked forward to showing the bastard just how very alone she wasn’t.

Shrill whistles brought his attention back to the stage. Jake cursed, softly, vehemently. Angela was hanging upside down from the pole, her long, beautiful legs twisting around the hard steel with a grace and strength that defied description. He had held her in his arms and felt the slenderness of her body but beneath the soft, silky skin was solid muscle. She made another twist, whirled and then landed back on her feet.

Once again, Jake forced his eyes away from the stage. He had two jobs, protecting Angela and catching a killer. Neither of those responsibilities involved staring like a salivating, sex-starved fiend. Unfortunately that was exactly how he felt.

As the song came to an end, the catcalls and whistles grew louder. Jake stood and moved easily between the tables, his eyes looking for any kind of a threat. No one even noticed his existence—he could be invisible. Their eyes were riveted to the stage. He dared a glance at the stage and jerked to a stop in the middle of the floor, his breath caught in his lungs. Other than the bikini panties and boots, Angela was completely nude. She’d even taken off those damn gloves.

Only by reminding himself that her protection was his number one priority was he able to look away. He turned and surveyed the crowd. All eyes were still focused on Dark Angel, seemingly mesmerized.

Just when he thought her first performance would end with no drama, a gorilla-sized man flung himself toward the stage, his giant hand within inches of grabbing Angela’s ankle. As if it was a natural part of her performance, Angela gracefully stepped out of the man’s reach. Roddy had warned them this might happen. It took every ounce of Jake’s self-control to allow Justin Kelly to take care of the guy. The LCR operative grabbed the man by the collar, easily wrangling him back into his chair and then leaned over him for several seconds. Whatever Kelly had said worked because the man nodded and stayed seated.

The music ended and at last Angela’s performance was over. Jake watched her as she left the stage, walking in that long-legged, loose-hipped sexy way she had, her strides unhurried and languid, full of that sexy confidence that had enthralled him from the first time he met her.

Dragging his attention away, he turned back to the audience. Anyone seem too extreme in their response? As another dancer was announced, he waited to see if anyone would walk out, thinking he’d found his next victim. No one moved.

It had been a long shot to believe the man could be targeted the first night, on the first performance. This might be a long, arduous op, taking weeks to complete. If tonight was any indication, Jake knew he was in for a tortuous time.



Angela sat alone in a corner of the dressing room. The other dancers seemed to recognize her need for isolation. Had they felt something similar their first time on stage? She had been so confident, sure that the experience wouldn’t faze her. How wrong she had been.

Dancing in front of a small group in class, with a friendly, supportive instructor calling out directions and fellow classmates shouting encouraging words was a completely different experience from the real thing. The shouts had been lascivious and lewd, the encouragement had been vulgar, and the atmosphere had been anything but friendly.

Jake had been in that crowd. Of course she hadn’t been able to see him but knowing he was in the audience had eased the feeling of aloneness as she’d stepped out onto the stage. That reassurance changed quickly. He had witnessed the crowd’s reaction. She had known it wouldn’t be easy for him but what she hadn’t anticipated was how hard it would be for her, knowing he was watching it unfold.

Had he lost respect for her? Right now, friendship and respect were all they had. Would this mission she’d fought so hard for cost her that?

“Everything okay, ducky?”

Angela turned to see Monique, a tall, slender redhead whose stage name of Chili Pepper suited her.

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

“First time?”

“Yes.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“Did you have problems the first time?”

“Oh yeah, cried for hours after. Told myself I wouldn’t come back.”

“Why did you?”

“Because I’m good and I make a lot of money. It got easier.”

“How?”

She stared above Angela’s head for several seconds and then said, “Distance. It’s a job, not who I am. When I’m out there, I dance to the music, I think about a lover…” She shrugged and added, “Guess I go somewhere else.”

That’s what she had thought she could do too, but somehow that hadn’t worked out. Not only had she been aware of the gawking, salacious eyes of the audience and Jake’s overwhelming presence, she had been acutely conscious that one of those lust-filled gawkers might well be a serial killer. All of that was a bit much to handle for a first-time gig.

The sound of her cellphone pulled Angela back to the here and now. This was a job, nothing more. She had to keep that in mind. Thanking Monique for her advice, Angela reached for the phone she’d left at her dressing table.

“Hello?”

“You okay?”

Angela closed her eyes as Jake’s deep, steadying voice soothed her. She wasn’t alone in all of this. He was her partner and her friend.

“I’m fine.” And because she was vain enough to want reassurance, she asked, “So how did I do?”

The long pause before he answered made her tense up. Had she done that badly?

“If you were any better, I would’ve had to jump up on the stage and carry you away.”

She laughed, relieved to hear her nervousness hadn’t shown through to ruin her performance. “To protect me from all the ravenous wolves in the audience?”

Another long pause. Angela could almost feel the electricity coming through the phone. When he answered, his voice was deeper, thicker. “The ravenous wolves had nothing to do with me wanting to carry you away.”

“Oh.” Amazing how one could become aroused in an instant. If Jake had been anywhere within touching distance, she would have been wrapped around him.

“You’re not on for another hour. I think it would be best if you stay in the dressing room till your next set.”

“Best for whom? You or me?”

His sigh exploded in her ear. “I’ll see you after your performance. Stay with the plan.”

Disappointed but not surprised, Angela answered coolly, “Will do.”

She ended the call and dropped the phone onto the dresser. She shouldn’t push him, she knew that. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t explained his reasons for not wanting to get involved. She knew his reasons. That should be enough to keep her away, but it wasn’t.





Chapter Nine

The night was too damn dark, almost eerie. Even the sky gave no relief of moonlight or stars. It was as if a black blanket covered the earth. The only light came from the soft glow of evenly spaced streetlights along the path. Cobblestones glistened beneath his feet while wisps of grey mist danced and spiraled around him like ghostly marionettes. Jake wasn’t much of a horror movie buff but he’d seen enough as a kid to recognize a great atmosphere for a werewolf or vampire to pop out. Somehow, he’d rather deal with that kind of monster than the one they were hunting.

Angela, approximately seven yards ahead of him, was open, easy prey. Jake’s focus was on his partner and their surroundings. She looked exactly as she needed to appear—alone, vulnerable, and completely unaware of any possible danger.

Kelly and Riley were out here, too. Both behind him, one to the right, the other to his left. He could neither see nor hear them but he felt their presence. If anything happened, they could respond in seconds.