Chapter 3
3
Leah
My mouth falls open in surprise.
Claudia gives me a little finger wave. Her blond hair is pulled back in a loose ponytail, and her dark blue eyes are without the heavy liner she always wore on the show.
“I’m Claudia.” She steps into the room past Cora and holds out her hand. She’s wearing a teal velour sweatsuit and the kindest smile I’ve ever had thrown my way. “And you must be Leah.”
“Um, yeah.” I accept her handshake. My mind stutters over what the hell is going on and holy shit I’m talking to Claudia McAvoy .
She grins. “I’m here to take you out to dinner. You’re free, right?”
“I—I don’t have plans.”
“Yay!” She claps her hands.
One thing her succubus role never showed was just how joyful she seems, through and through. Her Giselle character was broody and standoffish. But Claudia herself has a girlish, happy demeanor. Most unlikely casting ever, I think. Or she’s a helluva great actor. Probably both.
“Is Gage coming?” I ask.
“Shh.” She lowers her voice in a conspiratorial whisper. “He doesn’t know. I’m supposed to be locked up in rehab.”
“Um…” Maybe she shouldn’t be here. I don’t want her to get in trouble. “Are you sure this is okay?”
She grins. “It’s okay, really. They gave me permission to leave. I mean, they sort of have to because I signed in voluntarily. And I had to meet you. I wrangled a few bits of info out of Gage on the phone this morning—and you and I must talk. Say yes?”
I don’t know what to say. Yes, obviously. But will Gage be upset?
There’s no time to worry about it, because Claudia’s whisking me away. Cora trails us, a bemused look on her face. I wonder if she watched AoG back in the day.
“I’ll drive.” Cora unlocks Gage’s car and opens the rear door for Claudia and me. “Where are we going?”
“Chez Michel.” Claudia grins over at me as we climb into the back seat. “Gage has taken me there a couple of times. They have an incredible bouillabaisse.”
“Cool,” I say softly.
Fifteen minutes later, we’re walking into Chez Michel. The brick-red walls bear gilt-framed Impressionist art, and the black-and-white tiled floor gleams. I feel vastly underdressed in my jeans and button-down blouse. But Claudia is wearing a sweatsuit, so I fit in with her, at least.
The host, a scrawny, middle-aged man, blinks at Claudia when she gives her name for the reservation. “Right this way, Ms. McAvoy.”
Claudia says, “Please make sure our security is given a table nearby, with her meal added onto my tab.”
The host nods. “Of course, Ms. McAvoy.”
Claudia grins at me like we’re on some grand, exciting adventure.
I already adore this woman. She has all the charisma of a politician, stuffed into a petite thirty-something succubus’s body.
Once we’re seated and we’ve ordered drinks, Claudia gives me a serious look. “So. Tell me everything about you.”
“Oh. Um, I work with teens, tutoring them in English. And now test prep.”
“That’s what you do ,” Claudia protests. “Not who you are .”
I stare at her. Who am I?
“I’ll start.” Claudia takes a sip of her virgin Bloody Mary. “I’m thirty-nine years old and I love people. I like knowing what they’re thinking and feeling. I love mimicking them—I almost went into comedy instead of acting, because impressions came so naturally to me. There are a few people on this earth who I know well enough to say I love, and that includes the Shinies. Especially Gage.”
I remember the brief flare of jealousy I’d felt when I first heard him talking on the phone with her. It faded entirely, and even her admission that she loves him now doesn’t dredge it back up again. She loves him with fondness and affection, but not with romantic passion.
“Now you go,” she urges.
“Okay. I’m twenty-three, and I’m a word nerd. Not like, etymology or linguistics, but syntax. How phrases and words go together to make meaning, how they create and affect feelings. I love analyzing literature and seeing why things work in books and stories.”
“Nice.” She nods.
The waiter shows up to take our order. I order the bouillabaisse at Claudia’s urging, and she informs the waiter that we’ll share a few appetizers as well.
Once the waiter leaves, she pesters me with questions about books and words. I feel myself blush periodically, unused to a near-stranger’s fascination with the inner workings of my mind. But she is exactly what she said—curious about who I am as a person, wanting to know what I’m thinking and feeling.
“Well, it’s official.” She sits back in her chair. “I adore you.”
I laugh.
She smiles. “No, really. I can see why Gage is so gone for you. You are incredibly kind, and smart. Being gorgeous doesn’t hurt. And you’re just as thirsty for love, knowledge, and power as he is.”
Thirsty for love and knowledge—I can see that. “Power?”
“Power in a dynamic. It’s…” She taps her fingernails on the edge of the table, thinking. “It’s an interpersonal thing. Not an I’m trying to take over the world thing. He gets his power from dominating. You get your power from deciding who will dominate.”
Holy crap. “I think you’re right. But I never thought of it that way—not exactly.”
Claudia shrugs. “I’ve been around enough therapists over the past twenty-odd years, I’ve picked up some things.”
“Wow.” This woman is incredible. Of course she is—Gage counts her as his closest friend. She would have to be special, to achieve that honor.
“So, I don’t want to meddle, but I think that ship has already sailed.” Claudia gives me a guilty grin, and her dark blue eyes sparkle. “I’m really glad you’re with Gage. I think you’re good for him. He really changed during AoG but now…I think you’re bringing him back.”
“Changed?” I tense.
“Just, after all that stuff with Billings.” Claudia’s voice drops—she’d been happy, joyful, sweet. Now she sounds bitter and hard.
“Harvey Billings?”
“Fucking psychopath. Yeah.”
“I don’t know anything about it.” I hold up my hands. “And don’t tell me. I should probably let Gage tell me about it. If he wants to.”
Her dark blue eyes fill with pity. “He won’t—at least not voluntarily. But I won’t say much. Just that Billings was cruel. His daughter tries to paint him as an aging old man who was done wrong by a bunch of spoiled actors. But that’s so, so far from the truth. After that, Nic really did a number on Gage, cheating with Javi. But I’ve already said too much.” She shakes her head and gives me a sad smile. “That’s what happens when I sense someone is trustworthy—I overshare. It’s a hazard in Hollywood.”
I make a mental note to look up Harvey Billings later. I vaguely remember some kind of scandal, years ago. Up until now, I didn’t realize he was part of AoG.
Or maybe I should let it be. After all, this is Gage’s story to tell me. Claudia said too much. And just because Gage lived for so long in the public eye doesn’t mean I need to take advantage of the information available.
Claudia tells me she has to get back to LA, that the rehab center isn’t thrilled she left to begin with. “I just had to meet you, though.” She hugs me warmly. “And I’m so glad I did.”
I hug her back. I’m glad she’s looking out for Gage—it seems like he doesn’t have too many friends in his corner.
Well, he has Claudia and me. And Dmitri, too.
And whatever happened in the past, we’ll get through it.
* * *
Dmitri
I haven’t seen Leah or Gage since yesterday morning. I don’t like that they live together and I live apart. It puts me at a disadvantage. I should get at least equal time with Leah, but Gage gets her at all hours of the day, just because he lives there. I have to make arrangements to see her.
This will definitely be a problem going forward. I don’t want to be the stud in some weird cuck arrangement, or the afterthought boyfriend.
I’m stationed at the rear entrance of Low Vice tonight. The early April night is crisp against my face, easily keeping me awake and alert.
After an hour, I go inside for a warming cup of coffee. As I pass one of the booths, someone laughs and says, “Layton’s gone for her.”
My ears perk up. Why is Layton everywhere lately? I glance around the club. He’s not even here—and he isn’t a member—but people are talking about him. I’m really starting to hate that bastard.
I take my coffee and get the hell out before I can overhear even more about Layton. The Laytons could be making a move on the Aseyev territory, now that Granddad is sick. That’s exactly the kind of thing they’d do—spot a weakness and move in. I wouldn’t blame them. Truth is, I wouldn’t even care, except I don’t know how they’d treat the remaining Aseyevs. Granddad’s evil friends can all go straight to hell, but what about the rest of us?
I’ve seen the brutality. I’ve been a part of it. I want none of that for my family.
A car pulls into the lot and idles. Gage climbs out.
“Where’s your car?” I ask as he gets closer.
“Leah’s driving it. Well, her bodyguard is.”
“Leah has a bodyguard,” I say flatly.
“I felt it best, given recent events.”
Can’t argue with that. I’d wrap that girl up in tissue and bubble wrap if I could.
Another car shows up, and three men and a woman get out. One of the men holds a leash connected to the woman’s wrist. Already playing—or they may have a 24/7 dynamic.
Gage stops in front of me. “I need to speak with you. When is your next break?”
“I can take it as soon as I let this group in.”
Gage steps inside while I check the IDs and membership cards of the new group. I recognize two of the men and exchange brief hellos, tell them all to be safe and have fun. The woman doesn’t make eye contact, but a small smile plays on her lips.
I follow them inside, wondering what Gage wants to talk about.
Something about Gage felt off. He’s been weird ever since he got the news his ex was killed. If it were anyone else, I’d think maybe he held some kind of torch for Nicola Johnson. But he doesn’t seem sad—at least, not about her.
I let Fouad know I’m taking a quick break and make my way to Gage’s office.
The door’s open, so I step inside. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I suppose I’ll get right to it. I love Leah. You love Leah.”
“Yeah. I do.” I have for a long time, longer than he’s known her. But this isn’t a dick measuring contest, so I keep that part silent.
“How do you feel about the way things are going?”
This is more self-reflection than I was prepared for. “Uh, I think it’s going well. The most important part is that Leah is happy. She’ll be happier once she realizes we aren’t going to stop loving her.”
He nods shortly. “I agree.”
A text from Fouad appears on my phone. Leah is here, asking for you .
“Leah’s here.” I show the message to Gage as I text Fouad, Send her to Gage’s office .
Gage frowns. “We won’t be able to talk, after all.”
“Talk about what?”
Fouad texts back that Leah’s on her way.
Gage folds his hands together over his desk, so tightly his knuckles go white. “I asked her to marry me.”