Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sienna
I squinted at the mirror, adjusting the sequined top of Venus’s costume. It was snug in all the wrong places, designed for her petite frame rather than my taller, curvier one. Sighing, I reached for the double-sided tape. This wasn’t my first rodeo with wardrobe emergencies, but it had been a while since I’d had to MacGyver an outfit quite like this.
“Dammit, Venus,” I muttered, securing the top in place. “You couldn’t have given me a little more notice?”
The text from Venus still burned in my mind. No explanation, no warning—just a terse message saying she quit and wouldn’t be back. It was so unlike her that alarm bells were ringing in my head, but I pushed them aside for now. I had a show to save. I glanced at the clock. Ten minutes until the curtain rises.
I slipped into my heels and gave myself one last once-over in the mirror. It would do. It had to.
A pang of disappointment twisted in my chest as I made my way to the stage. Venus was my ace, my star performer. Losing her was like losing my right arm. But I’d been in this business long enough to know that the show must go on, with or without my star.
I nodded at Darcy as I took my position on stage. She gave me a thumbs up and the music started.
My body moved on autopilot, muscle memory kicking in as I lost myself in the routine. For a moment, I forgot about Venus, about the chaos of the day, about everything except the music and the movement.
Then I felt it. A gaze so intense it was almost physical. I turned, mid-spin, and locked eyes with Fury Gracen.
Time seemed to stand still. His eyes were dark, unreadable, but there was something in the air between us that made my skin tingle. For a heartbeat, I forgot to breathe.
Then he looked away, and the spell was broken. I stumbled slightly, cursing under my breath as I forced myself back into the rhythm of the dance.
When the music ended, I was breathing hard, and not just from the exertion. I grabbed a water bottle, chugging it down as I tried to shake off the lingering effects of Fury’s gaze.
“Alright, ladies,” I called out as the dancers filed in. “We’ve got some changes to discuss for this next performance.”
I briefed them on Venus’s resignation, watching their faces for any signs of wavering. But these girls were made of stronger stuff. They nodded, determined, ready to step up and fill the gap.
Pride swelled in my chest. They were survivors, every one of them. Just like me.
“Okay, let’s do our best,” I said, clapping my hands.
As the dancers lined up, I heard a familiar voice behind me. “Sienna, darling. I didn’t know you were back on stage.”
I turned to find Gavin approaching, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “I’m not,” I said, suddenly very aware of how little Venus’s costume covered. “It’s just... Venus quit. No notice, no explanation. She just sent a text saying she was done.”
Gavin’s face darkened. “Venus quit? Why wasn’t I informed immediately?”
I shrugged, feeling a twinge of guilt. “It just happened, Gavin. I was trying to sort out the routine before bringing it to you.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “This is... unfortunate. Venus was one of our top draws.”
“I know,” I said, the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. “I’m handling it, Gavin. We’ll make it work.”
He nodded, but I could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. “If you need anything—resources, extra staff, whatever—just let me know. We can’t afford any hiccups right now.”
There was something in his tone that set off alarm bells in my head. “Gavin? Is everything okay?”
He waved off my concern, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. “Nothing for you to worry about, darling. Just focus on the show.”
As he turned to leave, I felt a surge of determination. Something wasn’t right here—with Venus, with Gavin, with this whole situation. And I was going to get to the bottom of it.
After our performance, I headed back to the dressing room, my mind racing. As soon as the door closed behind me, I was pulling out my phone, dialing Venus’s number. It went straight to voicemail.
“Venus, it’s Sienna. Call me back as soon as you get this. We need to talk.”
I hung up and immediately sent a text: “Venus, what’s going on? Are you okay? Please call me.”
No response. I tried again. And again. Each unanswered call, each unread text, ratcheted up my anxiety. This wasn’t like Venus. She’d always been reliable, always answered when I called. Something was definitely wrong.
I paced the room, my mind whirling with possibilities. Did something happen to her? Was she in trouble? Or did she just decide she’d had enough of this life and wanted out?
Venus wasn’t just my star dancer—she was my friend. And I’d be damned if I was going to let her leave without a fight.
My mind was already formulating a plan. I knew her usual haunts, her favorite spots in the city. If she was out there, I’d find her. And if she was in trouble... well, I had connections in this town. People who owed me favors. I’d call them in if I had to.
A knock at my door made me jump. “Come in.”
It was Darcy, looking worried. “Hey, Sienna. I just wanted to check if you um, heard from Venus?”
I forced a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. “No, I haven’t heard anything. But I’m sure she’s fine.”
Darcy nodded, but I could see the doubt in her eyes. She’d known Venus almost as long as I had. She knew this wasn’t like her.
“Okay, well, if you need anything...” she trailed off, fidgeting with her headphones.
“I’ll let you know,” I finished for her. “Thanks, Darcy.”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. Venus’s address burned in my mind like a neon sign, flashing and impossible to ignore. I needed to find Venus, make sure she was okay. The worry gnawing at my gut wouldn’t let me do anything else.
The taxi ride to Venus’s neighborhood was a blur of signs and honking horns. As we pulled up to her building, my heart sank. The place was a dump, all crumbling brick and graffiti-covered walls. It was a stark reminder of how hard it was to make it in this city, even for someone as talented as Venus.
“You sure this is the right place, lady?” the cabbie asked, eyeing the building warily.
I nodded, handing him a twenty. “Unfortunately, yeah. Thanks for the ride.”
As I stepped out onto the cracked sidewalk, the smell of garbage and stale urine assaulted my nostrils. God, how did Venus live like this? I made a mental note to talk to Gavin about raising salaries. Our girls deserved better than this.
I pushed through the front door, wincing at the groan of rusty hinges. A sign on the elevator declared it “OUT OF ORDER” in angry red letters. Of course it was. With a sigh, I started the long climb up five flights of stairs.
By the time I reached Venus’s floor, I was breathing hard, my calves burning. The hallway was dimly lit, the flickering fluorescent lights casting eerie shadows. I pulled out my phone, double-checking the apartment number before approaching the door.
My heart thundered against my ribs as I lifted my fist to the peeling paint of Venus’s door. I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering inches from the surface. What if she wasn’t there? What if something had happened to her? I pushed the thoughts aside and rapped my knuckles against the worn wood.
“Hold on!” a voice called from inside. It wasn’t Venus, but it was something. I waited, shifting my weight from foot to foot, anxiety coiling in my stomach.
The door swung open, revealing a woman I recognized as Chelsea, Venus’s roommate. She looked like hell, dark circles under her eyes and her hair a mess. Her eyes narrowed as she took me in.
“Can I help you?” she asked, her tone making it clear that she’d rather not.
I pasted on my most charming smile. “Hi, Chelsea. I’m Sienna, Venus’s manager from Club Privé. Is she here?”
Chelsea’s face hardened. “No, she ain’t. And I don’t know where she is, so you can just?—”
“Wait,” I interrupted, holding up a hand. “Please. I’m worried about her. She quit without any notice, and that’s not like her. When was the last time you saw her?”
Chelsea leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms. “Why should I tell you anything? Venus owes me rent, and now she’s gone and disappeared. I’ve got my own problems.”
I bit back a frustrated sigh. This wasn’t getting me anywhere. Time to change tactics.
“Look,” I said, reaching into my purse. “I get it. You’re pissed, and you have every right to be. But I’m just trying to find out if Venus is okay.” I pulled out a twenty-dollar bill. “How about this? You tell me when you last saw her, and this is yours.”
Chelsea’s eyes flicked to the money, then back to me. For a moment, I thought she was going to slam the door in my face. But then she sighed, holding out her hand.
“Fine,” she said as I handed over the cash. “Last time I saw her was Tuesday night. She came home late from work, looking all stressed out. I was heading out for my shift at Little Kitty—that’s the club where I dance,” she added, a hint of defensiveness in her tone.
I felt a chill run down my spine. Little Kitty had a reputation, and it wasn’t a good one. “Did anyone follow you home? Any clients giving you trouble?”
Chelsea’s eyes flashed. “Hey, I’m out of that life. I just dance now, that’s it.”
I held up my hands in a placating gesture. “I get it, believe me. I used to escort, back in the day. I know how hard it can be to get out.”
Something in Chelsea’s face softened at that. She studied me for a moment, as if seeing me for the first time. “Yeah, well... it ain’t easy, that’s for sure.”
I nodded, feeling a moment of connection. “No, it’s not. But you’re doing it, and that’s what matters.” I paused, then added, “I’m just worried about Venus. It’s not like her to quit without saying anything. Are you sure there wasn’t anything unusual that night?”
Chelsea shook her head, a flicker of concern crossing her face. “Nah, nothing I noticed. I mean, she seemed stressed, but that’s not exactly new around here. I figured she’d just moved on to something better, you know? Not... whatever this is.”
“Yeah,” I mumbled. “Me too.” I pulled out one of my business cards, holding it out to her. “Look, if you hear from her, or if you remember anything else, can you call me? Day or night, it doesn't matter.”
Chelsea took the card, turning it over in her hands. “Yeah, sure. I hope she’s okay.”
As she closed the door, I felt a mix of frustration and determination. It wasn’t much to go on, but it was something. I turned to the next apartment, steeling myself to keep knocking on doors. Someone in this building had to know something.
An hour and countless doors later, I was no closer to finding Venus than when I had started. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the dingy hallway. I had to head to the club soon to get ready for tonight’s show. But the thought of leaving, of giving up, made my stomach churn.
I pushed through the front door of the building, the cool evening air a welcome relief after the stuffy hallways. My phone buzzed in my pocket—probably Gavin, wondering where the hell I was. I ignored it for now, needing a moment to collect my thoughts.
As I hailed a cab to Club Privé, I made a mental list of the next steps. I’d need to talk to the other dancers, see if any of them had noticed anything off about Venus lately. And I’d have to do some digging into Little Kitty. If that place was as shady as its reputation suggested, it might be the key to all of this.
The cab weaved through traffic as I checked my phone, wincing at the string of missed calls and texts from Gavin. I’d deal with him when I got back. Right now, all I could think about was Venus.
Where are you, girl? What kind of trouble are you in?
As the familiar facade of Club Privé came into view, I straightened my shoulders and took a deep breath. I had a show to run and a missing friend to find.
The moment I stepped into Club Privé, the pre-show buzz was electric, dancers rushing back and forth, the muffled thump of music from the main floor vibrating through the walls.
“Sienna!” Darcy’s voice cut through the chaos. She was rushing towards me, a headset dangling around her neck and panic in her eyes. “Where have you been? Gavin’s been looking for you everywhere!”
I took a deep breath, steeling myself. “I know. I was following a lead on Venus. Any word from her?”
Darcy shook her head, her expression a mix of worry and frustration. “Nothing. And we’re down two more girls tonight. Jasmine’s got food poisoning, and Trixie sprained her ankle during rehearsal.”
“Shit.” I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process this latest disaster. “Okay, we can work with this. We’ll have to adjust the choreography, maybe pull in some of the waitstaff who know the routines. It’s not ideal, but?—”
“Sienna,” Darcy interrupted, her voice dropping low. “There’s something else. There’s a woman here asking for Fury. She says it’s urgent.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Olivia?” I asked, thinking of the leggy blonde real estate agent I’d seen him with at the restaurant.
Darcy shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s waiting by the bar.”
Great. Just what I needed tonight. Another complication.
“Alright, I’ll handle it,” I sighed. “Can you start working on the new lineup? I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
I made my way to the bar, spotting a woman I didn’t recognize perched on a stool. She was pretty, with long brown hair and wide, anxious eyes. My stomach clenched. This had to be Fury’s girlfriend.
“Can I help you?” I asked, keeping my voice neutral despite the irrational anger bubbling up inside me.
She stood quickly, smoothing down her dress. “Yes, I’m looking for Fury Gracen. It’s important that I speak with him.”
I forced a smile. “He’s in a meeting with the owner right now. I can take you to the office.”
She nodded gratefully, and I led her through the club, my mind racing. Who was this woman? Why was she here? And why did I care so damn much?