Deadly Dancing

by Nicolette Pierce

  “You don’t like them?”

  “Them? You have two?”

  I nodded.

  He groaned. “At least I have the rest of the day to come up with a plan to get them off you.”

  Something to look forward to.

  “Looks like it’s time to go.”

  Kym didn’t want her reception in the garden. She wanted to make sure there was air-conditioning and proper plumbing. I completely agreed with her on those points. Especially since this dress was starting to cling to the beads of sweat forming on my skin.

  Brett drove us to the hotel where the reception was being held.

  “Don’t let me drink more than one glass of champagne,” I told him.

  “I don’t seem to be able to stop you from doing much.”

  “You’ll have to do your best. Champagne goes right to my head. If I drink anything else with it, I’ll start puking.”

  “Duly noted.”

  Emmy and Curtis greeted guests at the main entrance and pointed them in the direction of the ballroom.

  Curtis elbowed Emmy when I arrived. He wasn’t at the wedding, so he hadn’t seen me yet.

  “It’s not polite to stare,” I scolded as Brett and I walked past. It didn’t stop him.

  The ballroom was lovely. The champagne favors were sitting on the table, labels faced to the front. Candles flickered on each table. Gifts were already piled on the designated table.

  My gift to Kym was still sitting at home. I’ll have to give it to her later when I’m allowed to go back home. I sighed. It’s only been a couple of nights, but I miss my home.

  The string quartet from the Stevensons’ party was there and already playing. They would play through dinner. The Swinging Aces band would take over for the rest of the night.

  “I have to sit at the head table for dinner,” I told Brett. “Where are you going to be?”

  “Standing at the ballroom doors. T will sit by the emergency exit doors.”

  “But you have to eat too.”

  “I already know what’s on my menu for the night, sweet thing,” he said, playing with the strap on my dress.

  I was good and drank water for most of the evening. I sipped my one glass of champagne cautiously, even though family and friends kept popping up out of their seats like groundhogs to toast the happy couple.

  I had to swat Ed’s straying hand multiple times as he reached under the table for my thigh. And once he got a little farther than my thigh, I snatched my fork to take a stab at his hand. I missed, but he didn’t touch me again after that.

  The Swinging Aces started playing. A small scattering of people were on the dance floor getting their groove on—or whatever it’s called when your arms and legs betray you. Once the booze kicked in, the dance floor would start pulsating with drunken aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmas, and grandpas.

  Most of the family had booked rooms at the hotel, so I didn’t need to worry about drunk drivers. Figuring I’d be alone at the wedding, I had even booked a hotel room so I didn’t have to worry about driving home.

  Emmy had passed out the room keys toward the end of dinner. I took mine and hid it in my stocking. I wasn’t going to tell Brett about the room. He’d have whisked me up there before I could finish my dinner.

  Speaking of dinner, I hoped he had eaten something. He had been standing at the door during the whole dinner. In between my battles with Ed my eyes had kept straying over to look at him, but he was always occupied. His eyes were narrow, scanning people as they came and left, and even if they were just passing by the door.

  I touched the back of Brett’s arm. “Are you hungry?”

  His face was set. He was in cop mode. “I’ll eat later.”

  “You’re not on duty. This is a party.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Do you want to eat at the bar? There aren’t too many people in there.”

  “Go enjoy yourself, sweet thing. I’ll come find you at ten thirty so we can head to Fenwig’s.”

  “You’ll eat then?”

  “After.”

  I bit my nail. “You could have room service in my room.”

  “You have a room here?”

  “Yes. Had I known I was going to be here with you, I never would have booked it.”

  “You’re not afraid to be alone with me, are you?” He smirked.

  “Only if there is a bed involved.”

  “Where’s the key? You don’t have any pockets, and it’s not in your hands.”

  I didn’t say anything. His hand flew to my back, steering me to the elevator. Uh-oh!

  “Wait. I have to check on Kym.”

  “She’s dancing with her husband right now. They look cute; don’t disturb them.”

  I tapped my foot in the elevator.

  “Nervous?”

  “You make me nervous.”

  Brett seized the opportunity and slipped the dress strap off my shoulder. He lowered his mouth to kiss the hollow of my neck and shoulders. The elevator opened.

  “After you,” he said.

  “Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I said, sliding the strap back into place.

  “I want to see what you’re wearing under that dress.”

  “You already saw.”

  “Not everything.” Brett swooped me up, carrying me to the door. “Open it.”

  I slid the card out of my stocking and into the card reader. The little light turned green. Brett turned the handle and carried me in.

  He stood me on the floor in the middle of the room and then lounged in a chair. “Take it off.”

  “No,” I said. “You have to order room service.”

  Brett’s eyes darkened. Mine widened. I had forgotten how much he loves a challenge.

  “Come here.”

  “No.”

  “You’re being stubborn again.”

  “I’m only being stubborn because you are.”

  “If I call room service, will you come here?”

  “Yes.”

  Brett picked up the phone and placed an order for food and a bottle of champagne.

  “I’ve already had a glass of champagne. Anymore and I’ll get drunk.”

  “It’s a risk I’m willing to take. Now, come over here.”

  I moved in close to him.

  “Unzip it.”

  I did, slowly. Brett tugged on the hem, letting the dress fall to my feet.

  He groaned. He looped his arms around my legs. His teeth bit into the garter belt to make it snap.

  “I always assumed I’d die by taking a bullet during a bust, but I had it wrong. You are going to be the death of me. Since I met you, you’ve had me running on nonstop high gear.”

  I sat down on his lap. My fingers carelessly played with the rugged stubble on his face. His eyes were velvety smooth. I kissed him under his jaw and down to his neck.

  A knock on the door jolted me back to reality.

  “Room service,” a female voice announced from the other side of the door.

  Already? I grabbed my dress and ran into the bathroom to put it back on. Damn Brett. He gets me so wound up.

  I zipped the dress, briefly looked at my reflection in the mirror, and returned to the room.

  The room service attendant was standing by the table with her back to me.

  “The service here is really fast,” I said.

  The woman turned around and smiled.

  “Annie?” I asked. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

  “It’s only temporary,” she said.

  “Brett, can you believe it’s Annie?” I peeked around Annie. His head was slumped over. “Brett?”

  “Brett’s sleeping right now,” Annie said.

  “How is he sleeping? He was just awake. He opened the door for you.” I looked to see if I could see any movement from Brett.

  “I stunned him,” she stated. “Just like I’m going to do to you.” A smile flashed as her eyes glinted.

  Chapter 15

  My eyes snapped to
Annie. It looked like Annie, the bartender, but somewhere inside her something was broken. Her eyes were wild, her skin was white and taught, and her lips created a violent sneer.

  “Why are you doing this?” I asked, backing up.

  “You stole him,” she snarled. “I warned you to back off. He’s mine.”

  Annie lunged at me with the stun gun. It grazed my arm for a split second. I fell to the ground, dazed but not knocked out. I rubbed the spot that she had zapped.

  “You can’t get us out of here without people noticing. Just give up and leave us alone,” I said as my head buzzed from the electric jolt.

  “I don’t need to get you out of here,” she said. Her lips curved into an eerie smile.

  Annie threw the tablecloth off the serving cart to reveal a sledgehammer. Her hand seized it, dragging it to her.

  “I’ll scream. People will hear.”

  “You think I’m stupid, huh?” Annie cackled. “You think I’ve been dodging cops this whole time by pure luck?”

  My eyes focused on Brett.

  “Yeah, I knew he was a cop. But as soon as he stepped on the dance floor, I knew he was meant for me. I made him turn from a cop into a dancer.”

  “Is that when you turned from Jesse to Brett?” My eyes flicked around the room searching for weapons.

  “What do you know of Jesse?” she spit out.

  “I know what I heard between you and Karina.”

  “She’s a fool.” Annie paced the room. She kept her twitching eye on me. “Jesse was mine, but then Brett showed up. Brett’s better than any of them. Jesse made a mess of everything. He was arrogant and used his body for money. He had to be put down.”

  “You killed him?”

  “I don’t kill men, just whores like you.”

  “Then who killed him?”

  Annie yanked the sledgehammer and smacked it in her hand. “It doesn’t really matter. None of it will change your fate.”

  “Please, let us go,” I begged.

  “Brett’s mine!” Annie stepped closer. “Oh, I’ll let you go. Hell is waiting for sluts like you, but I’m going to have a little fun with you first.”

  “Help!” I screamed. “Someone please help!”

  “I told you, I’m not stupid. This floor has been marked for renovation starting on Monday. They don’t have anyone booked on this floor . . . except you.” She let out a low, fierce laugh. “So, go ahead and scream. No one will hear you. Just imagine the mess they’ll have to clean up on Monday,” she taunted me. “Your face will be smashed in and they’ll wonder who you could be. Brett will forget about you. When he wakes up, I’ll tell him you ran away with the EMT. He’ll believe that.”

  Annie paced in front of me. The sledgehammer swung in her hand. “I saw the way that EMT looked at you. You already had him, but you didn’t stop there. You had to dig your claws into Brett.” Her anger grew with each pass.

  “I didn’t. Please let me go!” I eyed Brett for any sign of movement.

  “You should have died with the drugs I mixed into your mai tai. He saved you. They both saved you!”

  “No, the woman with the crazy hair drugged me.”

  Annie stopped pacing. She snatched my hair, wrapping it around her hand. She yanked my head back, glaring into my eyes.

  “Who do you think paid her to do it?” She pulled on my hair with such force that the muscles in my neck strained. “Why do you think I left your glass on the bar while I went to the back to get juice? I added more in because of your slut outfit.” She slammed my head against the wall, releasing my hair.

  I winced as my head throbbed with blinding pain.

  Annie slid her eyes to me. Her face was pinched with hatred. “I’m glad you didn’t die from the drugs. It was a misjudgment on my part. Why would I want to kill you so easily, without the added pain and suffering you deserve?” Her eye twitched. The sledgehammer no longer swung down by her legs. She hoisted it up.

  “No!”

  Annie swung the hammer. I dodged as it crushed the wall behind me. Drywall crumbled on me.

  “Don’t do this, Annie.” I desperately tried to think of anything that would keep her talking and not swinging. “You already killed Brett’s sister. If you kill me too, he’ll hate you forever.”

  “She could have been my bridesmaid at our wedding, but she was a slut and had to be punished.”

  I racked my brain for a way to stall her. “I can help you plan your wedding to Brett. It will be magical. You’ll be the prettiest bride ever.” I cringed, she can’t be buying this.

  Annie stopped a moment to look longingly at Brett. He was still slumped over in the chair. I dashed for the door. Annie spun around before I could reach it. She lunged, smashing the door handle clean off. There was no escape.

  “I–I was just going to get my event book,” I lied. “I could show you samples.”

  “Enough!” Annie yelled. “I’m going to enjoy killing you more than the others.”

  Annie swung at me with the hammer. I leapt and threw myself to the other side. The hammer crashed down on the bedside lamp. She spun around and attacked again. I ducked, feeling the breeze of the hammer pass my head. I kept low and rammed myself into her. It knocked her off balance. I flung myself on her, wrapping my arms and legs around her to keep her from using the hammer.

  “Get off!” she screeched.

  Annie dropped the hammer in the struggle. I could barely keep a hold of her. She smashed us into the wall, loosening my grip. She rammed us again. My back hit the wall. The air whooshed from my lungs, and I crumpled to the floor. I tried to catch my breath, lungs burning with the loss.

  Annie strolled across the room as I wheezed. She plucked the sledgehammer from the floor and let it swing near her legs as she advanced. She stood above me, raising the hammer to strike. I couldn’t move or scream. I watched as the hammer slammed down toward me.

  “I love you,” Brett slurred.

  I blinked as the hammer stopped an inch from my head. Annie turned to Brett. She blocked my view. I gasped for air.

  “Annie, I love you,” Brett said, groggily. “I only used Mars to make you jealous. You’re the only one I really love.”

  Annie hesitated but then lowered the hammer and took a step toward Brett. He was still sitting in the chair. His eyes were unfocused as he struggled to regain consciousness. I had to act quickly.

  “But you call her pet names, and you protected her from me,” Annie said, confused.

  “I only did that to protect you. I don’t want my future wife to be a murderer anymore.”

  “Wife?” she asked in a slightly happy, delusional voice.

  I crawled to the wall, pulling myself up to lean against it.

  “Of course,” Brett said. “We can get married tomorrow if you want.”

  “Oh, Bre…”

  Thud.

  I stood over Annie with her stun gun in my hand.

  “Took you long enough,” Brett said.

  “Took me long enough? While you were sleeping, she nearly scrambled my brains!”

  Brett stood to lumber the few steps to me. I could tell it took a lot of effort. I softened. He grabbed me, pulling me into his arms.

  “When I said I love you, it was meant for you,” Brett whispered in my ear.

  I stared at him in shock. My heart must have been shocked too because it stopped in beating. Brett loves me? I never imagined I’d hear those words from his lips. Maybe he was zapped too hard by the stun gun.

  Brett let me go, not asking for the same declaration. He snatched his cuffs from the back waistband of his pants. Annie was still unconscious when he snapped the handcuffs on her. His face was stone as he looked at her. I couldn’t read him.

  Brett reached into his pocket and grabbed his cell phone to call T.

  “Hey, I have the Hammer in cuffs. Come up and babysit,” Brett said. “Oh, and I’ll slip the key under the door. The door knob in here is busted.” He hung up.

  “Why does T need to watch her
? Can’t you just call the police to pick her up?”

  “I could, but I won’t. I’m transporting her back to Texas.” He could tell that I still didn’t understand. “I made a promise to my parents.”

  I nodded.

  T made it to the room in good time. He left Emmy down in the ballroom to keep an eye on the reception.

  He looked down at Annie as he entered. “I can’t believe you fucking caught her. She don’t look like much,” he said to Brett.

  “I didn’t. Mars was the one who stunned her.”

  “Not bad, shorty,” he said with a grin that warmed his otherwise scary persona.

  “Can you watch her until I get back?”

  “Yeah, sure. Just leave the stun gun.”

  Brett tossed the stun gun to T and grabbed my hand. I snatched the champagne bottle as we left the room. Forget my rule. I’ve earned a good sloshing with champagne.

  In the elevator, Brett dusted the drywall off me. He lingered in certain areas. I took a large gulp of champagne. It fizzed on the way down.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “We still have a date at eleven.”

  “We’re still going?”

  “You don’t think a serial killer is going to stop me?”

  “I keep forgetting you’re not normal.”

  “The police will meet us a few blocks away from their house.”

  “You got all the drywall off me, didn’t you?”

  He inspected me. “Yes, and you’re still looking hot.”

  I didn’t feel hot, but I smiled anyway and took another gulp.

  “How are you getting T to help you with Annie?”

  “Professional courtesy.”

  I stared him down. “Professional courtesy, my ass.”

  “What if I said a percentage of the reward for turning her in?”

  “Better. I at least believe that.”

  Brett and I walked through the lobby to get to the parking lot. Jocelyn stood in the lobby with her arms crossed. She wasn’t happy about something. She turned and saw us. Her eyes narrowed to slits. Brett wrapped his arm around my shoulder, ushering me past her and out the door. I had a nasty feeling she was going to make my life hell for the next year.