Last Dance

by Velvet Vaughn

  Mason followed Cassidy inside the bathroom and closed the door.

  “Sit.” She pointed to the closed toilet seat.

  “I’m not a dog,” he mumbled but dropped down as ordered.

  She rummaged under the sink for her first aid kit. Doctoring Mason’s injury gave her the focus she needed to enter her apartment. For a minute there, she was afraid she couldn’t do it. Then she saw the dried blood on his cheek and the wound that still seeped, and she knew she’d do anything to take care of him.

  She located the red neoprene case that held her supplies. The kit was stocked, so she removed sterile wipes and dabbed at the dried blood on his cheek. This close, she could see the tiny green flecks in his royal blue eyes. His lashes were ridiculously long for a man. Women paid big bucks for thickening mascara and false lashes to garner the same effect. His face was so strong and masculine. The beginning of a five-o’clock shadow dusted his cheeks and the whiskers scraped against the cloth.

  “You might want to leave a little skin.”

  “What? Oh, sorry.” She’d been scrubbing at the same spot while she catalogued his beguiling features. Disposing of the wipe, she found butterfly bandages and applied them to the cut, using the tip of a finger to smooth them out.

  She felt his intense gaze like a laser burning her skin. She met his eyes and was lost. She didn’t know who reached for who, but the next thing she knew, she was straddling him, and they were pressed together, their lips meeting for a deep passionate kiss. Someone moaned and she realized it was her. She could feel the hard length of him beneath her and she rocked her hips. This time, he was the one moaning.

  She’d been so terrified when he risked his life to protect Colin. If he’d been shot… A shudder racked her body. Mason broke the kiss and gathered her in his strong arms.

  “Shh, it’s okay,” he whispered as the shudders turned into full-body tremors. “Just an adrenalin crash.”

  “You c-could’ve b-been k-killed,” she whispered against his neck.

  “I’m fine. We’re all fine. I’ll keep you safe.”

  He rubbed circles on her back, comforting her. She wasn’t sure how long she rested against him, absorbing his strength and body heat. Eventually the shaking stopped. With great regret, she climbed off him. “I better get packing.”

  She opened the door and crossed into her bedroom. Dropping to her hands and knees, she reached under the bed and withdrew a set of luggage.

  Harlow popped her head inside the room. “I can pack your toiletries.”

  “Thank you. That would be great.” Cassidy handed her a case to use.

  Mason appeared in the doorway. “Do you need help in here?”

  “I’ve got it.”

  “Kellan scrounged up boxes, so we’ll pack perishables from your kitchen.”

  “Anything that needs to be refrigerated, I’ll give to Tandi.”

  “Got it.”

  She worked quickly filling one suitcase with clothes and shoes. In the other, she added her laptop and a jewelry box filled with heirlooms and pieces she’d acquired over the years. Her parents kept most of the family photo albums, but she had one that included pictures from her childhood, college and some of her dancing competitions with Colin. A couple of stuffed animals that were her favorites were added, and as she struggled to zipper the cases closed, she realized she might’ve overpacked. The bags were heavy. She was just about to lift one off the bed when Mason appeared again. “Done?”

  She nodded and he picked up both suitcases like they weighed nothing. She shook her head in amazement and turned to close the sliding glass door before following.

  Harlow had neatly packed her shampoos and moisturizers and cosmetics. She’d have just tossed everything inside.

  “I wasn’t sure what to do about towels and washcloths?”

  “I’ll leave them to be boxed up later.”

  Harlow closed the lid and fastened the locks.

  “Do you want to check the kitchen to see if we missed anything?” Kellan asked.

  She did a quick survey and only added a cookbook her cousin had compiled of favorite family recipes. “I think that’s it.”

  “What about all the ribbons and medals?” Harlow indicated the shelf of trophies she’d acquired over the years. “Don’t you want to take them?”

  Most were from her competition days with Colin. She’d been meaning to box them up for a while now. They were her old life. She did grab both sets of Golden Shoes, the prizes from her two DWTC wins.

  “What about the others? Don’t you want to take them?”

  “No. They can wait until I find a new apartment.”

  Harlow glanced at the ocean. “It’s a shame you have to leave. That view is priceless.”

  So was the rent. She’d never find anything comparable. “It is.”

  After one last glance at the place she’d called home the last few years, she followed the others to the door, but grabbed Mason’s arm. “Wait.” His brows lifted in question. “I want to give Tandi the perishables.”

  “Done. I took them over to her a few minutes ago. She said to tell you thank you and to call her soon.” He grabbed the knob but stopped. “I go out first and you two stay close behind. Sawyer will be beside you with Kellan bringing up the rear. We’ll come back for the luggage once you’re safely in the vehicle.” Mason opened the door. “After I make sure the coast is clear.”

  He disappeared outside and Cassidy felt the irrational urge to yank him back in. What if the sniper returned? Next time, it might not be just a scratch.

  He stuck his head back inside. “Stay close.”

  Harlow threaded her arm through Cassidy’s and they stepped out with Sawyer huddling protectively around them. Kellan closed the door and they made their way down the steps like a human train.

  Someone punched a key fob and two beeps sounded. Mason opened the back door of the black SUV and ushered her and Harlow inside. Sawyer climbed in the driver’s seat, she assumed to take off in an emergency.

  “Hey, this is a different car.” There were no broken windows, no bullet holes.

  “Wait until you meet BeBe, their office manager,” Harlow told her. “The guys think she’s part witch because she can get anything done, including the most bizarre requests.”

  Wait until you meet her, sent a secret thrill through Cassidy. Technically, there would be no reason for her to meet the office manager. Except…she would be building her academy in the same town. Excitement fluttered in her belly. For most of the year, she’d be close to Mason. Would he be interested in seeing her after they caught the person terrorizing her? She was definitely interested.

  Mason and Kellan returned with the boxes of food from her cabinets and pantry and then went back for the luggage. Once everything was packed, Mason climbed in beside her and Kellan took the passenger seat. As Sawyer drove to the studio, it seemed surreal that only a couple of hours ago, someone was shooting at them. Real bullets. Real danger.

  How, exactly, had her life become a Hollywood movie?

  Chapter 20

  Mason checked in with Detective Parsa as soon as they arrived at the studio. There’d been no sign of the shooter except for spent shell casings. He didn’t bother to police his brass. The cops collected the shells hoping for fingerprints of the sniper. Mason didn’t hold his breath. It would be a rookie mistake he didn’t think this guy would make.

  He’d just relayed the news to Sawyer and Kellan when a loud scream rent the air. Cassidy and Harlow were sitting on a bench putting on their shoes. Their heads jerked up in tandem.

  “Stay here.” He bounded out the door with Kellan on his heels. Sawyer remained with the women. He ran into the studio where the screaming was coming from and stopped dead in his tracks. A young woman stood in the middle of the room holding something in her hands. Eyes wide as saucers spotted them.

  “I opened a letter and white powder flew everywhere!” she wailed.

  Oh, hell. Now the attacks were biological? “Okay, don
’t panic. I’m calling the police right now.”

  A crowd started to gather in the doorway. Kellan urged them back and closed the door, shutting them inside with the terrified woman. Mason requested a hazmat team immediately and asked for Detective Parsa to be sent to the scene. It was too much of a coincidence that this would happen after all the incidents connected to Cassidy.

  “How up to date are you on your Biothrax vaccine?” Kellan whispered.

  “Current, but it might not be anthrax. It could be something else.” He didn’t want to take the chance of exposure when he had Cassidy’s safety to consider.

  “What do I do?” The woman’s voice was panicked, and she started to shake, sending white powder raining down from the note in her hands.

  “Stay calm,” Kellan told her. “It’s probably just someone’s sick idea of a joke.”

  “Yeah,” Mason added. “Harmless baby powder. No need to get upset.”

  “Do you think so?” Her eyes were hopeful. “I’m not going to die?”

  “We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Kellan assured her.

  “What’s your name?” Mason had seen the woman around but hadn’t officially met her.

  “Jenna. Jenna Lanier.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Jenna. My name’s Mason and this is Kellan.”

  “I’ve seen you both around the set. You’re with Cassidy, right?” Her voice had stopped shaking after they told her it was probably a harmless prank.

  “That’s right. We work for a security company.”

  “The letter I opened is about Cassidy.”

  Mason’s shoulders stiffened. He knew it wasn’t a coincidence. “Can you read what it says?”

  “I warned you about Cassidy. You didn’t listen. Now you’re going to die.” Her gaze flew to them again. “I am going to die, aren’t I?” Then she began to cry.

  It took every bit of willpower Mason possessed to keep from going to her and offering her comfort.

  “Dammit,” Kellan muttered, obviously feeling the same way.

  “Jenna, relax. Help is on the way. You’re going to be fine.” He prayed that was true.

  A sharp rap sounded. “Police.”

  “See, Jenna, they’re here. We’re going to step outside to speak with them. We’ll be right back.”

  “Please don’t leave me!”

  “I’ll stay,” Kellan assured her. “Mason can speak with them.”

  He nodded to his teammate and slipped out the door.

  “Someone called in a possible biological threat?”

  “Yeah. A letter was opened that contained a white powdery substance. Only one affected. My partner and I went inside the room to check on her but stayed back. We’ve had Biothrax shots but didn’t want to risk it if it’s something else.”

  “The chemical response team is on the way, ETA ten minutes.”

  He fired off a quick text to Kellan giving him the estimated time of arrival. Detective Parsa showed up looking haggard. Mason filled him in, including the contents of the note.

  “It’s about me?”

  Mason spun to see Cassidy standing behind him with Trey protectively at her side. He wanted to go to her, but until they knew what they were dealing with, he kept his distance.

  “Someone said something about a white powder,” Trey said. “Is it anthrax?”

  “It’s probably just a joke. Baby powder or something. No need to worry. You two can head to your studio to practice. I’ll be there shortly.”

  She looked like she wanted to argue but Mason gave Trey a meaningful look. He nodded subtly and guided her away. She kept glancing over her shoulder and he pasted on a smile to reassure her.

  Emergency personnel arrived in bright orange hazmat suits, looking like they were ready to take a ride on a space shuttle. A man and a woman entered the room with a container to transport the letter. Another man stepped forward and introduced himself as the leader of the team. “We’ve set up a decontamination tent outside. You and your partner need to be hosed down and have your clothes eradicated, just in case.”

  Though he wasn’t happy, Mason expected it. It was a precaution since he and Kellan had been inside the same room. They were led to the white tent where they stripped and scrubbed down. Their clothes were bagged, and they were given LAPD t-shirts and sweats to wear, along with generic flip flops. Jenna was transported to a local hospital to be monitored for any symptoms until the powder could be analyzed.

  “I need to get back to Cassidy,” he told Parsa.

  “You’ve been cleared. I’ll keep you updated on the powder as soon as I know anything.”

  Mason shook his hand and then he and Kellan headed to Cassidy’s studio.

  “I’ll let Sawyer know what happened.”

  Kellan detoured to Harlow’s room while he eased inside Cassidy’s, careful of the ever-present cameras. Cassidy turned and a huge smile lit up her face.

  “Take five, Trey.” She ran over and threw her arms around him. “Thank God you’re okay.”

  He hugged her back, acutely aware of the camera guy filming the little reunion. Reluctantly, he released her and stepped back.

  She glanced over her shoulder and understood. “How’s Jenna?”

  “On the way to the hospital to be checked out.”

  “If she gets sick because of me…”

  “Hey.” He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze. “None of this is your fault. You can’t take responsibility for the work of a twisted mind. Got it?” Reluctantly, she nodded. “I think your partner’s ready to resume.”

  She glanced over her shoulder at Trey, who was dancing around the floor with a pretend partner, grinning and waving at a make-believe audience. She shook her head and smiled fondly. “He’s such a ham.” Turning back to Mason, she pushed to her tiptoes and brushed a light kiss against his cheek. “I’m glad you’re safe.” Before he could react, she jogged after her partner.

  #

  Cassidy stood under the spray of the shower in her trailer. It was habit that she rinsed off after practice before heading home. The session today had gone well after the scare with Jenna, though worry was never far from her mind. She prayed the woman would be okay.

  She’d shown Trey the moves last night and after today’s practice, he already had the dance down pat. He was gifted, a natural. She’d had partners who worked just as hard but couldn’t learn the moves as fast. They were given the option of evening practices to polish the dance, but with Trey, he didn’t need the extra time. They still had over five days until the next show to perfect the routine.

  Eliminations would begin with the next show. Not one, but two couples would go home. The remaining pairs would learn two routines for the next show. Trey wouldn’t have any problem learning one more if they made it through the first cut.

  Turning off the taps, she grabbed a towel and dried off. It’d been a long day and all she wanted to do was go home, pour a glass of wine and sit on the deck overlooking the ocean. Except…she didn’t have a home any longer. She had temporary lodging and an uncertain future. She hated to give up her tiny apartment with the massive view, and she hated leaving Tandi. She’d been such a blessing. But Cassidy could not, would not live there again.

  She lifted the Kevlar vest Mason wanted her to wear from the counter and slid it on. It was lighter than she expected. Knowing she needed to cover it, she chose one of her favorite outfits: a light pink top covered with flowers and a pair of capri yoga pants. After sliding on her flip flops, she was ready to go. Mason was waiting outside her trailer with Kellan. He smiled when she stepped out and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “The white powder was a false alarm,” he told her when she reached him.

  Air rushed out of her lungs, and her palm covered her heart. Thank God. She’d been so worried for Jenna. “What was it?”

  “Baby powder.”

  She closed her eyes. Someone wanted to frighten them with the possibility of a chemical atta
ck. It worked.

  “Sawyer texted me. Harlow finished her practice, so we’ll meet them at her trailer.”

  She grabbed Mason’s arm. “About that.” His brows lifted in question. “I’m tired of others being in danger because of me. What if that powder had been some toxic substance? The plague or something.” She remembered an episode of NCIS where one of the agents had been infected with genetically altered Yersinia Pestis. “Jenna would’ve died.”

  “But she didn’t. Don’t borrow trouble.”

  “I’m not borrowing it—it’s already here. Don’t you see? Someone shot at us today. They’re bound and determined to harm me. I don’t want anyone else hurt.”

  “We talked about this already. Deaf ears, babe. You’re stuck with us.” He tossed an arm over her shoulder and guided her to Harlow’s trailer. How was she going to convince him short of running away—and that didn’t sound the least bit appealing.

  Harlow had showered and was just coming out, dressed in a blue top, skirt and flip flops, her long hair down around her shoulders. She spotted Cassidy and rushed over.

  “Did you hear? Baby powder.”

  “I did and thank God.”

  After they piled into the SUV, Sawyer took a circuitous route back to the house. They were seeing parts of LA she didn’t know existed. Sitting this close to Mason, side pressed to side, she felt when his cell phone vibrated. He took it out, read the screen and held it to her. Colin arrived home safely. She took the phone from his hand and typed out a quick reply of thanks for visiting and then handed it back to Mason. “When will Detective Parsa let me have my phone back?”

  “Probably not for a while. It’s evidence in the investigation.”

  “I need it. I’m pretty much lost without it.” She’d used Mason’s phone to call her parents after Marcus was killed, knowing they’d worry when they heard it on the news. She omitted the part about someone being determined to kill her. As it was, they wanted to get on the next plane. She had to do some serious negotiations to keep them in Texas. She shuddered. Her parents didn’t need to be anywhere near the psycho stalking her. She’d used his phone again after hers was confiscated. She didn’t want them to worry if they couldn’t get in touch with her. She told them hers had been stolen and she’d let them know her new number as soon as it was replaced.