Page 91 of Fire Dancer
The escorts started lining up at the door, where a security guard patted everyone down before letting them walk over to the main house.
I hung back, wide-eyed.
“Is that really necessary?” I whispered to Kelly.
Her look saidDuh,though her words were kinder. “All part of the rules. No phones, no devices, nothing. Makes sense, though.”
I stared at her. Sure, it did — if you were running a criminal organization and didn’t want any evidence leaked.
“Don’t worry.” She shrugged. “It’s just like airport security.”
No, it wasn’t, because that was designed to protect the good guys.
My pulse raced as I eyed the rear door. It was high time to get the hell out of here…somehow. The nanny cam might catch something useful, and the vials I’d stashed might also serve as evidence. The escorts would probably survive the night, and eventually, the law would catch up with Jananovich. I’d risked enough tonight.
If our roles were reversed and Ingo were the inside man instead of me, I would be screaming at him to get the hell out. That it wasn’t worth his life. That he didn’t have to be a hero.
But since it was me…
Slowly, understanding dawned on me. This wasn’t about being a hero. This was about responsibility. Not responsibility to an employer or agency, but to my own conscience. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing.
But, shit. I’d never, ever done anything as dangerous as this. Posing as an escort was bad enough. If Jananovich caught on to what I was really doing, he would kill me. Slowly.
Correction. He would drain my tasty pyromancer/dragon blood, then kill me. Slowly.
My gut wrenched. My sisters would be gutted. My father would be destroyed. My mother…
I sighed. Mom might be saddened, but she would get over it.
Ingo, on the other hand, would never forgive himself, and I shuddered to think what he might do to himself or others if I didn’t make it out.
It hurt just to imagine causing so much grief to so many people. But I understood why Ingo would go through with it ifhe were in my shoes. It was the right thing to do, and he couldn’t live with the guilt if he backed away.
Just like I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t.
I patted the clothes and personal effects I was leaving behind gently, wondering if I would ever see them again. Then I pulled up my big-girl pants — figuratively, because pants would look really weird with that dress — and joined the line to get patted down.
Outside, the last rays of the setting sun warmed my skin. I threw a look at the surrounding wilderness, praying Ingo would understand why I had to go through with this.
Another wave of realization washed over me. Ingo probably murmured the same prayer every time he undertook a mission, and I had never, ever shown him the slightest understanding. I’d never made impossible choices easier on him, only harder.
God, I’d been so selfish.
I bent my head with a final vow. If I got out of this alive, I would love Ingo long and hard. I would make him part of my life — if he would have me — and celebrate every moment we had together. I would do my best to keep him out of trouble, but I would let go when necessary. And I would make damn sure he headed out knowing I was proud of him.
Be proud of me, Ingo,I thought loud and clear, hoping he might hear me.And I swear, I will do everything in my power to get back to you.
I gulped, then allowed myself to be swallowed up by the darkness of the hallway.
Chapter Twenty-Three
PIPPA
“Places, everyone. Places,” Deirdre snipped.
The escorts scattered throughout the living/dining area of the main house. Delaney and I were assigned the drinks table — to begin with, at least. Once things got into swing, we escorts were supposed to mingle with the guests.
Mingle.Such an innocent word. Such horrifying connotations.