Page 27 of Protect Me

I head downstairs on instinct and hazy memories, emerging from the stairwell on the first floor, which means my apartment is located on the second floor. I make a mental note of that so I can get back there later and then follow the sound of voices up ahead.

Halfway down the hall, a door stands open.

As I get closer, I realize one of the voices coming from inside is a familiar one. I stop in the open doorway and realize it’s a break room of some kind. A counter lines the opposite wall with a fridge standing beside it. In the center is a table with a few chairs. I recognize Liv, the woman I met when I first arrived the other night. She’s sitting at the table across from a male I’ve never seen before.

“Helen,” Liv says, smiling brightly when she sees me. “I didn't realize you were up and around. How are you feeling?” She uses the fake name I gave her, which means that the three pushy lions either kept it to themselves, or she’s choosing to keep it a secret from the other performers.

“I’m feeling much better,” I say. “Adaya just cleared me.”

“That’s great. Oh, this is Brad; he’s one of our performers.”

The male turns to me and offers a friendly wave. “Nice to meet you.” His light hair is styled perfectly atop his head, and his golden gaze shines brightly when he smiles.

“You too,” I tell him then glance at their card game. “Sorry to interrupt. I was actually looking for the practice area.”

“Oh, perfect timing. Brad can walk you over,” Liv says.

“Are you sure? You’re in the middle of a game.”

“Actually, we’re done.” Liv lays her cards down and beams at Brad. “Gin.”

“Dammit,” he mutters, shaking his head. “You always win. Every damned time.”

Liv grins. “See? Perfect timing.”

Brad scrapes his chair back and stands. “I swear you cheat.”

“I’m just lucky,” Liv tells him.

“Lucky enough to clean up while I go swing around on the silks, huh?” Brad says with a smug smirk.

Liv’s smile disappears. “That’s evil, Brad. Don’t rub it in that I can’t go airborne right now. Besides, I’m growing a living thing. Have you done that? Didn’t think so.”

“Everything’s a competition,” he tells me, sliding past me into the hall. “Come on. The tent is this way.”

“Thanks,” I tell Liv.

“I’ll come find you later,” she says. “Glad you’re feeling better.”

I fall into step beside Brad, intrigued by his comments to Liv. “So, you do silks?” I ask.

“Not typically. And honestly, we’re not very good at them, but with Liv out of commission, we’ve had to take over. Until now, thanks to you.”

I smile. “Who do you perform with?”

“My sister, Kleo.”

“What do you do when you’re not filling in?”

He mimes throwing something. “We throw sharp things at each other.”

“That sounds dangerous.”

“Eh, not as dangerous as Fiona and Harriss.”

“Who are they?”

His grin spreads. “You’re in for a treat when you meet them. Fiona is a berserker, and Harriss is her djinn lover boy.”