Page 39 of Shattered Souls

Bethany looks Rayvn up and down with disdain marring all of her features. Rayvn takes a small step closer to me, sending something like pride swimming in my chest.

“I saw your act this weekend. That was sick.” She has that same fucking look on her face when she looks at me. She’s about to ask me if I’m busy so she can try and wriggle her way into my pants once more.

“It was new, that’s for sure.” I baldly respond.

“You can say that again,” Rayvn chuckles darkly beside me. I look down at her and my eyes soften at the smile she flashes me. I think this is the first time I’ve seen her truly smile since she’s been here.

“Maybe next weekend you can put me in there?” Beth purrs. Rayvn straightens her shoulders but doesn’t say anything.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” I grab Rayvn’s arm and start to turn to the dressing room. Beth’s feet move with mine, and I can tell this is far from over.

“Can’t believe the owner signed off on a stunt like that.” She peers around my shirtless body to the woman that’s taking pride in her spot next to me for once. “I haven’t seen you here before—you new?”

“Yep. Started last weekend.” I chuckle at the bite in her voice. Is this the same woman that was just telling us how much she hated our guts? Because right now it seems like someone’s slightly jealous and trying to scare off her competition.

“Well, I’ve been working beside Seek here for two seasons now.” Beth loops her arm in mine. “Isn’t that right, big man?”

“Sure is.”

Hayze walks up to us, still adorned in his full costume. He looks Beth up and down and then brings his attention to me.

“Just go put her in my room. Make sure to cuff her to the nightstand—not the bed frame.” He signs. I shake Beth off of my arm so I can answer.

“You just take her. The one on my right will get suspicious if she sees me take Rayvn into the house.” He perks up momentarily at her name.

Has she not told him?

“I know you two are talking about me.” Rayvn grumbles from my left.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Beth huffs. “We don’t know what they’re talking about.” Rayvn looks around my body.

“Hey, genius, I know some sign language.” Beth’s face reddens and Hayze’s shoulders bounce in a silent laugh.

“Hey,” I turn my body towards Rayvn. “Go on with Hyde. Get some food and then get some rest.”

“What? Suddenly worried about me after forcing me to face my fear of enclosed spaces two nights in a row?” Beth giggles behind me and Rayvn bares her teeth.

I lean down and bring my still masked face down to her ear. “Behave, little scarecrow, and maybe I’ll keep your little secret about stealing that book you did.” When I stand once more, her eyes are wide and pleading.

Hyde grips her upper arm before pulling her back out towards the park.

“Nice to meet you.” Beth calls after her with a victorious smile. I roll my eyes and find my station to begin shedding my contacts and mask before ridding my skin of this sticky paint.

“Sooo,” Beth props herself on the counter and lets her feet swing. “Wanna sneak off after this?”

“Can’t. I have work in the morning.”

“What, you're too busy with your new girl?” She crosses her arms over her chest and huffs out a pouty breath.

“Bethany. We had sex once. We’re not doing it again.” I remove my contacts and mask.

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.” She hops off the counter and saunters away. Hopefully forever.

13

Rayvn

“Hayze, please speak to me!” He’s sitting at his desk scribbling more drawings into a sketchbook while I’m cuffed by one wrist to the nightstand. He hasn’t spoken to me since Saturday—and it’s Wednesday.