Chapter 24 Twenty Four
The party stretched on.
Longer than Mira cared for.
At some point, she stopped trying to follow conversations. Stopped pretending to listen. Stopped caring.
She drifted to the side instead. A quiet corner near one of the tall pillars.
Far enough to catch her breath but close enough to still watch him.
Because that was the job.
And because… she needed to catch him as soon as possible. Right now she had no evidence.
Salvatore moved through the room as if he owned it.
Like every space bent slightly around him.
He danced.
More than once.
Different women.
Different smiles.
Different versions from the same man.
One woman laughed too loudly at something he said, her hand resting on his arm as it belonged there.
Another leaned in closer than necessary, whispering something in his ear that made him smirk.
Mira watched all of it.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
Her fingers tightened around the champagne glass in her hand.
She took a sip.
Then another. Then another.
The burn barely registered.
“Of course,” she muttered under her breath. “Of course he dances.”
Another sip.
“He probably practices this in the mirror too.”
She didn’t even realize how much she had drunk until the glass was empty.
And then it wasn’t.
Another one had somehow replaced it.
She just kept drinking
Anything to distract her from the strange irritation sitting in her chest.
It wasn’t jealousy.
Definitely not.
It was… annoyance.. And hate.
At him.
The way he switched so easily… after killing six women.
The way people looked at him was like he was something worth admiring.
The way he touched them so casually.
At the way…
“Enjoying the show?”
Mira froze.
Her head snapped up.
He was there.
Right in front of her.
She hadn’t seen him walk over.
Hadn’t seen him leave the last lady.
One second he was across the room—
Next…
He was here.
Standing so close to her
Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
“I didn’t realize I was watching one,” she replied coolly.
His lips curved just slightly.
“You’ve been staring for a while,” he said.
Mira held his gaze.
“Occupational hazard.”
A beat of silence passed.
His eyes didn’t leave hers.
Not even for a second.
And for some reason.. That made it harder to breathe.
“Dance with me, Miss Voss.”
Her brows lifted slightly.
There it was.
The audacity… she hates
She let out a quiet breath.
“I would rather not, sir,” Mira said coldly
His gaze didn’t shift.
“If you’re worried about stepping on my feet—”
“I’m not,” she cut in.
A pause.
Then softer—
“I just don’t want to.”
That should have been enough.
For anyone else…
It would have been.
But Salvatore wasn’t anyone else.
“It’s not a request, Mira.”
The way he said her name—sent shivers that it slid under her skin before she could stop it.
And she hated it.
Hated that her body reacted before her mind could shut it down.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“…Of course it isn’t,” she murmured.
For a second, neither of them moved.
The music shifted around them.
Slower now. Softer.
Couples are already moving toward the center.
Mira glanced past him briefly.
Then back at him.
Still there. Still waiting.
Still not giving her a way out.
She exhaled.
“Fine,” she said finally. “But if you step on my foot—”
“I won’t.”
He didn’t even let her finish.
That confidence again.
Annoying.
She placed her glass down on the nearest table.
Then looked at him.
“Lead then, boss” she said.
He stepped closer. One hand settling lightly at her waist. The other is reaching for hers.
Mira’s breath caught.
Just for a second.
His touch wasn’t rough.
Wasn’t forceful.
But it wasn’t gentle either.
It was… she didn't have a name for it.
But it felt he already knew she wasn’t going anywhere.
Like he already owned the moment.
Her hand rested in his before she could second-guess it.
And then… They moved.
Slow at first.
Mira followed.
Because she had to. Because refusing now would draw attention. Because this was still part of the act.
Her eyes stayed on his shoulder at first.
Avoiding his face. Avoiding his eyes.
Avoiding… whatever this was.
“You’re tense,” he said quietly.
She scoffed.
“I’m dancing with you boss isn't exactly comfortable.”
A faint pause.
Then—
“Liar,” he replied.
That made her look up.
Their eyes met again.
Closer this time.
Too close.
Did you just call me a liar,” she said.
Why do you see yourself as one?,” he said instead.
Her jaw tightened slightly.
“That wasn't my question ”
“Isn’t it?”
The question lingered.
Uncomfortable.
His hand adjusted slightly at her waist. Pulling her just a fraction closer.
Her breath hitched..
“Don’t,” she said under her breath.
“Don’t what?”
“Pretend this is normal for you.”
His gaze didn’t leave hers.
“It is normal,” he said calmly.
“No,” she replied instantly. “It’s not.”
Another step. Another turn.
Her fingers tightened slightly in his.
“You don’t act like this,” she added. What switch do you have one?”
Mira didn't know if she was too drunk or if it was the alcohol making her this bold to a man who could unalive jet.
His hand stilled for just a second at her waist.
Then continued as if nothing had happened.
“You observe too much,” he said.
“And you hide too well,” she shot back.
Their eyes locked again.
This time— Neither of them looked away.
The air between them shifted.
“Careful, Miss Voss,” he murmured.
Her chin lifted slightly.
“Or what?”
A pause.
Then—
“You might start what you can't finish.”