“Hank, you have got to be kidding me. A stripper? Really?”
“Look, we don’t want to chance touching the trust fund Mother left. And while I don’t have a problem continuing to pickpocket wallets and stealing purses so we can buy food, pay rent, I’m already in enough hot water. That behavior will only be tolerated for so long before I end up being a dog for the rest of my life. And might I remind you how that would cut my life expectancy down to about eight more years. Not an option. And since I can’t very well fill out an application or apply for a job, that leaves you.”
Sera didn’t know whether to be furious at her brother for thinking this was a good idea or horrified that she might actually have to do it. “But a stripper? Seriously?”
“Hey, you can put all those years of ballet lessons to good use. It isn’t like you can fill out tax forms, produce a birth certificate and a driver’s license. We’re in hiding. This guy owes me one, and he’ll pay you under the table.”
“I’m going to school to be a teacher, for God’s sake. Ugh.” She glanced at the sleeping Jazz. One little hand tucked under her chubby cheek. The other holding her teddy. Sera’s heart melted. Yep, she’d do it. For Jazz and Hank, she’d do anything. “Maybe I could be a waitress for him? Bartender? Why does it have to be stripping?”
“Have you seen yourself, Ser? You’re gorgeous.”
Heat burned her cheeks. “I wouldn’t have to… you know… give myself… to the men…”
“I’ve already told him I’d kill him and that it would be a slow death if he let anyone touch so much as a hair on your head. He’s not like that. He’s on the up and up.”
She rolled her eyes. “If he’s so honest, why would he agree to pay me off the books?”
Hank looked away. “I, uh, helped him out with something a few years back. He isn’t happy I’m cashing in on that debt, but he’ll do it. I did suggest that you would prefer waiting tables or mixing drinks, but the less you talk to strangers, the less chance we’ll be found.”
Somehow, that didn’t make her feel better. Felt kinda icky to know her brother had been talking about her in such a way. But he was right. They were desperate. They needed money and fast. Jazz needed stability. On the run or not, the least they could do was offer her some semblance of a home. If that meant Sera had to flaunt herself in front of a bunch of drunk, horny men, so be it.
“Fine, I’ll think about it. Maybe I can go talk to the guy—”
“Your first shift is tonight.”
“Shit. Hank! How could you?”
“Keep your voice down. You don’t wanna wake Jazz.”
She narrowed her eyes and willed him to get fleas and ticks. “When you’re human again, I swear to God I will make your life a living hell.” Panic. She was panicking. Her throat was closing, sweat breaking out all over. “I don’t know the first thing about stripping — dancing, for that matter.”
“You really don’t know how amazing you are, do you? You risk everything to keep Jazz safe, and me. You learned in the space of about three minutes that you had supernatural abilities, your brother was a dog, your sister talked to dead people, and that your husband was out to kill Jazz. Did you freak? No, you put that mother f—”
“Hank!”
“Sorry. Anyway, the point I’m making is you’re strong and you can do anything. I’m working on getting us some new identities so you can get a real job, but that takes time.”
She sighed. “I know. You’re pretty terrific yourself. I couldn’t have done it without you.” She scratched behind his ears and kissed his head. “Who will watch Jazz while I’m gone?”
“Me.”
“Yeah, somehow I don’t think the authorities would be too keen on a dog as a babysitter while the girl’s ‘mother’ is stripping. Can you say disaster?”
“Shit. True. I bet that nice lady across the hall would keep an eye on her for you.”
Mrs. Stevens loved Jazz, spoiled her rotten. For that, Sera was glad. Their grandparents had all passed away by the time Jazz was born. So having Mrs. Stevens fill that void was at least somewhat of a comfort.
“Oh, there’s one more thing. You needed a stage name, so—”
“I swear to God if you came up with something like Cherry Blossom or Buffy I will—”
“Flame. Your stage name is Flame.”
Her brow shot up and her eyes widened. She lifted a handful of her hair and shook it. “It isn’t like I enjoy being a redhead.”
Hank gave her one of his silly doggie grins. “That is not why I picked that name. I picked it because of that burning fire, that flame that lives within you that makes you so amazing and saved our sister’s life. But, hey, the red hair fits too.”
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Keep reading for an excerpt from Inner Fire, the next book in the Fire Within Series.