“It looks like tonight’s a big success, Valdez. The place is packed. We gave up on parking and shifted here. Congratulations.” Richard shook Rafe’s hand then Flo hugged him.

“Yes! I can’t wait to hear our Glory sing. She is good, no?” Flo glanced at me, clearly anxious.

“Oh, she’s great. Just wait till you hear her.” Rafe winked and left, closing the door behind him.

“We have a message from Jeremiah, Glory.” Flo sat on the stool Rafe had vacated. “Love the dress. Designer?” She smiled. “Of course it is. You look perfect except for that lipstick. Here, let me put my new shade on you, Scarlet Woman. It will be amazing under the lights.”

“Flo, what message?” I could have cared less about lipstick right then.

“Hold still. Ricardo, you tell her.” Flo carefully wiped away my old lipstick and pulled out liner and a black and gold tube.

“Blade called me. Said he couldn’t phone you directly.” Richard looked serious.

“I know. That bitch has him on a short leash.” I wanted to slap Flo’s hand away but finally just let her line my lips.

“Anyway, he’ll be here with her tonight. They’ve been together almost every moment since he got back from Miami and he’s finally seen signs that she’s getting tired of him.”

I had a break while Flo switched to the lipstick. “What signs? Did he, um, say how things were going?” I blinked, refusing to cry, but I kept seeing Jerry in that woman’s bed. “If he and Mel . . .” I couldn’t say it.

“You want details? You know he wouldn’t tell me and I certainly wouldn’t ask. It’s better you don’t know, Gloriana.” Richard moved closer and put a hand on my shoulder. “Blade said she asked the spirits for guidance, that kind of nonsense.” If Richard ever rolled his eyes, this would have been the time. Instead, he got very serious. “Anyway, she got a message from the spirit world—her words—that she would get what she deserved. She took it to mean that she would win Blade and triumph over you. You’d think that would make her happy, but Blade read her mind. She’s not satisfied and has started to criticize him constantly.”

“Arrogant puttana!” Flo had finished with my lipstick and stabbed the tube back into her silver evening bag. “I have a message for her. She deserves to burn in hell!” She gripped my hand so hard I gasped. “Sorry, mia cara amica.”

I felt a tear roll down my cheek and Flo exclaimed.

“Glory! Don’t cry and ruin this makeup. That bitch is not worth it. You know Jeremiah’s heart is yours. Sì?” She hurriedly blotted my cheeks when I nodded.

“Thank God you used waterproof mascara. There now. Tonight that brutta cagna will see that you and Jeremiah are done. She will let the man go and move on. Am I right? That is the plan. Sì?” She looked at Richard then slid her arms around me when I nodded dumbly again, afraid if I tried to speak, I’d break down. “Come now. You mustn’t be upset like this right before your big performance. Promise me.”

I closed my eyes and pulled on reserves of strength I hadn’t known I had. Yes, I knew I had Jerry’s heart no matter what that cagna, whatever that meant, had done to him in the meantime. We would settle this tonight, even if one of us had to do something we might regret.

“I hate this, Flo. Having to go onstage, smile and sing while Jerry is forced to serve that woman and take her abuse.” I shuddered but took comfort from Flo’s gentle touch as she leaned back and patted my shoulder. “But you’re right. I can handle it. I’ll do what I have to do.”

“It will all be over soon, amica. You have never looked better and I can’t wait to hear you sing.” Flo stood and reached for her purse again. “Forget the woman and enjoy your night.”

“Thank you. No one could have a better friend.” I took a hanky from her and touched it to my nose. The linen was exquisite, trimmed in lace with her initials embroidered on it in silver thread. It had a faint scent of jasmine that made me smile. Richard had forbidden Flo to wear perfume because the smell interfered with his defense but she had put a little of her favorite scent on this wisp of perfection.

I realized I hadn’t even complimented Flo yet and she looked wonderful, dressed in a vintage costume to look like Marie Antoinette. She’d skipped the wig but, knowing Flo, she’d actually worn that very dress to the queen’s court back in the day.

“Look at me now.” She raised my chin. “Perfetto. Black is your color. Am I right, Ricardo?”

“Yes, you look wonderful, Gloriana. Blade will have quite a job keeping his heart from showing in his eyes. But he’s the man who can do it.” He helped Flo to her feet. “We must go, darling. Gloriana will have things to do before she goes onstage. Everyone at our table wishes you well, my dear. You’ll hear us cheering for you.” He leaned down to lightly kiss my cheek. He’d been trained by Flo not to smudge my makeup. “Break a leg.”

“Ricardo! What a mean thing to say.” Flo looked indignant.

“It’s traditional, Flo. It means good luck in the theater. Thanks, Richard. And, Flo, you look spectacular. I meant to say that when you walked in.” I stood and shook out my dress.

“This old thing.” But she looked pleased. “You should see Diana. She’s trotted out her same old southern belle costume. The woman still thinks the south will rise again. I swear she’s going to burst into one of Scarlett O’Hara’s famous speeches from Gone With the Wind any minute now and ‘frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.’”

We laughed and I finally relaxed. What else could I do? How the night would end was anyone’s guess.

Seventeen

Flo and Richard left. A few minutes later the door opened again.

“Ian! You should have knocked.” I wasn’t sure if I was glad to see him or not. It depended on the reason for his visit.

“I was hoping to catch you with your pants down, so to speak.” His grin was wicked. “Guess it’s not my lucky night.”

I ignored that, not in the mood for his flirting. “Have you brought me a potion Jerry can use against Mel?” I sat down to slip on my black velvet heels.

“I managed to come up with something. I followed the recipe you gave me.” He moved closer and rubbed my shoulder. “Like the dress. Velvet. Feels good.” He smiled and handed me a small vial. “You want this now?”

“I could have used it days ago. Couldn’t you at least have answered my calls? What took you so long to get it to me?” I knew my nerves were making me short with him, but he was cutting things awfully close.

“You know what. My lab was decimated. I had to start many vital experiments over. Thank God Bartholomew O’Connor is almost as smart as I am. He’s been a great help. I’ve persuaded him to stay on for a while.”

“Well, at least it’s here now, and thanks. But I’m not who needs it. Jerry should have it. He’s the one stuck next to the voodoo priestess.” I gave the vial back to Ian. “Will you find him in the crowd and slip it to him? Maybe you can arrange to meet him in the men’s room or something.”

“What’s in it for me?” Ian looked me over. “You know I don’t do favors without expecting something in return.”

“What do you want?” I was distracted or I never would have used Ian for anything. Now I saw that calculating look in his eyes that I hated.

“The rest of that voodoo book. You have no use for it and I want to study it.” He grinned. “I enjoyed making this potion. If Blade does use it tonight, I hope I’m around to see if it works.”

“Are you telling me you didn’t test it? That’s not like you.” I was thinking fast. Give Ian a potentially harmful book? I couldn’t like the idea. But I had, gulp, less than five minutes before I had to go onstage.

“I wanted to test it, but this recipe made precious little after it was distilled and decanted. Look. This is all I’ve got.” He held the glass container up to the light. I could see that it was a shade of mustard yellow and there wasn’t very much of it. “What’s it to be, Glory?”

“Maybe I’ll find someone else to take it to Jerry. I really don’t trust you with the book.”

“Did you know I have a photographic memory? I saw the cover and the title. I’ll troll the Internet, work my connections, call in favors, but I will get a copy. Eventually. And you might miss your chance to get this vial where it needs to be in time to help Blade.” He tucked it into his pocket. “I warn you, I’m like a dog with a bone when I want something badly enough.”

“Ian, you’ve just insulted dogs everywhere.” I frowned. “Promise you won’t use any of those potions on me or the ones I love.”

“You can’t be serious. What would be the fun of that?” He glanced at his watch. “Don’t you go onstage in a few minutes?”

“Damn you! Fine. I’ll give you the book. After this is all over and the woman is gone. Okay?” I pushed him toward the door. “Take it to Jerry now.”

“I don’t like those terms. The book is mine no matter how this goes.” He stopped in the doorway. “Deal?”

“Only if you agree that I’m off-limits and so are my people. And don’t pretend you don’t know who I mean. I can play hardball too, Ian.” I snatched the vial from his pocket. “Decide. How badly do you want my copy of the book? It could take you a long time or you might never find one of your own.”

“Damn it, Gloriana. You are most appealing when you negotiate.” He smiled and held out his hand. “Deal.”

“Good.” I laid the vial in his palm. “Now find Jerry and slip that to him. Give him instructions. I’m sure you have some.”

“Yes, of course. He should toss it in her face if he can manage it while she’s looking directly at him. Once I got the text translated from the Creole language, that’s what it said to do. It should make her hate the sight of him. Not exactly the repellent we thought it would be but I think it will do the trick.” Ian stared down at the potion.