He shot me a dark smile. “You’d be trapped. If you wanted to leave, you couldn’t. Not until the end of your shift when we lower the cages.”

My stomach flipped. Well, that was more than a little unnerving. Plus, shivers coursed down my spine from the way he’d said it. Like it was a threat. But I knew he was only trying to get a reaction out of me. Probably. And I wouldn’t let him see that he’d gotten one.

“No big deal,” I said as breezily as possible. “What kind of hours are we talking about? Are there any breaks?”

“The dancers work from eleven to three. No breaks while you’re up there. The guests enjoy the dance floor during those hours, and lowering the cages is a logistical nightmare.”

I nodded as if the idea of being trapped inside a cage for four hours was at all reasonable. “Do dancers get any tips?”

The owner motioned at something—or someone—hidden in the dark shadows near the ceiling. Were we being watched? A moment later, chains groaned as the nearest cage lowered to the ground. He opened the door and pointed at a small golden bucket. “If someone seems interested in your dancing, you can lower that with a rope. But be sure to pocket anything you receive. If you lower it with cash still inside, the tricksters in the crowd will happily take it.”

“Tricksters? Sure.” I nodded again. Who uses the word tricksters?

“Are you ready to audition now?”

I swallowed hard. “One last question.”

He raised a brow.

“What’s your name? I don’t think I caught it.”

He flashed me that wicked smile again. “Because I didn’t give it to you.”

I gave him a blank stare. Was he really going to have me audition for his club and not tell me his damn name? “And it is…?”

“Asmodeus.”

I bit back a laugh. What the hell kind of name was that?

Was he joking? Or was he giving me a fake name for some bizarre, unknowable reason? I met his dark gaze. He looked serious enough. There wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his face.

“Nice to meet you, Asmodeus,” I grumbled. Though…was it really? That sense of wrong had only increased since I’d stepped foot inside his club. I didn’t belong here with this fancy man and his fancy famous friends. With a deep breath, I stepped inside the cage.

Immediately, the door slammed shut behind me, and the cage tipped beneath my feet. It inched off the ground, swinging lightly on its heavy chain. I bit back the urge to scream and stood stock still until the cage shuddered to a stop. Gritting my teeth, I peered through the glittering bars at the sleek, marble floor far below me. Asmodeus stared up at me with a grin that could only be described as pure evil.