Chapter 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Kim

The rest of the day is quiet, I even nap for a few hours before I head into work. There are no rehearsals on Saturdays, so I don't go in until after six.

Leo isn't there yet, I think he's taking care of stuff at other clubs. At least I'm hoping because I half expected him to offer me a ride and he didn't…

Which I don't mind. I like walking. Clears the head. And I'm still an independent woman, but changes in his behavior make me nervous and that little bit of hope I'd been feeling deflates like a popped balloon.

But I paste on a smile and head into the club, quietly slipping into the locker room.

"Hey," Samantha calls with a friendly wave.

"Hey." I smile as I turn to her, glad for a friendly face.

"Do you have a couple minutes to show me a few moves?"

My smile grows. "Of course." Teaching is just what I need to push away my worries. We head to a quiet back room where I spend some time helping her with a few new moves and some smoother transitions, which dancers frequently overlook, but when it comes to tips, I'm convinced they help keep the audience's attention.

It's a great way to warm up and as much as I helped Samantha, I feel better too. More grounded.

I return to my locker and change from my warm-up leotard into my leather uniform. Slipping into my three-inch heels, I sit at my vanity to paint on my make up. Just like any performance, it's not normal everyday makeup, but bold dark slashes of color to add drama.

I'm adding exaggerated wings about my eyes and a striking lipstick. My hair is in my usual straight ponytail that I only wear when I dance.

I have no idea how long I'll be able to stay thin enough to perform, but I feel the pressure to make money while I can. I'm going to crush it tonight.

I should know better than to think I'm on top of life. The moment I do, something always goes wrong…

The door to the locker room bursts open, a furious-looking Leo stands in the doorway.

Women change out in the open in here. I've never seen him enter unless it's really early or really late hours, so I sit up, blinking in surprise.

He fills the entire doorway, his huge frame looking even larger than normal. I swear, he grows bigger when he's angry.

And he is. I have no idea what's the matter but it's something. The energy rolls off him in pulsing waves.

He pauses for what is probably only a second, but the air is sucked out of the room, silence falling.

"Mr. Kincaid," Melissa says into the silence. I look back at her, but she doesn't look at me or Leo. She's texting on her phone instead.

The flash of a large diamond catches the light. Did she always have that?

But I can't focus on her because Leo is stalking toward me, his brow slashed into an angry line, his jaw hard enough to cut granite.

I set down my lipstick, turning toward him in my chair.

I know most people would be scared out of their gourd by an angry Leo, but it's never a feeling I have around him.

Whatever happens between us, Leo would never hurt me. And the last few weeks he's been the break wall that's held back the storms.

"What. The. Fuck," he says, stopping just in front of me so that I have to notch my chin up. "Are you doing here?"

My mouth opens and then closes as I stare him, my eyes narrowing into slits. I might have my insecurities, but I am not down for public intimidation. "I work here."

I didn't think it was possible, but he draws up even taller. "I'm taking you home right now."

"What? No." I don't get up. "Why?"

"Because," he grits out through his teeth. He doesn't step back which means he's crowding my space. I don't like it one bit. "You're pr?—"

I stand. I weigh half of what Leo does, but I'm an expert at how to use my body and I use that knowledge now, setting my shoulder in his stomach that sends him back three steps as he doubles over. "Leo." Every dancer is hearing me use his first name. "Not here."

He stands up but keeps his distance, his eyes still fierce. "I don't want you here."

"Are you firing me?" I cross my arms over my chest. I can't stop him if that's his choice, but I won't forgive him either. There is no reason for it.

"You know I'm not."

My chin notches and I stare for a second before I calmly return to my seat to finish my makeup.

I grab my lipstick and start to reapply it, aware that every eye in the place is on us. Leo waits for another second before he closes the distance between us once again and snatches the lipstick from my hand.

I gasp, trying to stand again, but this time he's ready for me and sidesteps my shoulder, wrapping an arm about me to lift me off the ground.

I'm completely outraged and enraged in this moment. Did he just pick me up and humiliate me in front of everyone?

Even Charlotte warned me about Leo's temper, and I'm seeing it now.

But picking me up has my legs swinging and I let the momentum swing them even higher. And when they are as high as they can go, I send them arcing back down, my muscles behind them as the toe of my pointed heel crashes into Leo's shin.

"Fuck, Kim!" Leo roars right before he drops me. I just catch myself, straightening with my finger in his face.

"Try that again." I might be having a shit run of luck, and I may worry that I'm not good enough, but nobody physically intimidates me. That brings out the fight in me. And the thing about Leo is that in the bedroom, he's always put me on some pedestal that has allowed me to relax enough to really enjoy myself. "And you're going to meet my temper."

I'm not enjoying this at all. I brush past him, starting for the door.

I can hear the crowds filing into the club, the music firing up and I know the cages will rise soon.

If Leo wants to suggest another method by which I'll support our child, I'm all ears. But I'm not going to be manhandled into doing what he wants.

And I'm not leaving my best chance at making money because…I don't even know what his problem is.

I open the locker room door, starting down the back hall by the bathrooms and then the office, making my way to the back stairs.

A hand grabs my arm and I partially turn, spinning my arm to break the grip. I guess Leo's not done and now that we have a bit of privacy, I'm ready for another round. But as I turn, I see a man that's not Leo behind me.

It's a man I distantly recognize as the one who was in the hall right before Bobby showed up. Slick hair, slimy grin, toothpick…

I only have one second to process before he raises a gun pointing it right in my face. "We meet again, Kim."

A scream builds in my throat.