Reclaimed (Powell Sanctuary #5)

Chapter 28

28

Isla

Stepping into XO’s for what may be the last time doesn’t bring the heaviness I expected. Conversely, a strong current of joy floods my system. The sight of the empty, dark stage is almost a relief. The urge to perform is nonexistent as I make my way inside.

Three customers sit at the bar and a handful of tables are occupied on the restaurant side. Memories of working alongside Juniper as she served tables flit through my mind. We met here. Became best friends. Only a few years have passed since those days, but in some ways, it feels like an entire lifetime.

We’ve come a long way from two single, hardworking girls just trying to make a living and prove to a harsh world we can manage on our own.

Our younger selves would be proud.

Nerves in my stomach give life to sweat on my palms. I wipe them on my black leggings and make a short journey to the back office. I wave cheerily at Benjamin behind the bar, and he reciprocates with a short salute.

I should talk to him before I leave. We’re casual friends, but who knows when the two of us will see each other again. It’s not like I’ll be spending time out at the bar in the near future. Not when I’ll have a newborn at home in a few short months.

The office door is ajar. Rapping my knuckles on the wood, I enter after a voice beckons me inside.

“I was expecting you sooner.” Manny sits relaxed behind his large mahogany desk, his hands folded over his lean stomach encased in a crisp, black button-down.

“I’m here now,” I answer coolly. The two of us have always had a strained relationship. Prior to me moving away, he refused to give me a better stage time. It was the reason for my initial split. I’m not entirely sure why he took me back and gave me a prime slot, but I remember dancing for my audition. I remember Aiden, and the crisp one-hundred-dollar bill he tossed upon the stage at my stilettoed feet that day.

Since my return, Manny has been agreeable, if not a little pushy about his expectations—but I can’t say he hasn’t treated me well.

He laughs, the sound throaty. “I’ve always admired that attitude.”

“I can’t say that I’ve noticed.” I grip the purse strap draped over my shoulder. “Can I get my check? I have somewhere to be.”

“Your bodyguard isn’t with you.” The statement is a casual observation, not a question.

“You mean my boyfriend.”

“Yes.” He strokes his finger over his chin. “Him.”

I let my lips curl into a smile, despite the nerves ricocheting around my gut. “He’s outside.” The lie falls easily from my tongue.

“Do tell him I said hello.”

I hold my breath as Manny rises from his chair. The urge to flee zips through my bones. I watch warily as Manny flips through a file and extracts a letter-sized white envelope.

He rounds his desk, stopping in front of me. Close, but not crossing the line.

“Your check.” He extends the envelope between two fingers.

I pinch the paper, but he holds firm. His eyes lock on mine as he leans into my space.

“And a bonus.”

Then he lets go.

Only once he walks toward his desk do I release a shaky inhale.

“You made me a lot of money, my dear Stella. For that, I gave you my cut this week.”

I harden my voice. “I don’t want your money, Manny.”

The wave of his hand resembles that of shooing a pesky bug. “Relax. No strings attached. I do this for all my best entertainers.”

The need to push back rises inside of me, but I tamp it down. I’m not about to fight this by myself. Maybe with an audience I’d let my fire fly. But not alone.

I’ll fill in Aiden later and together we can decide what to do. If anything. It’s possible I’m being paranoid, but I don’t like the idea of being indebted to anybody. I’d rather take precisely what I earn and not a penny more.

I hold up the envelope. “Thank you.”

Without waiting for his response, I walk out the door. A heavy weight leaves my shoulders as I step in the hall and drag a cleansing breath into my lungs.

I did it.

I’m officially done dancing at XO’s. Possibly dancing for an audience ever. I still need a job. Something during daycare hours so that I can work and pick up the baby when I’m done. But with the money I’ve saved, I have a little time to figure the next part out.

Closing this chapter in my life is fitting. It just means the page is blank for what’s about to come.

And if it includes Aiden and this baby, then I can’t wait to see the story we write together.

A few more customers have joined the early evening rush, but the three men at the bar vacated sometime while I was in the back.

“Isla!”

I turn at my name. Benjamin lifts up the partition and walks out from behind the bar. “Hey, I was hoping to catch you.”

“Hey, Ben.”

The white towel in his hands twists and untwists between his restless fingers. “Last day, huh?”

“For the second time,” I laugh.

“You probably won’t be back this time though. With the baby and all.”

“You know?”

He nods, the motion oddly sober. “Kelly heard Juniper talking about you at The Rocks. Heard you’re having a boy.”

“I am.” I rest a casual hand on my stomach.

“Carter will have a new buddy to play with.”

“How old is he now?” I bounce from foot to foot.

“He just turned three. Actually, that’s why I stopped you. After Kelly heard the news, she put together a box of some of Carter’s baby clothes to pass along.” He rubs the back of his neck. “If you want. It’ll only take a second. I have them in my trunk.”

What I really want is to get back home to Aiden so we can join the Powells for a delicious dinner, but I did just quit my job, so the generous offer is hard to pass up.

“Okay, if it’ll just take a second.”

“Come on. I’m parked out in the side lot.”

Returning the way I just came, we walk down the long hall to the rear exit. Benjamin holds the door open for me to precede him through. The door slams shut behind us with a deafening bang.

“Shit. I should have propped that open.”

“Guess you’ll have to take the long walk around.”

“It’ll be good to stretch my legs.”

A cold wind kicks up, throwing my hair around my face. I pull the edges of my coat tighter. The fabric shields my neck from the icy chill. “Yeah.”

Benjamin grabs my wrist steps from the corner where the side parking lot is on our right. “I’m so sorry, Isla. Your dad just wanted to talk to you.”

A wrinkle forms on my brow. “What?”

But I don’t get an answer. Because Benjamin uses his grip to tow me the last foot around the corner. Bringing me face to face with a gun.

And a man who definitely isn’t my father.

“Whoa.” Benjamin throws his palms out placatingly at the weapon casually aimed our way.

“Stella. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” The man seems vaguely familiar, but through the hazy fog of adrenaline, I don’t immediately place the scowl or the thin brown hair swept neatly over his forehead.

“Who are you?” I manage despite the fear gripping my throat.

“Get in the car, and we can talk.” The passenger door creaks loudly as he swings it open.

My attention flickers over the mid-2000s sedan idling at the curb. Like hell I’m getting in there.

Benjamin’s hand settles on my wrist again, an anxious tremble jumping against my racing pulse. “You didn’t say anything about taking her!”

“Get in the car, Stella,” the man repeats, the gun aimed steadily at my stomach.

A whimper crawls out of my throat as I move a hesitant step back. “What did you do, Benjamin?”

The scowl. The hair. The grating voice. The wiry glasses. He’s obviously a client, finding me here and using my stage name. But from when? Why don’t I remember him when he talks like we have unfinished business?

“I thought he was your dad,” Benjamin hisses. “He said that you wouldn’t talk to him. That he was looking for you. He threatened Carter. I thought I was helping.”

The man’s voice softens. “I don’t want to hurt you, Stella.” He lowers the gun slightly. “Just get in and we can talk this all out. Nobody has to get hurt.”

“What do you want from me?” I need to buy time. At any second, a car could drive around the back. A server or dancer arriving for their shift. Or security could come looking for Benjamin. Someone could notice he’s been gone from his post for too long.

“I’ll tell you when we’re alone,” he says slowly, as if I’m an errant child ignoring his request.

“Run, Isla. Get back inside!”

In a split second, the gun shifts. With a crack, the man buries a bullet in Benjamin’s thigh. He screams and falls onto the brittle asphalt, hands gripping his leg as he tries to stop the bleeding.

“Get in the fucking car right now before I blow that baby straight out of your body!”

Fear surges within me, overtaking my rational thought. I want to stay. I want to wait to see if anyone heard the pop of gunfire. Any second, someone is going to run out the back door.

Any second now.

Any second.

His finger twitches on the trigger.

Adrenaline dumps, flooding my body with urgency. The white envelope falls from my fingertips, but I don’t watch where it lands. I dart around the back of the building.

Footsteps pound behind me. A fist in my hair jerks my head back. Sparks of pain erupt across my scalp. I stumble nearly to my knees on the concrete sidewalk, saved only by my hand thrown out against the brick wall. The rough exterior tears into my skin.

The thin cylindrical barrel stabs against my stomach. It doesn’t move as he drags my struggling body back. Self-preservation kicks in, quieting the screaming in my head. I thrash, clawing at his exposed cheeks and neck, but he overpowers me.

With my heart racing, he shoves me into the passenger seat and slams the door with a crack of finality. I yank the weathered handle with both hands, but the latch doesn’t budge. He’s somehow disabled the door from opening from the inside. A sting burns my palm that I slap frantically against the window.

“Isla,” Benjamin gasps. “I’m sorry.”

My eyes clench tight at the sound of another harsh bang . When I glance into the side mirror, Benjamin’s lying motionless on the ground.

This morning, I finally heard Aiden confess his love for me. We shared those three tender words for the first time.

Now, I’m going to die.