Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
SKYLA
“I can’t believe it’s time for you to go to London already,” Erin Wild says as her little girl, Holly, twirls around my floor with her friends. “The past month flew by.”
“I can’t believe how fast the time has gone,” I agree and smile at Dani as she joins us. She wraps her arm around my waist and gives me a wee hug. “You know, I rarely get nervous before a performance, but I can admit that I’m terrified this time.”
“Don’t be,” Erin assures me as she rubs her hand up and down my back. Aye, I love this community I’ve found myself in. “You’re a brilliant performer. I saw you once in New York City when I went with my family on vacation.”
I blink at her in surprise. “You never told me that.”
“I didn’t want to make it weird.” She shrugs. “I come from a famous family, and I know that sometimes people say awkward things. But I can confidently tell you that I’ve seen you in action, and you have nothing to worry about, my friend.”
I’m reminded almost daily how wonderful it is to be a part of Bitterroot Valley and the friends I’ve made here.
“Thank you.” I take a deep breath. “We leave tomorrow.”
“Dani said that the whole family is going?” Erin asks, and Dani nods.
“They are, yes. I was afraid to ask it of them, if I’m being honest. I knew I wanted Beck there. Having the rest of his family would have been a dream, but asking it of them felt like an imposition.”
“Yeah, going to Europe to watch my insanely talented friend dance for the freaking king and queen is a huge pain in our ass.” Dani shakes her head at me. “Honey, we love you. You’re part of us now. If Beckett loses his mind and ever lets you go, we’re keeping you and sending him out to pasture.”
Okay, that makes me giggle.
“I love all of you, too,” I reply and lean over to kiss her cheek.
“How are things with Beck?” Erin asks.
“They’re amazing. We’re in love. I never would have expected that I’d have to move all the way to Montana to find the man I’m supposed to be with, but that’s what happened.”
“It’s romantic,” Erin replies. “And I’m so happy for you. We’ll be watching you here, I promise. We’re all rooting for you. Don’t stress, it’s going to be amazing. And when you get home, we’ll have a big party to celebrate.”
Home. When I get home.
Because Bitterroot Valley is absolutely my home.
“Thank you.”
Erin smiles and then gathers her daughter and the two of them leave.
“Birdie and I are headed out, too,” Dani says. “I have to finish packing. We’re meeting at the airport at eight?”
“Last I heard, yes.”
“I’ve never flown on a private plane before. It can get us all the way to London?”
“It’s the largest plane in the fleet,” I reply. “It’s so big, we won’t even have to stop anywhere for fuel.”
“Crazy,” she says, shaking her head. “Thank you again for including us. And I want to make it very clear to you that I’m friends with you, I love you because of who you are as a human, Skyla. It has absolutely nothing to do with your money or this trip.”
I blink at the tears that want to form and yank her into a tight hug. “I know it.”
“I’m sure that people have tried to use you or been manipulative?—”
“Hey.” I pull back and brush my hand down her pretty dark hair. “Aye, they’ve done all of those things, but I’m good at choosing the right people to have in my life. You’ve been my friend since I came to town and no one knew anything about me. You just welcomed me into your friend group, and made me feel like I belong here.”
“You do belong here,” Dani insists.
“I want you to come to London because you’re my support system. You and Bee are my best friends in the whole world. Don’t tell Mik.”
Dani laughs at that.
“It’s handy that my family has more money than God Himself, and all I have to do is say the word to have you all with me. I know that I’m a lucky girl. And I’m so grateful that you’re coming because I’m going to need a pep talk before that performance.”
“I’ll give you all of the pep talks you need. I’ll have snacks on hand and a Taylor Swift and P!nk playlist already curated for this occasion. We’ve got this, babe.”
“See? You get me, Dani Blackwell.”
Maybe someday, Dani and Bee will be my sisters-in-law. That would be incredible.
“I absolutely get you.”
“Mama, I’m hungry,” Birdie says, slipping her hand into her mother’s.
“I know, pumpkin. We’re going.” Dani kisses my cheek. “See you in the morning. I might FaceTime you later to go over what I’m packing.”
“Do it. I want to see it all, and it’ll keep my mind occupied with something other than being nervous.” I walk them to the door and then sigh when it’s just Riley and me left.
After tonight, my studio will be closed for the next ten days.
We’ll be in London tomorrow, but the performance is five days after that. Mik and I want to make sure we’re through the jet lag and in peak condition before we perform, then we’ll take a couple of days to decompress before we come home.
Although it’s true that I’m nervous, I’m also excited. My parents will meet us there, and I’ll have everyone that I cherish most in this world with me for ten whole days. Not to mention, I get to dance with my partner. The rehearsals have been rigorous, but we’re ready, and I’m so grateful that we have this opportunity to dance together one more time. To finish our career together on our terms.
“It’s going to be fun, Riley, and I promise you’ll have a grand time with Brad and Sadie. You won’t even know that I’m gone.” Riley’s lying on his bed, watching me intently. “Beck should be here shortly. Let’s head to the back and start shutting everything down.”
Riley leaves his bed at my command, and we walk into the back room so I can type some notes on my computer, reply to a couple of emails, and use the bathroom.
With a frown, I check the time. Beck should be here by now.
“He probably lost track of time,” I tell Riley as the bell above the front door dings. “There he is. I’ll be right out!”
I turn to grab my handbag and the light jumper I brought for this evening. The spring days have been warm, but it’s still brisk after the sun goes down.
Suddenly, Riley starts to growl.
“Hey, what’s gotten into you?” I rub his neck, but he doesn’t stop. “It’s just Beckett, baby. Come on, let’s go.”
But when I step around the wall that separates the office from the studio, I stop, and my blood runs cold.
Riley barks.
Lewis’s gaze flicks down to my dog, then back to me. He pastes on a fake, smarmy smile.
“Hello, tiny dancer.” Oh God. How did he find me? Why is he here?
Bile rises in the back of my throat. God, I fecking hate that name.
Riley’s snarling now, gnashing his teeth. I didn’t even have to give him a signal. It’s as if he just knows.
But I do give him the signal to intimidate.
“Shut him up,” Lewis snarls.
I simply shake my head and pray that Beckett’s almost here. Why did I let my guard down? Why didn’t I lock the door behind Dani?
Lewis takes a step forward, and Riley loses his mind. He’s always so mellow and sweet that I forget that he also has this fierce side. He’s so well trained— thank the gods —and knows to protect me with his life if need be.
Come on, Beck. Please get here now. Please.
Suddenly, Lewis takes a gun from his pocket and aims it at my dog, and I shout, “No!”
“If you don’t want me to kill him, shut him the fuck up, Skyla.”
“Riley.” My voice shakes, but it’s hard. “Calm.”
He follows my command but whines and shifts back and forth on his feet in agitation. He knows this situation isn’t right.
“Now, leave the dog and come with me.”
“Lewis.” God, I hate saying that name. “I can’t go with you.”
“You can, and you will. I don’t know what you were trying to prove by moving here of all places, but I’m taking you home where you belong.”
“I am home.” I swallow hard when his face goes beet red. How did I ever think this man was handsome? “I am home, Lewis.”
“No.” He shakes his head and steps toward me, and it excites Riley again, making him bark and snarl and lunge at Lewis. Lewis hits Riley on the head with the butt of his gun, knocking my poor boy out. “Riley!”
I fall to my knees at his side, my heart breaking. No. Not Riley. There’s so much blood. I can’t lose him.
“Oh, my baby.”
“Enough,” Lewis snaps. He grips my upper arm and yanks me to my feet, almost pulling my arm out of the socket. I cry out in pain, but he doesn’t seem to notice as he pulls me along out of the building and toward a black Mercedes parked at the curb.
I know without a doubt that I absolutely should not get into that car.
“Help!” I scream, but then his hand is over my mouth. He simply lifts me off my feet and tosses me into the back seat of the car before he runs around and climbs into the driver’s seat and peels away.
“You’re going to learn to do what you’re told, tiny dancer.”
“Don’t call me that.” The words are out before I can stop them, and Lewis glares at me in the rearview mirror.
“I’ll call you whatever I want. Right now, I want to call you whore. How dare you cheat on me with that redneck cowboy? I saw the pictures, Skyla. I know he had his hands on you, and I will not tolerate infidelity. I would never do that to you.”
Jesus God, he’s crazier than I thought.
“Lewis, this isn’t going to work.”
“Shut up.”
“You and I, we just aren’t meant for each other. I think you’re a lovely man.” I have to swallow the bile that comes up with that lie and work to keep the panic from rising so I can get more words out. “And I know you’re perfect for someone else. I’m simply not that someone.”
“I said shut up!” He’s gripping the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles are white.
“Lewis, you should stay in town for a few days. It’s really a lovely place. I think you’d like it here.”
“I’m going to forget you said that to me,” he says, and now that his voice is calm, it scares me even more. Jesus, what’s he going to do? “You belong in the city with me. We’re soulmates.”
I want to throw up and cry at the same time.
“I can visit the city another time, but I have?—”
“I am going to shut your cunt mouth up with my cock as soon as we get out of this car, tiny dancer.”
He turns a corner, and my already cold blood goes even colder.
Because he’s just turned into the airport, and he’s headed for a private plane. Oh God. No.