Page 10 of Locke

“Good. I get sick of the same old shit around here. I’m Terry.”

“I’m Kiki.”

“Good to meet you. Glad we got something a little different around here, Kiki. It’s slow right now since we’ve only just opened. You can go around and make sure all the chairs are around the tables and then come back here. We won’t be busy for another hour or two.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I walk away from the bar feeling his eyes on my ass. I don’t even need to look back to know he’s looking. I smirk and shake my head as I make my way around the room shoving chairs around the tables. When I’m finished, I walk back over to the bar.

Terry introduces me to the girls as they come in. Some have the strangest stage names I’ve ever heard, while others opted for their real names. Most of the dancers seem okay, but there are a few who look at me sideways. Once they’ve all gone into the back, I lean against the bar and wait for Terry to tell me what to do.

“Hey. You’re Hodge’s sister, right?” I turn my head to see a pretty blonde who doesn’t look like she belongs here.

“I am.”

“I’m Cami. You hang out at the clubhouse a lot?” And there’s the question that always annoys me. Just because I hung out there,people always thought I was a free pass to get in and around the guys.

“Not in a long time. I just came back.”

“Well, I know Hodge is glad you’re back. I’ll be at the party this weekend so it’ll be nice to know someone there. Most of the girls don’t talk to me much,” she says before smiling and walking away. I watch her go when Terry clears his throat.

“She dated some of the guys over the years. She’s pretty laid back. Not like some of the others.” I nod my head, taking note of that.

“Should I be doing something?” I ask as I lean on the bar, doing nothing. Terry smiles and sets some drinks on a tray before shoving it toward me. I grab it as he points to a table in the corner. I walk over and deliver the drinks, setting them in front of each of the men when one grabs my ass.

“Touch me again, and I’ll shove that drink up your ass,” I snap at him. He does nothing but laugh. I didn’t come here to be grabbed, although I should have expected it. It’s a fucking strip club for shit’s sake.

I turn around and head back to the bar when Terry steps out from behind it.

“They do that again, let the manager know. He doesn’t let them touch the waitresses.”

“What do you mean? We’re in a strip club.”

“Yeah, but they don’t pay to touch you ladies. His rules, not mine,” he replies with his hands in the air. I roll my eyes now. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.

The rest of the night goes by about the same way. I deliver drinks, threaten assholes. I don’t tell the manager jack shit because I refuse to sound like a goddamn baby on my first day. All I can say is I’m thankful when the night is over.

“You did good,” Terry announces. I smile and say thanks before heading out to my car. I climb in and stick the key in the ignition before starting it and hauling ass out of here. A few men still linger in the parking lot, no doubt stalking the girls. It gives me the creeps.

I make it back to the clubhouse and punch in the code to open the gates before pulling through and parking the car. Climbing out, I forget I’m still in this skimpy uniform, but Hodge said most of the guys go home and don’t stay at the clubhouse. Only a few remain, and I assume they’ll be in bed.

I open the door and punch in the security code like Gunner told me, except the alarm still blasts through the air. Dad told me I had seven seconds to type the code in before the alarm would go off. I type it in again and hit enter, but it does nothing.

“I know the fucking code. It’s my damn birthday!” I yell at the keypad. I try and try again but nothing works. If anyone is here, they’re surely going to be awake now. I try once more when someone comes up behind me. I’m about to turn to see who it is but they’re close. Too close. A large arm comes around me and punches in the code before banging on the keypad a little. Then there’s silence. I step to the side and turn to look up at a very pissed Locke.

“Thanks.”

“You too.”

“What did I do?” I ask when I note the tone in his voice.

“Nothin’. Just settin’ the goddamn alarm off at three in the mornin’ when people are tryin’ to sleep,” he snaps at me. He is hot as fuck when he’s pissed off. I shake my head. No, I can't think that. I can’t look at him like that but damn. The way his muscles bunch and shift as he moves so slightly.

“I didn’t know there was a fucking trick to shutting it off. I wasn’t informed of that,” I snap back at him before I step into him and shove him slightly. He doesn’t budge, and that pisses me off a little more. I’m already pissed from being manhandled all night and then having to come home to this shit.

“You done with your fit, little girl?”

“No asshole. Actually, I’m not!” I shove him once more, but he still doesn’t move, and that only serves to push my buttons more. “While we’re here, let me just say the club you idiots own is a shit hole! Your manager is disgusting, and to be honest, I don’t think I’ve had that many men touching my ass in my entire life! And then I get to come home to a faulty alarm and a big brooding bastard!” Another shove just for the sake of it, but this time, he grabs me and spins me quickly, slamming me against the wall. My heart jackhammers in my chest as I look up at him.

“You wanna put your hands on me, darlin’? That what this is?”

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