Chapter 1
My gaze sweeps across the bar as the bartender prepares my drink. His makes the occasional glance at my breasts but never stares long enough for it to be considered weird. If it was another girl she probably wouldn’t have noticed but I was trained to see these things.
“Are you going to stare at me all day or are you going to get my drink?” I drawled in a lazy tone and he at least had the decency to look sheepish.
“Right away ma’am,” My lips curled at the word, I hate that term for some reason.
I don’t fault him for staring, any man with a working libido would stare at me in my v neck form fitting pink dress that stop at my upper thigh, long honey colored braids that sweep to the hem of my dress and glossy lips.
“Ten bucks says I can get the exotic bitch to go home with me,” I heard someone whisper and the corner of my lips slipped up.
I do look every part of the “exotic bitch” but it’s funny that they think they have a shot.
The bartender handed me my martini and I took a small sip, waiting for whoever spoke to get the courage to walk up to me.
I’d wager it’ll take 5, 4, 3, 2.
“It’s on me,” I glanced at the man who spoke out of the corner of my eyes and frowned into my drink.
I expected more from someone who seemed so confident that he could get me in bed. His features are too boyish, he can’t be older than my 22. He has golden blond hair and blue eyes- in short he looks like a stuck-up jock.
I waited for the bartender to leave before I turned to him.
“I can pay for my own drinks.” I told him simply
“Let a guy be a little chivalrous.” He gave me a smile that would throw any lesser girl to her knees, “You are beautiful if I say so myself.”
“I know I am.”
“I thought the appropriate answer was thank you.”
“I know I’m beautiful; I don’t need a man to tell me that, any girl who says otherwise is a fool.” I kept my tone bored, “But I suppose if it makes you feel a bit better, then thank you.”
He looked ready to spit in my face but he quickly schooled his features, “You are a different breed of woman. Men would kill for someone like you, yet you’re all alone at the bar.”
“Then it stands to reason that I’m alone by choice; don’t you think?”
“You don’t have to be. I’m-“
“Not interested,” I told him firmly
Annoyance flickered over his features, “Give a man a shot before turning him down.”
I let out an amused chuckle before turning to face him completely.
“You wouldn’t know what to do with me even if I gave you an instruction manual.” I deadpanned, “You’re a sad college student who doesn’t know what he wants in life. You probably became a jock because you wanted to fit in.”
Annoyance and shame started to cloud his features.
“You’re one of those guys who bases all his self importance on his friends; you’ve been looking at them every other second since you sat here almost like you have something to prove. If I was the slightest bit interested- which I’m not by the way, that would have been a major turn off. If I was looking for an orgy, then I know where to go.”
He opened his mouth but I cut him off, “You wouldn’t know the last thing about pleasuring a woman and I have had enough experiences with five minute men to spend my time on a five minute boy. Now run along to your friends; you can’t get the exotic bitch.”
He looked just about ready to blow a fuse, but I couldn’t be bothered about it.
“I was right about one thing.” He said finally and I raised a brow.
“And what was that?”
“That you’re a bitch.”
“I never said I wasn’t,” I picked up my martini, “But guess what; you’re paying for this bitch’s drink.”
“Like hell I am.”
“Tell that to the bartender; he heard when you said it’s on you. Don’t be too quick to speak next time.”
I gave him a fingered waved and sashayed off while he muttered enough expletives to give my grandmother a heart attack.
Why are bars so boring? I made my way over to one of the tables and was about to sit down when I felt a pair of eyes on me.
I turned around slowly and attempted to look bored while my eyes scanned the bar for whoever it could be. Then, I saw him.
Well, I saw his silhouette. He stepped out of the shadows and the corner of my lips slid up into an almost smile- finally, someone who looks like he can give me a good time.
He made a gesture for me to come closer and I cocked a brow.
“Why don’t you come get me?” I mouthed.
He smiled, not a normal smile, but one that promised danger then disappeared.
I was about to take my seat when a bouncer walked up to me.
He was all muscles and frowns in his dark tee and faded jeans. His hair was cropped very low and his eyes were hidden beneath dark shades.
His face was void of expression but as he walked over to me, he took off his shades and I could see boredom and slight annoyance swirling in his brown eyes.
“I have been asked to escort VIP section.” He said
“Do I look like a dog to be summoned?”
He chuckled softly, “Hey, I’m just doing my job.”
“I like you,” I declared as I stood to my feet, “But pro tip, if you’re going to survive here; you need to work on masking your emotions better.”
He led me to the VIP section and I was instantly grateful because my ear drums could take a break from the loud music.
It’s not much different from the rest of the bar, it’s just quieter, less crowded and it has a lot more chairs and tables.
“I can take it from here, thanks,” a voice behind me said. The bouncer nodded, gave me one last look and walked away. “I didn’t expect you to come.”
“You summoned me like a dog; who am I to refuse?”
I turned to face the man in question. He had dark brown hair that stopped at his shoulder blade, his eyes were a warm mahogany color but they glistered with unbridled violence and danger.
Everything about him screamed innocent except his eyes. His body was completely lean, giving the illusion of weakness but I could see from the way he carried himself that he knows how to fight.
He held out his hand to me and I noticed the calluses on them.
“I can walk,” I said finally, “Are you going to offer me a drink?”
“That boy offered you one not even five minutes ago and you dumped him; I’m trying a different strategy.”
He has been watching me for that long. How did I not notice?
He led me to a red chaise lounge and I sat next to him with my ankles crossed.
“Would you like a cigarette?” he held one out to me, and I wrinkled my nose, “I’ll take that as a no then.”
“I prefer to not smell like nicotine.”
“What if I told you it had a different flavor?”
“You don’t look like someone who would settle for a flavored blunt; but I’ll pass, thank you very much.”
He snapped his fingers and a serving girl came running over, “Get the girl a martini.”
“How long have you been watching me?” I finally asked.
“Long enough,” his response was vague.
The server returned with my drink and even though he doesn’t look like someone who would order for my drink to be spiked, I am not going to take any chances.
He noticed that I didn’t move to accept the drink and he smiled cruelly.
“If I wanted to get you in bed, I wouldn’t need to drug you.”
“Better safe than sorry, don’t you think.” I said, “And there is more than one reason to drug a girl.”
He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by a loud disturbance at the door. I turned and when I realized what was going on I almost swore.
A bunch of men were arguing at the door, one of them sighted me and made his way over.
His blond hair was hidden beneath a black baseball cap, he was wearing the same outfit as the other guys by the door, black shirts, black pants and a leather jacket with an insignia on the left breast pocket. He would have looked attractive if not for the annoyed look on his face.
“Hey Jerry,” I forced the nicest smile on my face, “I was going to tell you what I was doing.”
“No you weren’t,”
“You’re right, I wasn’t going to,” I began, “But, if you let me stay an extra hour, then I won’t tell anyone that you lost me.”
“The princess has to return to her tower,” the drawled words reminded me that there was someone there.
It seems Jerry didn’t notice either because his face hardened even further.
“Let’s go,” he reached out to grab me but I pulled my hand away at the last moment, “He will be pissed if he finds out.”
“I’m going, relax.”
I stood to my feet shoving down the feelings of annoyance that rose inside me. I absolutely despise being dragged around like a rag doll. I am twenty two for fuck’s sake, not a child to be given a curfew or summoned.
“How could you be so reckless? He could have hurt you.”
“He wouldn’t have-,”
It happened so fast that I can’t even explain properly. One moment, I was standing with Jerry; the next, I was in someone’s arms, and a pocket knife was held to my neck.
I knew from his stance and the looseness of his hold that he wasn’t planning on hurting me at all.
“First of all, I can hear you” the man drawled, “Second, if I wanted to hurt her I could have.”
“Let her go, now.” Jerry had on an expression that would make most men piss their pants but this man just laughed.
“It’s funny that you think you have any power here,” his hold on me loosened, but he kept his hand slung over my shoulder, “Third, she’s an adult; speak to her like one.”
He let go of me and I turned to him, he had amusement dancing around his eyes and I noticed the flecks of green and amber glistening in his eyes.
“I never got your name, it seems criminal that I spent the better part of my night with you and I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Isabella,” my voice was barely above a whisper, “What’s yours?”
“Alessandro,” the hint of an accent peeked out as he pronounced his name, “I have a feeling we will be meeting again, Isabella. Until then, stay safe, and don’t trust strange men in bars.”
He disappeared into the shadows and a firm hand latched onto my wrist and began to pull. Jerry dragged me past the nice bouncer I met earlier and out of the club. He didn’t stop until he was in front of a black SUV with tinted windows.
“Don’t ever manhandle me again.” I grit out as I pulled my hand from his grip, “Try that again and I will break your wrist.”
“Funny how you didn’t think of breaking wrists when he had you in a hold,” he spat, “I’m sure your father would love to hear about that.”
“Fuck you Jerry, why don’t you run along and keep being his little lap dog?”
“Save the sass for your father; he is more than excited to speak to you.”
As much as I wanted to curse him out, I know he is right. I need to save my energy for my father. I don’t know much but I know one thing, and that is he must be royally pissed.
