Alphas of Sin

by Anthology

  I shake my head as we cross the street. “No, we can walk. We got all night.”

  He glances at me with a smile as he squeezes my hand. “Yes. Yes, we do.”

  CHAPTER 2

  The cold winter air breezes past us as we make our way downtown toward the bar. Hopefully, we find my lost wallet and I’m praying that all my cards and cash are still in there. I know this is New York City and people can be downright awful, but I need to stay positive. I’d hate to have to cancel all my credit cards and deal with the DMV in getting a replaced driver’s license.

  I mentally cross my fingers as they wrap around his strong hand. Even though I’m wearing gloves, I can still feel the intensity between us as he holds my hand. We walk in a fast stride down the street as we cross between oncoming traffic. Even though it’s one-fifteen in the morning, the night is still young.

  People fill the city streets, laughing and conversing with one another. Some run, some walk. Others hail for cabs while a few race toward the subway. I have always wanted to live in the city; it’s been a dream of mine.

  To get a fantastic job working as a journalist and buying a nice condo overlooking the city. Glancing up at the high rises, I imagine my condo on the top floor. A cool modern and contemporary space with an open floor plan, a spacious and updated kitchen, and a killer bathtub that I could melt into. But, who am I kidding? I have to finish college first. Laughing at myself, I push away the crazy notions of my inner child.

  I feel him peeking at me as my heart skips a beat. I don’t know how I ended up here, but here I am. Walking the streets with a beautiful stranger. And as crazy as it is, I don’t even know his name.

  Should I just flat out and ask him? Would that be weird? But he doesn’t know my name neither. Maybe we should just keep this simple? No names.

  Comfortable with my decision we continue our walk down 7th Avenue as we head toward the bar. Turning the corner on 42nd, I see the bar in my sights and pray a sigh of relief that it’s still open. Some bars close around 1AM, so I’m thankful this one’s still open.

  My handsome stranger lets go of my hand and holds the door open for me as I thank him, heading inside. He nods with a smile and follows me in. Immediately I set my sights for the bartender and rush to him.

  The bartender recognizes me from before. “Ahh, you’re back for more beer!”

  I laugh at his statement. “Uh, no. Listen, I lost my wallet and I’m hoping it’s here. Did anyone turn it in?”

  “As a matter of fact, someone did turn in a wallet. Hold on, let me get it.”

  I watch as he heads toward the back to grab the wallet. “Oh, thank god! I hope it’s mine.”

  I take off my coat and grab a seat on a bar stool and watch as my shoe stylist takes a seat next to me. I slip off the gloves and hand them back to him, but he denies them. “No, those are yours for the evening, okay?”

  I nod with a smile. “Ok, thank you.”

  “No problem Sunshine.”

  I unwrap the scarf around my neck as I laugh at that stupid nickname. “I’m not always grumpy ya know. It’s just tonight was kind of a little piss for me, that’s all.”

  “Well, then we need to do something to rectify that, don’t we?”

  I inch closer to him. “And what do you have in mind?”

  Just as he’s about to answer, the bartender returns with a wallet. “Is this the one?”

  I glance at it and practically cry out with joy. “Yes!! Oh my god, thank you! Where was it?”

  The two men laugh at my jubilation and the bartender says, “It was by the pool tables. Someone brought it up here. I’m assuming it was after you stormed out after your little riff with that guy.”

  I open my wallet, inspecting for any stolen cash or cards. Luckily my cards are still there but the cash is gone. At least I don’t have to replace anything.

  “Guy, what guy?”

  A hint of jealousy sounds from my stranger’s voice and I peek up at him, only to find him staring at me intensely. His dark eyes border on the edge of envy and possession. His hand lands on mine, grabbing hold.

  “Uh, actually it’s nobody now. I was here uh…on date. And well, he broke up with me.” The memories of the prior hours before flash before my eyes, forcing me to shy away from my stranger, retreating from his firm grip. Pain fills my heart as I fight away the tears and push down the void in my chest.

  Stupid girl. Always falling for the wrong guy. The guy that lies, steals, and cheats. And then, leaves you stranded in the city with nowhere to go.

  “Whatever the reason for him breaking up with you, he’s a damn idiot, for not realizing what he lost.”

  My cheeks heat with blush as I swipe my dark hair away from my face, tucking it behind my ear. “I know you’re being nice, so thank you.”

  His fingers grab hold of my chin and twists my face toward his. His eyes darken with a heated passion as he whispers deep. “No, I’m serious. Obviously, he doesn’t see you the way that I do.”

  My breath catches at his honesty and I can’t help but ask, “And…what do you see?”

  His lips curves. “What do I see? I see pure, natural beauty. A beauty so rare, it needs to be cherished; kept safe.”

  I freeze at his sudden exposure of emotion and watch as his eyes drift south toward my lips. The feel of his fingers along my chin sends shooting electricity throughout my body as I sit there completely still.

  I watch as he moves, inching closer toward me and I close my eyes, desperately waiting to feel his lips touch mine. And at that moment, I feel his lips touch my cheek instead, steadily holding their place for a couple seconds, before he lifts his head away from me.

  I open my eyes to find him smiling at me in a teasingly way. Just before I can say anything the bartender interrupts me.

  “Hey guys, it’s last call. We’re closing up shop soon.”

  Shocked at his announcement, I glance around for a clock. “What time is it?”

  “It’s almost two. So, if you’re not getting a last drink, then I’m sorry but you guys gotta clear out of here.”

  I nod and thank him as I stand up, grabbing my coat. Before I slip it on, I glance over at the handsome stranger. “I need to use the bathroom first. I’ll be right back.”

  He gestures. “I’ll be right here, waiting for you. Don’t be too long.”

  I smile. “I won’t.”

  I grab my things and head toward the restroom. Entering the space, I glance around to find it completely empty and let out a loud squeal.

  Holy shit, he’s hot! Oh my god!

  Turning toward the mirror, I glance at my reflection and wince. Yikes! I look a hot mess. I fumble through my bag, hoping to find any makeup I may have buried deep inside. After a couple seconds, I find some lip gloss and mascara. Running the water, I wash away any grime with a power towel, dabbing my face dry. Then, I apply a quick coat of mascara to accentuate my brown eyes and matte my lips with a pinkish hue. My fingers run through my long locks, detangling any knots that may have formed, wishing I had a hairbrush with me.

  I glance at the retouched reflection and shrug. Well, this’ll have to do for now. I head toward the bar and see the bartender talking to my mysterious stranger. I need to find out his name. I chuckle to myself as I make my way towards them. The two of them finish up their conversation, shaking hands, as the bartender leaves us to go finish cleaning.

  Dark eyes meet mine. “All set?”

  I smile toward him. “Yup, I’m ready. Where are we headed?”

  He takes the scarf and wraps it around my neck again. “Are you hungry?”

  “Umm…yeah but aren’t all the restaurants closed?”

  He shakes his head as he knots my scarf. “Nah, I know a place. It’s actually a couple blocks away. I know you’ll like the food.”

  Excited for a new adventure I smile. “Oh, okay. Sure”

  We finish bundling up for the cold and head outside. His hand grabs hold of mine and we walk toward the restaurant, crossing the s
treet.

  “So, what do you study in school?”

  “Oh, well right now, my major is English with a minor in Journalism. I hope to be a journalist working at a top news station someday.”

  He glances at me with a smile as we walk together. “Like CNN or something?”

  “Yeah, exactly. This is my last year, so I’ve been on the hunt for a job, an internship, pretty much anything at the moment. I know I won’t be able to land my dream job immediately, but I’m hoping to splash my feet in the right waters, ya know?”

  “That’s awesome. And what school do you go to?”

  “Oh, I’m from Stamford, so I go to the school up there.”

  “I’m from Stamford too. I moved to the city right after high school.”

  “Really!” I knew he looked familiar. Now I just have to pinpoint how I know him.

  “Well, we’re here.”

  He leads me toward a restaurant but it’s closed. I look at him with confusion. Clearly he’s misunderstood about the whole closing time thing.

  He laughs at my confused look, and nods his head toward the adjacent alley. “Come on, this way.”

  Just as we descend upon a back door, snow begins to fall from the sky. A small snowflake lands on the back of his pea coat and instantly melts into the fabric. I could feel small flakes landing on my hair as I watch him open the door with a key and punch in the security code.

  He leads me into the back of the restaurant, locking the door behind us. Immediate darkness surrounds me as I step into a corridor, not knowing where I am or where I’m going. A sudden hint of fear and nerves hits me as I turn toward him, hoping I didn’t make a huge mistake.

  He senses my fear and chuckles, “Relax Sunshine. Here, is this better?”

  He switches on the lights and my eyes blink, getting used to the bright fluorescents from above. I open them slowly and spin toward the front of the restaurant.

  Exquisite décor covers the walls, accenting a beautiful theme of elegance and class. Comfy booths and tables hug the glossy hardwood floors as it shines under the beaming lights.

  My breath escapes me as I take in the beautiful restaurant. “Oh my god, it’s beautiful! Do you work here?”

  His deep cool voice chimes from behind me. “Uh, yeah you could say that. I own this place.”

  My jaw drops as my breathing stills as I look at him. “You…own this…restaurant?”

  A deep snicker escapes his lips as he steps into the center of the restaurant. He raises his arms up and spreads them wide. “Welcome to Evan’s.”

  As soon as he says that name, a flash of memories whisk before my eyes. I feel as though my mind is transported back into the past. Eleven years ago to be exact. All of a sudden, this distinct yet distant memory comes full force into my mind.

  My science teacher has paired me up with Emily for our seventh grade end-of-year project. It wasn’t who I wanted to be paired with, but I figure I’d just get it over with. Earlier that day, I made plans with Emily to meet at her house after school, so we could get a crack into this thing.

  I stroll up to her house which was pretty massive compared to mine and ring the doorbell. Within a matter of seconds, she opens the door, inviting me inside. As soon as I step in, the blaring sound of loud rock music echoes throughout the halls.

  She snickers under her breath and leads me to her room, “Just ignore that. It’s my stupid older brother. He insists on being a famous rock star when he grows up and tortures me with that hideous music of his.”

  I follow her down the hall. “It’s not so bad; he just needs to get better at it.”

  She scoffs as we enter her room. “Well, don’t ever tell him that. You’d inflate his ego so high he’d float away.”

  I laugh as she shuts the door behind her. Hours pass as we begin making a dent in our project. In a way, I’m glad I got paired with her. Emily isn’t all that bad. For some reason, I thought she was a little snotty. Perhaps, it was just the way she dressed or talked. But maybe, someday, I could see the two of us being close friends.

  I glance at the time and take a peek out the window, noticing how dark it’s gotten. Knowing I have to leave soon, I stand up and place my books in my book bag. “Uh, Emily, where’s the bathroom?”

  “Down the hall and to the left. Passed the kitchen.”

  I nod. “Okay thanks. I have to head out afterwards.”

  “That’s cool. We did a lot today. My mom could give you a lift back to your house.”

  I shake my head at her offer. “No, that’s fine. I can walk.”

  I smile at her as I walk out of room and down the hallway, toward the bathroom. The rock music has died down and I could hear someone rummaging around in the kitchen. Peeking inside, I see a boy, most likely Emily’s older brother, looking for something to eat in the fridge. I quickly tiptoe past him, careful not to cause any attention and scour into the bathroom on the left.

  Washing up after I’m done, I dry my hands with the towel and open the bathroom. I quietly step into the hall, only to be blocked by the same boy. He completely startled me as I let out a cry. “Crap! You scared me.”

  His back leans against the wall, with one foot perched up against it, holding his weight. He looks at me with a coolness about him. “So, you’re Emily’s new friend.”

  “I wouldn’t exactly say friend but yeah, we are partners for our science project.”

  “I’m Evan, talented musician.”

  I laugh at him and can’t help but shake my head. “Nice to meet you. I’m Holland.”

  His foot slips off the wall as he stands up straight. My eyes grow wide at how tall he is. He’s got to be at least four years older than me. Shocked by his height and appearance, I take a step back and stammer my next words. “Well, I’ll see you around.”

  I rush passed him, racing toward Emily’s room, and shut the door behind me. “You okay?”

  I turn to face Emily as she stares at me with an arched brow. “Yeah, sorry. I ran into your brother and he kind of…I don’t know…scared me a little.”

  She bursts into laughter. “Evan scared you? Please he’s such a dweeb. He swears he’s so cool because he’s about to start high school and he plays the guitar. But he’s really a loser.”

  “Wait, what do you mean about to start? How old is he?”

  “Evan? He’s 13 and he’s in eighth grade. He’s become sort of a little rebel, trying to make a mess out things all the time. I keep trying to warn him that our parents will ship him away but he doesn’t listen. It’s that mentality, ya know?”

  I sit on her bed, confused as ever. “How come I’ve never seen him at school?

  “Exactly my point. He’s a nobody, blends into the crowd.”

  I’m so confused by it all, but decide to just let it rest and head home. “I’ll stop by tomorrow after school, okay?”

  Emily shows me to the door as I say goodbye. “Good night.” She shuts the front door behind me and just as I’m about to turn and head home, I catch Evan staring at me from his bedroom window.

  It’s been two weeks and I’ve visited Emily almost every day to finish up our project. Evan lingers around the house but I’ve only seen him a couple times here or there. I’ve passed by him in the halls at school but I’m too nervous to approach him. We haven’t spoken to each other since our first meeting, but somehow I could still feel him watching me from the shadows.

  “Alright so I’ll open up with the first statement and then you can display our graphics. Sound good?”

  I nod to Emily’s orders as I pack up my things. We finally finished our project with tomorrow being the presentation day.

  Emily and I make a good pair and I’m eager to continue our friendship outside of the classroom.

  “Sounds good. I’m excited about this.”

  Emily offers me a smile. “Me too. You want something to eat before you head home?”

  “No, I’m okay. Thanks.”

  Saying bye, I leave her room and head toward the front door. Ju
st as I’m about to reach the foyer, Evan yanks my arm and pulls me into the den.

  I cry out, startled by what just happened. His smile widens as he stares at me. His finger presses against his lips, giving me the signal to not make a sound. I nod, showing that I understand his request.

  He lets go of my arm and stands in front of me. His eyes are the darkest I’ve ever seen; almost black. A deep brown that scours the darkness yet invites something more into the mix. I can’t help but giggle as he steps closer. He’s at least a couple inches taller than me but I was wrong before. Maybe it was just the way he carried himself that made him look older.

  His soft voice whispers. “You’re so pretty.”

  My eyes grow wide as I’m about to react but he shushes me. I keep my lips shut, wanting to react but curious to see what he does next.

  His eyes look toward my lips as he says, “I just wanted to say goodbye.”

  Before I could say anything, he quickly bends closer to me and presses his lips against mine. Our kiss is simple and quick, but it’s still a kiss. My mind races a million miles a minute as he pulls away after our kiss and smiles at me. I smile in return and blush.

  My first kiss.

  His mouth opens to whisper something until his mother’s voice calls out for him. “Evan! Are you all packed? We’re leaving soon.”

  Panicked, he pulls me into a hug and ushers me out of the house. His eyes send a message of sadness as I stand there confused and shocked by what just happened. He shuts the front door so I take the hint and head home.

  I never saw him again.

  Until now…

  CHAPTER 3

  After our kiss, he disappeared. I didn’t see him at school for a couple weeks so I asked Emily about it. She had told me that Evan was shipped off to military school so that was that. Our friendship dwindled down and once school was done for the summer, we went our separate ways.

  It’s amazing how I forgot all of that. Yes, it happened eleven years ago, but I would have at least thought I’d remember the boy who gave me my first kiss. Well, he isn’t a boy anymore.

  He’s a man.