by Marie Wathen
Dropping off orders at one of my regular’s table, I stop by the one next to them where a couple of men just sat down. I let them know I will be back in a few minutes to get their drink orders and bring menus. The guys don’t look familiar so maybe they should be my first shot at digging for information. Adding their very hard edge look to their less than happy demeanors gives me the idea that they could possibly know the guys who abducted my friends. I’m not judging I just think that every person that usually hangs out here comes for the live bands. These two look like they are scoping out the place for more than musical entertainment purposes. I am not naive by any means. I know that there are dangerous forms of entertainment that some of the patrons like to dabble in. I even had a very close call with death once when someone injected me with a deadly, new drug called Ryske right here in this very club.
“Hey ya fellas,” I smile. “Here are your menus. What can I get you to drink?”
The larger of the two glares at me with a look of disgust filtering through his dull green eyes. Feeling overwhelmed by his merciless scowl, I quickly avert my attention to the other man.
“Bring me Hennessey on the rocks and keep the menu. We’re not here to eat.” The smaller guy states coolly. His eyes are only slightly kinder then his friend, but his hard tone is definitely just as intimidating.
“I’ll have an Ultra.” The larger man growls, tossing his menu back at me.
“Sure thing,” I say. “I’ll send the bartender over with your drinks in just a few minutes. If you need anything else, my name is Beatrice. I’ll be back to check on you soon.”
“You’re new.” The larger man states, rather than asking, before I can walk away. “And a little young to work in a place like this.” He adds, scanning his eyes along my body.
Not wanting to reveal too much about myself, I normally avoid personal conversations with customers, but I decide with these two I need to change that. Perhaps they will be the break we have been waiting on.
“Yes, that’s right. I just moved here a few weeks ago.” Swallowing down my apprehension I add, “My cousin let me move into his place, but he made it very clear that I had to get a job. Luckily his roommate runs this place so she hired me as a favor to him. I haven’t seen you guys here before. What brings you out tonight?”
The smaller guy smirks slightly at my admission, but before he can respond the larger guy answers.
“Just. Drinks. That’s all we’re here for. Now, be a good girl and get our drink’s sent over here.” He snaps at me before turning to his friend and adding, “Can we cut the small talk? I’m not in the mood for this shit!”
Spinning on my heels, I hear the smaller guy respond as I walk away, “You need to loosen up, dammit. There’s no reason to be mean to the kid.”
Tyle takes the orders to the guys who don’t act like assholes with him. I continue working my other tables while keeping an eye on them. They don’t look happy. As much as I want to press them for information it is clear that they don’t trust outsiders. So I scale back on pursuing information and just go for casual conversation.
“So are you guys ready for another round?” I ask politely, taking their empty glasses. Neither man looks directly at me when the larger guy responds by nodding his head.
“Not that I think you need help with women, but there’s a cute lady at the bar that keeps looking over and watching you guys.” Catching the smaller guy’s eye with this tidbit of information, I wink after he peers around me to spot her.
The larger guy grunts unhappily, tugging on his buddy’s arm, drawing his attention away from the cute woman. Shaking my head at his determination, I chuckle once before leaning against their table. I place my arm down and signals for them to come closer. Narrowing their eyes at me, the guys glance between themselves before letting out a unified huff while leaning toward me.
“It is totally none of my business, but you two act like someone killed your dog.” I say playfully. Both men jerk back away from me like I just slapped the hell out of them. Startled by their reaction, I straighten my posture and my smile fades when they stab me with a hateful look.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” The larger guy growls at me.
“I’m sorry? Did I say something wrong?” I ask.
“Have you been living under a damn rock since you moved here?” He answers my question with a question.
I shake my head no, uncertain of what I could have said that has him so defensive. Proving my point, he crosses his arm snuggly across his chest, barely containing the anger rolling off of him.
“What did you say your name was again?” The smaller guy asks.
“Beatrice,” I say as I swallow hard forcing down the nervousness that his anger instigates. “Beatrice Bentley.”
“Bentley? As in Tyle Bentley?” The smaller man asks with a kinder tone.
“You are Tyle Bentley’s cousin?” The larger man asks accusingly, still being a dick about something that I do not have a clue about.
“Yes!” Mustering every ounce of my stubbornness, I face him directly and give him just as much attitude as he is giving. “Now, for fucks sakes, are either of you going to tell me what the hell I did that has you both so pissed off?”
“Jesus, you would think your cousin would have told you since he was dating our sister when she was abducted two weeks ago.”
Every ounce of blood drains from my face as I stare harder at them waiting for the earth to split open and swallow me whole. No, it can’t be true. These two guys cannot be Waverly’s brothers. However, as I continue to look at them realization slowly reveals to me that they are the same men who attended Morgan’s welcome home party when I was his date. Frozen where I stand, I search their faces for any similarities to the beautiful blonde haired, blue eyed woman, but with their dark auburn hair and green eyes, I don’t see it.
“Damn, you must have heard about it on the news at least. Our sister and two other local girls were abducted from the hospital parking garage in broad daylight.”
The smaller guy continues to speak to me, but with the last bit of information he provided the world fades away. Here I stand in front of Waverly’s brothers, and they have no idea that I am one of the girls that was reported as abducted. Tears burn harshly behind my eyelids and nausea stabs my stomach. My hand jumps to cover my mouth as my stomach lurches. Unable to stop it, the nausea takes over and I empty what little food I have in my stomach right in front of them.
“What the hell?” One of them snaps.
Running away sick and guilty, I see them jump to their feet following me. Fear begins to creep across my skin as I cut through the crowd and dash down the hallway to the employee’s bathroom, hoping I lose them in the cluster of people.
Winding my way down the hallway, I feel the rush of nausea once again as I turn the last corner. Scooting around a couple groping and kissing against the wall, I stagger forward and startle when I bump into a man coming out of the bathroom. Taking note of my diminishing state, he leaps back against the door frame to let me through. I grab the sink and drop my face into the ice cold water from the faucet. I stay under the water for several moments rinsing my mouth and praying I could wash away the shame I feel.
Waverly’s brothers are distressed over the abduction of their sister and here I am staying on a freaking gated and guarded compound with people who are willing to risk their lives for me, sleeping with my boyfriend every night, and pretending that I am someone else. All while their sister could be god knows where, if she is even still alive.
A knock on the outside of the door jars my mind to the present and I glance in the mirror at the mess I made of my makeup. The guilt I once had is replaced with fear, seeing my reflection. With most of my facade washed down the drain I am easily recognizable. The knock comes again and I begin to panic. If they want in here bad enough they will get in, even if it means busting the door down.
No one is going to bust down the damn door. Pull yourself together.
I smear
the last remnants of my eyeliner around my eye hoping that it will help mask some of my identity. Expecting to find the two brothers when I pull open the door, I am a little shocked to see the guy who was coming out of the bathroom, waiting on me.
“Are you alright?” he asks empathetically.
“I think so. I guess I had too much to drink.” I lie, clutching my hand to my stomach to emphasize my illness.
“You don’t look old enough to drink and it looks like you’ve been crying. Who did you come here with?”
He stares attentively at me with warm, hazel eyes oozing honesty and goodness. I really want to trust what I am reading in his expression, but I am not sure if I have confidence in myself anymore.
“Actually,” I sigh relenting, hoping that I am not making a huge mistake. “I work here. I need to go tell my boss that I don’t feel well and I need to go home. Maybe she won’t fire me.”
“What’s your name?” He leans down looking at me closely, like really observing me and I quickly regret saying a damn thing. “Wait a minute, I know you,” he says accusingly.
Grabbing my hand he forces me back into the bathroom with him then slams the door shut blocking it with his massive frame. Shaking my head vigorously, I cannot believe that this is happening. He pulls his phone out of his pocket and swiftly calls someone.
“Hey, get your ass to the employee bathroom on the upper level now. I found the girl,” he snarls into the phone just before pressing the end call button and cussing under his breath.
Panicking, I do the only thing I can think of, I barter for my safety. “Please, I think you have me confused with someone else. I–I just moved here and I really don’t want to cause any trouble, but… my boyfriend is here and he will freak out if I don’t show up in one minute,” I say finishing with determination and hoping that he buys my load of crap.
“I’m not confused in the least Breesan. I hope your boyfriend does freak out. I’m counting on it.”
I watch his face as it twists in an odd expression. It resembles pleasure and pride, but I cannot wrap my mind around what he could be proud of at the moment. If he is part of the group that is hired to kill me then turning me over to whoever he called must mean a large paycheck. It makes me sick to have to use Marcus and the Walker family, but at this point what choice do I have, I must deal with this guy and hope that someone from Marcus’ team will notice my extended absence.
“If it’s money you want in exchange for me, I can get you whatever amount you ask for. Just don’t do this, please,” I beg softly.
“You don’t have to worry about an exchange. No one is getting their hands on you while I’m around,” he replies sternly.
“What in the hell is that supposed to mean?” I stand here completely confused by his response. “Didn’t you just call someone to come get me?”
The corners of his mouth turn up into a sly grin while his eyes roam over my face and then down my body. I shift uncomfortably, averting my eyes hoping to avoid seeing his suggestive look when he reaches them again.
“You really don’t look anything like yourself dressed this way,” he says incredulously.
He isn’t unattractive, but being locked in a bathroom with a total stranger, who implies he is turning me over to some unknown person who is looking for me, makes him one of the vilest creatures alive.
Heavy knocking on the door startles me causing me to yelp and my hands tremble uncontrollably. Fear streaks through every pore in my body as I watch my captor reach to unlock the door.
“Wait, please. I am begging you, don’t do this. They are going to kill me,” I confess, tears slipping down my cheeks. I mentally scold myself for allowing him to see my weakness, but apparently my life doesn’t matter to him. He slides the lock open ignoring my pleas and pulls the door open. He steps out of the doorway before turning to stare at me.
“What the hell is going on?” Marcus says seriously, rushing through the door with a stern look plastered on his face.
Horror seizes me and my breath stills in my chest. I shift my eyes back to the man standing behind the door, hoping to alert Marcus to his presence, but all he can focus on is me. He reaches a hand out in my direction, but the guy’s large hand lands on his shoulder stopping him before we make contact.
“Wait a minute,” my captor threatens, slamming the door shut behind him.
Jerking around, Marcus grabs the guy’s arm, twisting it painfully and using it as leverage. He forces the guy’s body to follow as he pushes him against the wall. Marcus jams him roughly against it, releases him then steps several feet away, blocking him from me.
“Dammit,” rage flares in Marcus’ eyes as he growls at the guy, “Don’t you ever do that shit again.”
Spinning back around to face us, the large guy chuckles while smoothing his hand over the arm Marcus assaulted. Staring completely confused and still scared half to death, I grab Marcus’ arm, clutching it tightly.
“Hey, sorry,” Marcus cups my face. “Are you alright?”
“No, I’m not alright. This guy called someone to come up here and get me.” I point at the guy, still partially standing behind the door. “Then you show up and nearly ripped his arm off, but you act as if you know him. Why don’t you explain to me what the hell is going on?” I demand, releasing my hold on him.
“Okay,” Marcus answers before turning to the guy, “What did you do to her?”
“I kept her from running out of here and exposing her identity after she cried most of her makeup off.” The guy barks angrily, pointing an accusing finger in my direction. He steps up only inches away from Marcus. “You should be thanking me. It only took me a brief moment to figure out who she was. If I wanted her dead as bad as those thugs do, I would have spotted her the second she crossed the threshold back into the bar, and you wouldn’t be having this sweet little reunion now.”
“Marcus?” I whisper. Beguiled by the strange situations tonight, I stare between them not understanding a damn thing.
“It’s okay Breesan.” Grasping my hand again, Marcus speaks softly, “You remember me telling you about the guy who Rhys brought in to track down the shooters, right?” I nod agreeably. “This is Tac. He’s back from his last mission and is here to help us with the stakeout.”
Looking back at Tac, I study his face noticing the kindness in his eyes returning. He still looks menacing as hell with his massive frame, standing three inches over Marcus with a large chest and biceps covered by a thin black tee-shirt. His hair is almost black and his rich, hazel eyes, with flecks of green throughout, seem to sparkle with humor as he watches me studying him.
Letting out a ragged breath, I speak directly to Tac, “Did you have to go all commando and scare the living shit out of me? It was totally unnecessary to call Marcus up here. You could have just told me who you are.”
“Yes, I could have. Because of my job, it’s just second nature for me to act first and ask questions later,” Tac explains honestly. “Forgive me, Breesan. You’re not just some case that I’m working and I should have handled it better.”
“Are you going to tell me what happened and why you are crying?” Marcus asks.
Averting my attention back to him, I continue to calm myself, working out the nervousness and guilt created from the past twenty minutes. “One of my tables is occupied by Waverly’s brothers.”
“Ah, baby,” he whispers. Understanding immediately, Marcus draws my body against his tenderly. One arm wraps around me fully, splaying his hand against the small of my back while the other hand clasps around the back of my neck. He kisses the top of my head, while his thumb grazes just under my jaw line, soothing my near fragile state.
“Do you want to leave now?” Marcus asks and I nod.
“I don’t think I can go back out there looking like this,” I say, gesturing toward my destroyed makeup.
Speaking to Tac, Marcus says, “We’re going back to Rhys. Let the others know.”
The back access stairs are adjacent to the employ
ee bathroom and we descend hand in hand quickly, expecting to avoid the majority of tonight’s crowd. Reaching the back parking lot, we only get a few feet away from Marcus’ Jeep when a familiar voice calls out behind us.
“Beatrice.” Stilling as the deep voice calls my name, I glance over to Marcus who is already turned facing the man beckoning my attention. Marcus drops my hand instantly, clenching his fists tightly, and pressing them against his thighs.
“Hey fellas,” Marcus’ mood does not match his vibrant tone when he speaks, “some other time, alright? She’s not feeling well so I’m getting her out of here.”
Hearing the approaching shuffling of two sets of feet, I exhale sharply before turning around to face my most recent condemnation. I slip my hand around Marcus squeezed fist and he accepts it, lacing our fingers together and glancing down at me.
“I’m okay,” I whisper courageously and he nods.
“You ran off so fast I didn’t get to apologize for mine and my dick head brother’s shitty attitude. I’m Ian and the big oaf here is Jack,” Ian says apologetically, truth radiating from his sweet smirk. “We shouldn’t have taken that shit out on you. I’m sorry.”
Nodding my head accepting his apology, I glance at Jack, who does not seem nearly as remorseful, before replying, “I’m sorry, too.”
“Jack!” Ian barks, facing the glowering eyes of his brother trained on me.
Remembering the night I first saw Jack with Morgan at the castle, I begin to fidget nervously with my wig using it as a drape to cover my face partially. Jack behaved as if he was Morgan’s personal bodyguard and he watched me closely that night. There is no doubt in my mind that he will recognize me any minute.
“Jack? Ian?” Morgan’s voice invades our conversation as he approaches with Tac, Kole, Rhys and Sam, successfully drawing Jack’s scrutiny away from me. The look he was just giving me was a spark compared to the seething flames he has turning toward Morgan.
