by Lyla Oweds
The three men glanced between each other, their indecision thick in the air.
“That’s enough, Mr. Stephens.” Chief Conner stepped into view, snapping Gregory’s attention away from Mr. Thomas. “I think he’s gotten the message.”
“I’m not certain what you’re talking about.” Gregory crossed his arms. “I’m only standing here. It’s not my fault he can’t hold his liquor.”
Chief Conner frowned. “I said, let him go.”
The room was tense, as if the world watched the showdown with bated breath. Even the singing had stopped.
The weight of everyone’s gaze was fixated on our corner, and no one dared to move.
A long second ticked by, and then another. Then, without preamble, Gregory sighed. His shoulders slumped slightly, and his breath released. An instant later, Mr. Thomas gasped, his halting breath turned into a hacking cough before he slowly pushed himself to his feet.
His round face was red and blotchy, and his watery eyes landed on Gregory in anger. He stepped forward, hands outstretched. “You—”
“That’s quite enough from you too, Mr. Thomas.” Chief Conner’s voice sliced through the air like a whip, and Thomas stopped in his tracks. “We’ve an agreement, but your welcome in this establishment has worn itself out for the night.”
The witch’s chest heaved as he turned his attention to the police chief, who stood with his hands in his pockets.
No one moved for one second, and then, as if a wave had passed over the area, the tension in the room suddenly dropped. Mr. Thomas’ arm dropped as he turned his attention to the floor.
“I’ll let it be,” he grumbled. He touched the top button of his shirt. “For now,” he added, his gaze flickering back toward me. It was only an instant—so much that I thought I might have imagined it. Then he was looking at his goons again, snapping his fingers. “Let’s go.”
Gregory moved closer, his touch brushing over the back of my arm, as the group moved past us. A few more familiar faces had joined the crowd, including the man I’d punched in the face.
But as the witch and his dogs trailed out of the establishment, the crowd also began to disperse without a word.
I expected some kind of lecture, or anything, from Chief Conner. But he only nodded before he, too, left, returning to his seat—a private table for two, where a pretty blonde woman sat waiting.
Gregory huffed under his breath, and the sound reminded me of how close he stood. He was a head taller than me, and the height difference between us was evidenced even more by his nearness.
His hand remained over my skin, a slight touch that caused shivers to radiate from his warmth. My nerves were alight in ways they’d never been before, and it was becoming harder to think.
For example, why was choosing Gregory a bad idea again? He was my type. And his scent was intoxicating. I could lie on a couch and just breathe him in forever—in a non-creepy way, of course.
“Would you like to sit?” His smooth voice echoed through me, pulling me from my thoughts as his hand dropped from my arm. Instead, he gestured toward the seat I’d recently abandoned. “Don’t let the likes of Mr. Thomas ruin your plans for the evening.”
His words caused my breath to catch—because my plans for the evening might have been less than decent, but he’d not known that. As far as I knew, the fae didn’t know how to read minds.
I prayed my face wasn’t as red as it felt, and my voice squeaked in my response. “O-okay.” Turning my gaze from him, I moved back into the seat. My fingers tapped the counter in my nervousness.
This was pathetic. Gregory was a mind doctor, he’d know something was strange within a second. I was a fool to think I could hide anything from him.
But he didn’t say a word. Instead, he slumped into the empty chair beside me. His large frame and broad shoulders became a barrier between the rest of the room and the two of us.
Now it was impossible to focus on anything but his scent. My breathing quickened.
“A refill?” The bartender had returned, and his voice broke through my attention only for an instant.
I nodded in response, and the bartender turned to Gregory. The other man waved his hand and nodded, which apparently meant something to the barkeep.
Moss and spring surrounded me until I was almost dizzy. My skin felt tight, and my clothing restrictive. I began to wonder if I might have had too much to drink.
Gregory certainly had.
It was easier to ignore earlier. But now it was impossible to disregard the strong smell of alcohol that radiated from the man. Even his posture, the way his shoulders hunched forward as he leaned over the counter, was off.
How much had he had to drink? “Gregory—”
My question was interrupted as the bartender returned, sliding a second glass next to my own. He then set another, larger glass in front of Gregory—a caramel-colored drink over ice.
Without a word, or even a glance toward me, Gregory picked up the glass and downed the beverage in one long breath.
My own drink was forgotten. I stared at him, wide-eyed, as he set the cup back on the counter and the glass was refilled without question. Again it was gone, and again refilled.
After the third round of this, I glanced at it, and back to his blank expression. However, it wasn’t until he’d lifted the glass to his lips that I said anything.
“Gregory…” I touched his wrist, a brush against his skin. But it was enough to cause him to freeze. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sitting next to you,” he responded, still staring down into his drink.
“Not only that.” I pulled at his hand, and he didn’t resist as I took the glass from him and set it to the side. “Why are you moping about? Why did you help me in the first place?”
He gaze held mine. There was a sense of wildness to Gregory tonight. Something that had been concealed in my previous dealings with him.
Whatever it was made my heart beat wildly.
“Why wouldn’t I help?” he frowned, an almost petulant look on his face. “Didn’t you say that I should become a better man?”
When did I—
And I almost choked, recalling the conversation we had Friday. He’d taken my offhanded words to heart. I’d only been running my mouth.
I pulled my eyes from his, bringing my own drink to my lips as my mind raced for a distraction. Now I felt terrible. He had been stressing about this all weekend.
And no one had ever called me out before. Nor cared what I said. “I…”
“Besides that,” he continued, “didn’t you say that a man had to be stronger than you? Of course I had to step in. I can handle a weak little witch.”
I’d begun to sip my liquor as he’d spoken and tentatively watched him out of the corner of my eyes. He was already so far gone that he didn’t seem to notice the slight shaking of my hands. And his hearing wasn’t as good as mine, so there was no way he’d notice the pounding of my heart.
Honestly though, he looked terrible. I was surprised he was still able to see.
It was now obvious that he’d been drinking before he’d come to me. And he’d been going at it quite heavily from the smell of it.
He’d begun to reach for his glass again, and I tracked the movement of his hand. I frowned. “I think you’ve had enough.”
Gregory grumbled under his breath. His words so quick I couldn’t make them out. And he pressed his hand on the table. “What do you know about it?” he asked. “No one asked your opinion. I can take more.”
There was a hardness to his voice. The drink had caused him to lose his inhibitions.
My stomach might have been twisting with guilt. But that didn’t mean I would allow him to push me around.
“I know a drunken fool when I see one.” I moved to my feet, nudging him with my hip. “Get up, I’m taking you home.”
“And how do you propose to do that?” His voice was snarky and his words slurred. “Are you going to hijack my vehicle? Do you even know how to
drive?”
Actually, I did not know how to drive. Not yet, at least. However, he didn’t need to know that.
“We’ll figure it out.” I pulled his unresistant form toward me. His words were harsh but his body pliant.
I glanced around the room to see if any familiar face remained in the area. But Chief Conner and anyone else I’d even mildly recognized were gone. There were still other patrons and even the bartender himself—a tall, thin, blond man. The man raised his eyebrow at my glance, preparing his offer of assistance.
“No, thank you.” I shook my head before he could even speak. “I’ve got it.”
Gregory, as pathetic as he was right now, was also on my team. I was morally obligated to help him.
I wasn’t an idiot either. It was doubtful that my statement was the only thing upsetting him. We’d spoken of other things on Friday—sensitive topics.
This was more than it seemed, I was certain. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt.
His current state was my fault in more ways than one.
I hadn’t known him for very long. However, Gregory seemed to be a man who prided himself on control. He didn’t show his emotions easily. We’d spoken of families, a deep topic in itself. And he’d been thinking of other things we’d discussed.
The expressions on Gregory’s and Michael’s faces during that discussion had haunted me. This had been my doing. I had to make it right.
“Come along, my wee friend.” I pulled at him, wrapping my arm around his waist. Gregory was heavy against me. I wasn’t a slight woman, especially with my heels, but Gregory was very large.
He leaned against me, his cheek brushing against the top of my head. Somehow, he remained sober enough to use me as a crutch. Because there was no way I could carry him on my own.
“Where’d you park?” I asked as we stumbled toward the front of the building.
“Around the back,” was his reply. “They made me park in the employee lot yesterday since I was here so much.”
Of course his car would be there, in the complete opposite direction of where we were headed.
“Right…” I muttered under my breath, changing direction and waving away the door guard. I could do this, it was only a few hundred yards or so. Such rigorous training was good for building stamina.
What I’d do with the man when we finally reached his vehicle, I had no idea. I hadn’t an inkling of where he lived, which wouldn’t matter because I had no idea how to operate a vehicle anyway.
It wasn’t terribly cold tonight; it might be possible to shove him in the back and let him sleep it off.
He probably wouldn’t freeze to death, and the cool air would be good for building up his immune system. My mother had set my brother and I to sleep outside in the snow as infants, and now we never got sick. What could it hurt?
“All right.” I braced myself. “Away we go.”
“Where is your car?” I felt ashamed that the short trek from the front door to the adjacent lot had winded me, but in my defense, I was dragging a large man along with me. Even though my voice had hitched at my question, my charge didn’t seem to notice my waning strength, nor the fact that we’d made it to the parking lot.
In fact, he wasn’t much help at all. Not with his unintelligible muttering against my ear.
“Gregory.” We were stopped in the middle of the lot while I tried to redirect him to lean on my back more. The skin on the back of my neck was prickling now, and the smell of alcohol—not Gregory’s—began to tickle my nose.
We had to leave. Soon. Surely driving wasn’t difficult to learn.
“Where is your car?” I shook his arm. “Come on, hurry up.”
Gregory groaned something under his breath, and he pointed vaguely toward the far end of the lot.
Sighing, I trudged forward. It was a dimly lit place, and dogs were stupid creatures. Perhaps it would take them a while to catch up—
“Finally,” a familiar voice snided, and I cursed under my breath.
Of course I wouldn’t be so lucky to get away without running into trouble.
“Gregory.” I bounced on my feet, jostling him slightly. “Your witch friend is back. You might have to beat him into submission again.”
I didn’t have much hope that my statement would make Gregory suddenly useful, but I’d thought that the reminder would cause the other man to back off.
But Mr. Thomas was not so easily deterred.
He stepped into a clearing in front of us—an empty space where cars would normally be parked—and crossed his arms as he shot me a gloating look. “We’ve been waiting for you to come out.”
“Gregory?” I squeezed his arm again, but he didn’t even flinch in response.
“No, not him.” Mr. Thomas misconstrued my question, and his grin grew even wider. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Why?” I gave up trying to rouse the heavy fae and turned my attention to the mobster. As he’d moved into position, the three shifters who’d accompanied him earlier also stepped out.
Gregory and I were surrounded.
His whiskey-heavy breath brushed over my ear again, and I sighed.
“One moment, please,” I apologized, shooting Mr. Thomas a regretful look.
He blinked, but didn’t argue as I dragged Gregory past him, to the small space in between two parked cars. Nor did Mr. Thomas question me as I disentangled Gregory from myself and guided him down onto the pavement.
Even useless and annoyingly drunk, he still looked so innocent. One of his curls had fallen over his eyes as I’d settled him down, and I took a second to brush it back from his face.
After all, who knew when this opportunity might come up again.
As I sat on my knees and gazed down at him, my chest constricted painfully. His hair felt as silky as it looked. Now, on top of wanting to smell him for the rest of my life, I also wanted to touch his hair.
What was wrong with me?
Mr. Thomas cleared his throat, and the sound snapped me out of my reverie. I glanced back, meeting the witch’s eyes.
“Are you quite done?” he asked. “What do you think you’re accomplishing?”
I frowned at him. “I needed him out of the way in order to fight you.”
“You’re going to fight me?” Mr. Thomas raised his eyebrows as his gaze moved over my form. “Listen woman, that is not why we’ve been waiting here in the cold all evening.”
“Then what do you want?” I narrowed my eyes at them, suspicious. After all, their last meeting with Gregory and me hadn’t ended on good terms. “You said you weren’t after Gregory,” I added, instinctively finding myself hovering closer to his unconscious form.
“To finish our previous conversation,” he replied evenly, lighting up a cigarette. “I came across harshly before, and I apologize. But I can’t help it. Your arrogant demeanor rubs me the wrong way. So really, it’s your fault—”
“Hey…” My hands rested near Gregory’s head still, and at his words, my fingers pressed into the uneven road. My heart was pounding furiously, and my face grew warm.
I hadn’t even done anything other than exist, and I was being blamed for this fool’s inability to control himself.
I hated men like him.
“What did you want?” I pressed my lips together, forcing myself not to say how I truly felt. Being a smartass wouldn’t do any good in a situation like this.
“You need to watch yourself.” Mr. Thomas exhaled. “Your interference with Petra’s work cost us some money. Allowances have been made, since you’re a woman. And you’ve got guts, I admit. But I’ve been sent to give you a warning. Your interference cannot happen again.”
Petra… Just the memory of his name caused my heart to twist. I’d do almost anything to avoid another confrontation. But at the same time—
“If I catch him breaking the law, I’m not going to look away.” I stood, crossing my arms. “It’s my duty to fight for justice.”
One of the dogs exhaled a sho
rt laugh, but I didn’t tear my eyes from Mr. Thomas.
“It’s your duty to stay in your station.” Mr. Thomas’ expression turned even more stern. “If you haven’t comprehended it yet, we’ve an agreement with your Chief. If you have an issue with that, take it up with him. Mind your business, and we’ll mind ours.”
I could feel the foundation of my faith in the justice system crumbling away, piece by piece. But I tried not to give away my spiraling thoughts in my expression nor my scent.
Bad guys existed—I’d known that reality from a young age. But I’d never given up hope that the good guys cared, that justice always prevailed. It was why I’d fought as hard as I had—because when concrete proof was brought to light, there was no way that Edward Cole could avoid paying for his sins. No way that his straight-laced, law-wielding friends wouldn’t turn on him.
Even a popular judge wouldn’t be immune to justice.
Or at least that’s what I’d always believed. But now I wasn’t so certain.
Chief Conner and Mr. Thomas clearly had some sort of agreement. How could this happen?
My heartbeat echoed in my ears, and my vision trained on my clenched fists.
I’d entered this world because I’d wanted to stand for something important. To save people who couldn’t help themselves. To help my sister.
If the system was corrupt, then I would have to find my own way.
“I’m not going to mind my business.” My voice rang loudly through the heavy silence. “I’m not going to stop.” I tore my gaze from my hands, just in time to witness the smug expression fall from Mr. Thomas’ face.
“Pardon me?” He sounded shocked.
“I don’t care what manner of agreement your people and Chief Conner have,” I clarified, forcing my wayward emotions in check. “I’m not even a real employee.”
Mr. Thomas’ eyebrows furrowed together as his frown grew. “Why you little—”
“Besides, you’ve made my list now.” I pointed at him, rational thought scattering into the wind. “It doesn’t matter what anyone says. I promise you that I will personally bring down your entire organization.”
Mr. Thomas glowered. “If you weren’t a woman, I’d say you had the makings of a powerful Alpha in you. But that’s impossible. Especially since the only way you’d be able to win in combat is to revert to your animal counterpart.”
