Chapter Twenty-Four
DRAVEN
The lights in the bar had dimmed to a pulsating purple hue as I watched the entrance, patiently awaitng Domonic to come back inside. It has already been five whole minutes and I am steadily watching the clock on the wall ahead of me.
I hope he’s not fighting out there.
If he was something told me he could handle it. But still, a small, less familiar part of me worried over it still.
Get a grip Draven,
“Hello dear, can I get a cold beer please? Anything dark.”
I smile, tearing my eyes from the clock and nodding at the stranger in front of me. Pouring a clean glass full of a black froth, I push it out to him. He takes it from me with gloved hands going around my own, causing me to jerk back.
“Thank you, he smiles, revealing gleaming white teeth.
My eyes catch on his mustache, black and carefully clipped. His jacket, his shirt, his pants, his gloves – all are black. He wears a beanie on his head also black. And although beanies aren’t unusual in the late evening it bothers me. “You’re welcome. Five bucks even.
–
He smiles again, taking a drink and downing the entire thing in one pull. “Here you go,” he says, handing me a twenty. “Keep the change
Draven.”
My temperature shoots up. The stranger winks at me, leaving the glass on the table and making way for the resterooms in the back.
Okay Draven… so the weirdo knows your name. So what? People talk. You’ve already been here a few nights. He could have overheard someone calling out to you or been somewhere nearby when Bart yelled out orders. Him knowing your name does not have to be weird.
But somehwere deep in my sould I knew that it was.
“Draven,” Domonic interrupts my, thoughts with his sudden appearance
I didn’t realized I was still watching the back of the bar and missed him coming back in. I gaze at him and attempt to shake off the chill Mustache Black has managed to drive into my bones.
“Yes?”
Domonic’s face is hard, his eyes unreadable. “We’re leaving early. We have to talk.”
I chuckle, “What? No! Can’t you see how busy this place is?”
“Bart and Quinn can handle it. You and I are heading home. This is not a request.”
Then he turns around and leaves me to follow.
Is he angry with me? What the fuck?
Grabbing my purse from below the bar I flip Bart off and head toward the front door, where Domonic is waiting.
Once in the car, the heat on full blast, I study his calculated movement as he defly navigates the fog covered streets toward the hill. He doesn’t speak the entire way to his house and when we get there, he flips a switch on the visor and the mechanical gate behind us closes with a definitive boom..
1/3
Chapter Twenty–Four
“Will the guys be able to get in? I ask, as we park and get out of the hummer.
“Yes,” he snaps, leading me toward the back door by my elbow.
His curt response, his grip on my arm, the way he wasn’t looking at me it was all getting on my nerves.
“What’s the deal Domonic?” I quip once we are inside.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he flips the switch that closes down all the shades around the first floor of his house and begins to make a pot of coffee in the kitchen.
I wait, tapping my foot ungraciously. When he finally turns to look at me, he hands me a cup of coffee which I take gratefully.
“Sit down Draven,” he says nodding toward the living room.
My brow furrows and I chuckle darkly. “Okay. Sure.”
I take a seat in the corner of the L–shaped sectional and swallow a devastating burn of Columbian excellance. Surprisingly enough, Domonic sits an entire two cushions away.
What the hell?
“Now, he says, turning his bright gray eyes on me. “Tell me about your ex.
I chortle. “My ex?” I laugh throatily, causing coffee the slosh out of cup and Domonic to glare my way. “What the fuck for?”
His eyes catch on my bare stomach and he edges a bit closer. “Because I asked you about him. I want to know who he was
I bite down on my lip and lean forward, granting Domonic a nice show of cleavage as I place my cup on the coffee table in front of me. “Why do you want to know about my ex?” I tease, crawling across the couch on all fours until I am seated next to him.
His eyes fall heavy and his muscles turned rigid. “I’m serious, Draven.”
I giggle, I can’t help it. What, is he jealous? Of an ex I haven’t seen in three years? Please! “What brought this on?”
“Just humor me,” he says quietly. “Who was the last man you had sex with?”
I freeze losing my smile completely. “What does that have to do with anything?”
His jaw clenches, eyes going cold. “So there was someone.” His gaze sizzles.
“Excuse me?” I snap. “What the fuck does that mean?” I scoff, “Are you pissed off because I’m not a virgin?”
He shakes his head, although the look he is giving me says he isn’t happy about that fact. “It couldn’t have been too long ago if his smell is all over you.”
What the fuck did he just say?
I glare daggers at him. “His smell is all over me? What the hell? Are you kidding me?”
“AH I can smell when I’m near you is lavender and vanilla but that’s because-” He shakes his head, breaking off. “You know what – nevermind that part. Just tell me the truth. Who are you really running from? Your stepdad? Or an angry ex–boyfriend?”
My mind whirls with a barrel of emotions. My nightmares and memories coming forth with deadly force. Each of his words a trigger for why I left Miami in the first place. The digusted look on his face making me feel small and empty. The way I had been when I was trapped
with that monster and his son. Please,” I whisper, my eyes falling shut. Stop this. I don’t want to talk about this.”
Try as I might I can’t stop the quiver of my body as the reality of my past shoots over my soul like a raging river of cold. Suddenly I feel cheap and worthless. Not to mention stupid as fuck for trusting this asshole next to me.
“Draven?” Domonic’s tired voice fills my ears as if from far away, pressing me and pushing down on my chest – closing off my air supply.
Hot wet tears begin to stream from my eyes and I am helpless to stop them. The scream that wrenches from my body next is one I’ve heard time and time again while beneath the weight of a monster. “Noooo!” I yell. “Please, please no!”
