Wicked Destiny (3 page)

“Are they back?”
I asked.

Shay smiled and nodded.

The eye thing was something that started when I was eighteen. I’d always had hazel eyes with gold flakes, but they seemed to change color with my emotions. I found this out when they remained blue for a year or so after my great aunt died and Declan left. Then, instead of being sad, I became angry and they turned emerald green. When I was happy, they were the regular hazel, but when I was undoubtedly irritated, you could actually see traces of red. Almost as if it were fire. I guess you could say I could never hide my feelings with Shay. She had been there for everything in my life, even with the death of my aunt. She helped me survive he who I dare not to mention, and the freak within me. She was the only one I could trust. Trying to change the mood, I changed the subject.

“Jared wants me
to consider him as a candidate. What do you think?” I laughed because this was nothing new, and the fact I even brought it up had taken Shay by surprise.

“Since when do you care?
This happens almost every night you work.”

“Yeah
, I know, but maybe it’s time. You know?”

“Wait—
you mean Jared?”

“Well
, I mean, he gets it. I think.” I laughed.

“If you say so.
Sloane, just be happy. That’s all I want.”

Customers started to pour in along with a
couple of the security guards. It was always great to see the first batch of people, because they looked great at this moment but in a couple hours they would all be belligerent, drunk, and could hardly stand. But they would have enough sense to order another drink and forget how much they actually tipped you. I took my first couple of customers and told Shay I would be right back. 

“Will you be alright for a couple minutes?  I have to a
sk Jared about some time off.”

She knew I was lying.
“Sure, just don’t take all night.”

Walking around the bar
, I headed to Jared’s office. Before I reached the door, I glanced to my left and saw Rick talking up the girl at the entrance. I told myself not to overreact. Maybe he knew her already, and Shay had to flirt throughout the night to ensure her great tips. But then I watched him caress her cheek.

Pushing my anger deep down
, I barged into Jared’s office, clearly not thinking, and shut the door behind me. I took a deep breath and readied myself for what I was about to say. I was so caught up that I didn’t think to take a look at my surrounding. Or Jared’s surroundings, for the matter. He was sitting in his swivel chair with one of the waitresses straddling his lap. A look of total shock flashed across his white face. Although they weren’t actually doing anything, the position they were in could have easily been mistaken.

“Sloane!”

The look on my face must have been enough confirmation as to why I was in there. Realization washed over his face. I’d never seen the color fade out of someone’s skin as fast as his did. I think now would’ve been a good time to exit.

“That color looks good on you.
Whore Red.” Jared pointed to his lips, indicating where the woman’s lipstick was all over him. I walked out and my anger was no longer tamed. 

I slammed it behind me
I leaned against it. I heard Jared trying to get the waitress out and I knew he’d come after me. This was why I never wanted to get involved. Looking straight ahead, I noticed Rick was still there. Something wouldn’t let me back down anymore. I walked over to Rick and, with the force of three men, I grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against the wall. Dale, the head of security, came running in and pleaded for me to let him go.

“Please
, Sloane. Let me handle it before you get in trouble. Tell me what he did and he’s gone.”

Looking straight at Rick
, I made sure he was watching me straight in the eyes. “You are all the same pathetic creatures, aren’t you? Always thinking with that head three feet below the neck. Now if I snapped your neck, you wouldn’t have to worry about that problem anymore, would you?”

Dale was still trying to pl
ead with me. “Sloane, I’m going to pull your hand off his neck.”

“Don’t touch me,” I growled with gritted teeth
, and squeezed a little harder. “This is what is going to happen. You are going to leave Shay the hell alone and never come back again. Do we have an understanding?”

With all the squeezing
, he could only manage a simple nod and I released him. Just as I let him go, Rick lunged at me and this time it was Dale’s turn to grab him and choke slam him. Then Dale forcefully escorted him out. Pleased with myself, I looked at the girl at the door and turned to leave. But not right before Jared’s door opened. This was my cue.

“Sloane
, wait. Please, let me explain.”

My thoughts went to heading for the bathroom and locking myself inside.
I knew my eyes would be changing, so I had to make it fast. Making my way through the crowd, I glanced back at Shay who was looking at me with a questioning gleam in her eyes. I pointed to the bathroom and she just nodded her head. With everything going on I hadn’t noticed the club was almost full. At least this would slow Jared down. As soon as I got to the bathroom, I slammed the door right in his face and locked the door. I stared at myself in the mirror and suddenly I couldn’t deal with it anymore. With Jared beating on the door and with everything that had happened.

I
picked up the metal trash can and threw it against the mirror. The beating against the door stopped. I stood there and tried to get a grip. When I felt my pulse slow, I looked down at a piece of the mirror that was still hanging. My eyes were just emerald green. No traces of red, so I was good. I needed to get out of this bathroom before I went nuts again.
Why did I react like that?
I already knew Jared was the way he was and I already knew Rick was a low life. Maybe it was time for a vacation. Opening the door, I was greeted by Jared looking over my shoulder.

“What the hell did you do?”

“Oh, um, yeah. You can just take it out of my check.” I tried to push past him, but he wouldn’t let me.

“
Sloane, please let me explain.”

“Explain what?
You are the boss. So you have sex with some of your employees. This isn’t new to anyone.”

“Yea
h, but the look on your face said something different, like you wanted something.”

I started to tell him how bad he screwed himself
over with ever having a chance with me and I even considering telling him I thought about it. But just as I was about to open my mouth, I saw a pair of familiar eyes. They appeared over Jared’s shoulder and they made me forget my train of thought.

It was Viktor.

“Sloane, are you OK?” Viktor asked, just as Jared realized I wasn’t staring at him.

“I’m sorry
, who are you?” Jared was in alpha mode.

“I’m Viktor, and you?”

“Jared. Do you mind, because we are in the middle of something?”

“Actually
, we’re done,” I stated dryly, looking at Jared and making sure he knew what I’d said was a double meaning. Stepping around and grabbing Viktor’s arm, I looked back at Jared. “You were right. I did want something, but now all I want is a vacation.” Jared knew just what I meant.

Walking back through the crowd and behind the bar
, I motioned for Viktor to meet me on the other side. “Pick your poison.”

“I’
ll have a beer. Any kind will do.”

I reached into the cooler and pulled
out the first one my hand touched. It was a Coors Light.
Great light beer
, I thought to myself. I set it down in front of him and gave him a quick wink before serving my next customer.

“So
, are you going to tell me what that was all about?” I guess he thought that smile would work with me. He was obviously mistaken.

“None of your damn business.”
I smiled back at him just as devilish and batted my eyes.

“Ouch,” he said
, as he rubbed his chest as if I’d pierced his heart.

“I don’t know you.
What makes you think I will tell you anything?”

“Well
, for starters, we are neighbors. Aren’t neighbors supposed to be friendly?” There he went again flashing that grin.

“Wow
, neighbors for like, what, three hours?”

“Oh
, come on, Sloane. Don’t be like that. If you didn’t somewhat like or trust me, you wouldn’t have invited me to your job. Now I know where you work and live. I can just keep bugging you until you get tired of me.” He took another sip of his beer.

“Correction
: you know that we stay in the same building and not the actual loft.” Why did this guy make me so nervous?

“You know most neighbors are nicer than this.”

“As you can tell, I’m not like most neighbors. Not into the whole pot-luck thing.”

“I can tell.
So, neighbor, I will be seeing you later. There is a pool table and some desperate souls that need to be taken advantage of if I want to continue to drink at your prices.” 

With that
, he was gone, but not before flashing another inviting smile in my direction. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling back. Everything about him had certain swag. A new customer brought me out of my trance by ordering a shot of patron. I made sure I poured one for me too.

“You are so going to dish all
the info on your mystery man,” Shay whispered in my ear while wagging her eyebrows at me.

“He just moved into my building
, that’s all. Nothing big.” I shrugged my shoulders like it didn’t matter, but at this moment, Viktor intrigued me.

“So you just met him and yo
u already invited him out here? Isn’t that like the third date if they don’t already know where you work?” Shay was always on point.

“W
hat? He thought I was a stripper so I had to make sure he knew I wasn’t.”

Shay placed one hand on her hip and smiled sweetly at me
. And then she asked the million dollar question. “Why are you so worried about what he thinks?”

“Honestly, I haven’t a clue.” I couldn’t stop myself from looking across the club where he was playing pool
, and he caught me looking. I didn’t look away, either. All I could do was smile.

“I haven’t seen that smile in a while
, Sloane. Not since…” She trailed off before finishing her sentence, but I already knew what she was going to say. And even remembering the pain I didn’t stop smiling.
Progress,
I thought to myself.

We got busy after
that and I lost track of time. I didn’t even notice Viktor leaving. I figured with the cold air tonight he wouldn’t sleep alone and that he figured slipping out would be best.  Thinking about it brought on a hint of jealousy, but the reasoning behind it I wasn’t sure of. I just met this man and it was like I placed dibs on him already. Wasn’t I just as free to do as I pleased? 

“He slipped out about an hour ago,” Shay said as she was wiping down her section of the bar. 

“Do what?” I asked.

“Viktor, right?”

“Oh, yeah, I wasn’t worried about him. I was just wondering what time we were getting out of here tonight.” Hopefully I played that off well.

“Sure you are.
I saw him leave with someone when I went looking for Rick.”

At that very moment
, I must have been wearing my emotions all over my face. I hadn’t told her about Rick or what I did to him. What was I going to say and how would she take it? Shay seemed to really like this guy and I didn’t want it to look like I was interfering with her life.

“So
, um, where is ‘ol Rick?” I tried to play it off, but I already knew she knew something. “I can give you a ride after we walk to my building.” I couldn’t help the giggles that came.

“No
, thanks. Dale and Mindy said they would give me a ride home. You know you could’ve told me what happened. Don’t try to now, because Dale already beat you to it.”

“Just what did Dale tell you?”
Now I was scared, because I was already freaked out about what happened and I didn’t know how she would take it. Shay already accepted everything else, like my eyes changing colors, but now it was like I had super strength. What the hell was that about anyway? I was probably the biggest freak right now. Why Shay was my friend I would never know.

“That you caught Rick with the front door girl, and before you could get to him
, Dale had already snatched him up and threw him out. Literally. Then you told him not to come back around. Which, by the way, I am very thankful for, because my checking account was rapidly depleting. I thought I was going to have to cancel our shopping day this week.”

I
laughed. I gave Shay a hug and she held on tightly. It scared me, so I hesitated a little when letting go, but I hugged her just as tight. Shay was a rock, but every now and then a rock broke away a little at a time. She was ready to settle down and create a new chapter and I knew that even without her having to say anything. I think she was more worried about what would happen to me if she found someone she really could spend the rest of her life with. All I knew was that whoever he was, he’d better treat her right. The hug turned out to be short-lived when Jared cleared his voice right behind us.