"Hey, pretty boy! Your little drink wench is a cock tease, ya know that?" a burly man slurred from the back section...Hailey's section, as I turned to find him grabbing her by the arm and trying to haul her into his lap. No fucking way, asshole.
Blood began to surge in my veins and I began to quake from the adrenaline. My sole focus was once again on Hailey, and this time, I didn't care if she didn't want me around...Jethro, or whatever this dumbass hillbilly's name happened to be, was about to get his teeth knocked out. Unfortunately for Jethro, this was one area in life I excelled at. Fucking and fighting...I honestly didn't know which I was better at...but let's just say I wasn't in the 'fucking' mood right now.
I stepped towards the crowd that had started to gather around the raucous bunch, and Jordan began to follow me. I looked at him with disbelief and said, "I got it. Go take care of your tables," as I jutted my chin towards his section. He gave me a wounded expression and I added, "Don't forget about our little chat later." He stared me down for a moment, and then disappeared into the crowd.
******
Kellan
I was at the table filled with four guys eating this shit up in seconds. As I jerked the arrogant prick up by his collar, the other three men stood up, as if they were ready to back up their friend. Good luck with that. The brawny shit head stumbled back, but recovered quickly, slurring out, "What's your problem, asshole? I was just having a little fun with the sexy lady, here." My stomach turned at this guy's dirty thoughts of Hailey. I never should have encouraged her to dress so provocatively. She was gorgeous enough to rake in tips no matter what she was wearing. I'd have a talk with her later about it; but now, I needed to get her away from this dickhead.
The typical feeling I got when I was jacked up for a fight, maniacal and villainous, wasn't overtaking me. I felt protective, and a burning rage began to overtake my senses. I stood silent, staring the man down, waiting for him to either back off, or make a move, as my fists tightened, ready for battle. He obviously took the gesture as a sign of confrontation, stumbling towards me, before I cold cocked him square in the nose. He bent over, grabbing his face, as blood poured from it, dripping through his fingers, spilling onto the floor, while one of his friends made a move to stand up for him. Drunk as a skunk, he was in even less of a position to take me on, as I elbowed him in the gut, causing him to hunch over, wallowing in his own miserable pain.
I knew the two men were down for the count, and I postured; ready to take care of his other two "boys", as a gawking crowd had formed. His other two wingmen threw up their hands in a sign of surrender, and I backed off, knowing my job here was done. A loud voice broke through the mayhem, as I heard Jim yell, "What in the hell is going on here?" before he broke through the tight wall of onlookers gathered around us. Seeing the damage that had been done, and knowing my past record, his eyes swung to me, as he as bellowed, "Did you cause this?"
My expression hardened at the accusation as I answered, "You think I'm fucking stupid? These assholes were harassing Hailey, and I took care of business."
The two injured men were still groaning, and none of them argued my point. Jim gave me a pointed stare before saying through gritted teeth, "You're done for the night, Kellan." I opened my mouth to defend myself, but Jim jumped back in before I could object. "It's not a request." I gave him an incredulous glare before he added, "And take her with you," nodding towards Hailey.
******
Hailey
My head was spinning. What had I just witnessed? Why was I being sent home? I hadn't done anything wrong. Jim wouldn't even look at me as Kellan quickly grabbed my hand and towed me through the crowd. All eyes were on us, including Jordan's and Georgia's, which both held sympathy. Jordan's expression, I could understand. Georgia's...I could barely stand to look at her face right now. I quickly looked away from her, and realized Kellan and I were still the main focus of the entire bar. My cheeks must've been the color of crimson.
I was having a hard time keeping up with Kellan's long strides in my high stiletto heels, and tugged him backwards. He looked over his shoulder at me with a questioning stare. "Slow down," I yelled over the pulsing music and raucous crowd that had seemingly deemed the Kellan Show over. Kellan shook his head back and forth and slowed his gait to nearly half his usual pace, until we'd reached the back hallway, where he stopped and turned to me, asking, "You ok?"
I didn't answer, still pissed at him for betraying me with Georgia, but rather deflected, asking my own question, flatly, "What about my unused shots...and my tips? I still need to count out my tips."
He pulled me into the kitchen, placed the shots back into the refrigerator, and said, "Jim told us leave. We're leaving. You can count out your tips tomorrow." Not wanting to argue, I simply nodded as Kellan turned to walk out towards the back door. We both exited the building, and he fished out his cigarettes, lighting one up, and taking a deep, smooth drag off of it. Damn, he makes me wet just looking at those luscious lips. Oh what I'd give to be that cigarette right now. Was I really fantasizing about being an inanimate object? I'd officially hit a new low. Even though I was fuming at him and Georgia, he still had a powerful hold over me...a hold I couldn't seem to break free from. It was time to drag myself away from this drugging man.
I began to walk towards my car before Kellan grabbed me by the upper arm and spun me to face him, asking, "What are you doing?"
I furrowed my brow, not understanding his question, but answered anyway, "Going to my car...I'm heading home."
He shook his head back and forth before saying with emphasis, "The hell you are. Those guys could be planning to follow you home."
The idea never occurred to me, and with a dumbfounded expression, I asked, "Well, what am I supposed to do?"
Kellan walked towards his car, not bothering to look back at me, as he said, "Get in. You're coming with me."
Chapter Eleven
Kellan
What am I doing? I haven't a clue. It's a rare occasion a woman sees the inside of my apartment, and never has one of them stayed the night. It simply goes against everything I hold sacred, my principals. Some people may call me a dog for getting it in, and kicking them out, but the truth is, all that cuddling bullshit simply leads them on. They eat that shit up, and the next thing they want is to have 'pillow talk', exchange numbers, be taken out on a date...give me a fuckin' break. I don't, and never will, work that way. The only reason I'm bringing The Princess back to my place is because I can almost smell the rotten intentions of the spiteful men. They wanted Hailey to begin with, and I only gave them a hard on to seek her out for retribution for the damage I'd caused.
I couldn't just let her suffer for my sins, with no one to help care for her. Not that I care for her, it's just that, shit...when I think of all the scenarios that could go wrong, my gut churns. So...it's not my usual style...I'm still a goddamn human being. I raise the volume on my stereo, blaring Five Finger Death Punch's "Wrong Side Of Heaven", as I try to drown out my jumbled thoughts. The lyrics do little to eradicate the blurred lines in my mind.
After a few miles, I finally pull up to the curb outside of my meager apartment, a non descript duplex with peeling paint, a small porch, and fortunately for me, located in a quiet, sleepy neighborhood with a low crime rate. I'm lucky if I see my neighbor, living in the attached duplex, more than once a month, where he and I exchange no more than an awkward glance. I'm fairly certain he lives alone, and since I can make out the faint sounds of his television at times, I'd bargain to guess I've kept him up late on more than one occasion, though he's never complained. Maybe he's into that shit, who knows? I couldn't care less.
I chanced a glance at Hailey, and noticed she was staring out the window with a slight frown on her face. I rolled my eyes before saying, "My vacation house in Malibu is a lot nicer."
She snapped her head towards me, her wide eyes meeting mine, as she said, "What? I didn't say anything. It's..."
"It's what, Hailey?" I huffed out, my voice rising, al
ong with my temper.
"Nothing," she said, trying to cover her tracks, as her brows rose. "I mean, it's not nothing." She laughed nervously and chewed on her bottom lip before continuing, looking away from my blazing glare. "It's fine, Kellan," she acquiesced. She blew out a long sigh and said, "I don't want to fight, Kellan. I just want to get inside and forget this whole night even happened."
"You know what sweetheart, that's your whole problem," I fired at her. "I went out of my way to be nice to you, and what do you do? Act like a fucking brat." I swung my car door open, stepped out, and yelled into the darkness, "You should be grateful I didn't leave you on the side of the goddamn road!" before I slammed my door shut with all my force.
******
Hailey
Sweet Jesus, he's officially lost his mind. As he rounds the car, I contemplate locking myself inside, until I realize he has the car keys. I honestly ponder whether or not he has multiple personalities. When I think of Kellan, I picture a hurricane; catastrophically destructive on the outside, devastating everything and everyone in it's path until it runs out of it's own energy, yet at it's core...it is beautiful, radiant.
Approaching my door, he jerks it open, and stands stoically waiting for me to exit the vehicle, all the while staring out into the street as if I weren't even present. His jaw is ticking, and only further indicates how pissed he is at me. I've offended him, unintentionally, of course, and now I'll most likely spend the remainder of my night paying my penance to my Master for the evening. I suddenly realize the irony of it all, as he is the one who screwed me over...I should be pissed at him, and he should be kissing my ass!
I put the thoughts of the drama between Kellan and myself out of my mind, and focus on getting into his home as quickly as possible, without making a spectacle of ourselves in the middle of the street. I make no effort to speak to him as he takes long strides towards the front door, quickly unlocks it, and doesn't bother to hold the door for me before entering. Apparently, chivalry is dead. I quietly close the door behind myself; quickly I remove my shoes, all while taking in the sparse, yet surprisingly neat, surroundings of the apartment.
Without prompt, Kellan numbly says, "Spare bedroom's first door on the left."
******
Kellan
Alright, I'll admit it...maybe I overreacted. But Jesus H. Christ, can she get any more pretentious? I reach into the refrigerator and grab an ice cold beer, popping the top, and taking several long swigs, letting the cold refreshing liquid settle my nerves. I brace my hands against the kitchen counter and let my head fall forward, feeling drained from the events of the day. Holy fuck, if it's not one thing, it's another with her. I straighten myself and take another drink of my beer, nearly draining it, before I realize it's been several minutes since Hailey headed for the bedroom. Feeling a pang of guilt for berating her, and a small semblance of obligation towards her well being while on my watch, I decide to go check on her.
I approached the closed bedroom door cautiously, and raised my hand to knock, before lowering it, wondering if this was such a good idea after all. The earlier events of the evening had left us all in a tailspin, and if I entered this room, I could be opening Pandora's Box. I didn't know what was behind this door, and I wasn't sure I wanted to. Perhaps it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. Then again, I'd told myself I needed to explain what had happened between Georgia and me earlier. If I didn't do it now, I may not get a second chance.
We were alone, and I planned to take advantage of it, even it meant I had to chase her down the street, throw her over my shoulder, and drag her back kicking and screaming. It wasn't usually how I got women to scream for me, but I had a sneaking suspicion Hailey wasn't just going to roll over and wipe her hands clean of the mess I'd made tonight, regardless of the fact that I'd saved her ass tonight.
I gingerly turned the doorknob, pushing the door, as it creaked midway open. Hailey's head swung towards me, her eyes that of a deer's caught in the headlights. She was sitting on the edge of the opposite side of the bed, her back to me, and I could tell by her red-rimmed eyes that she'd been crying. Fuck! I absolutely hate when chicks cry. I never know what to do. My mother used to cry all the time, and I had no clue how to comfort her.
A sense of immense dread flooded my system as Hailey turned away from me and bowed her head. I leaned against the doorframe, trying to collect my thoughts, hoping a light bulb moment would pop into my mind and rescue me; but there would be no easy way out tonight. I was going to have to eat shit and man the fuck up.
I sighed and pushed off of the doorframe, walked around the bed, and knelt down in front of Hailey. As I'd figured, she made no attempt to make eye contact with me. I place my finger under her chin in an effort to bring her eyes to mine, as I said, "Look at me."
She pulled away from me instantly, gritting out, "Don't touch me!"
Jesus, I figured she'd want answers. I didn't think she'd shut me out completely. I had to get her to listen to me. I blew out a frustrated breath, and combed my fingers through my hair before I said, "Hailey, I can explain what happened. It's not what it looked like."
She shot me a fiery glare, and half laughed, as tears welled up in her eyes. "Well that's awfully convenient Kellan! How many times have you used that line?"
"Hailey, you have to believe me...just let me explain."
"Ha! I should believe you, why? Oh yeah...because I should be able to tell when a fucking liar is telling the truth!"
She was squeezing me by the balls, and I didn't take that shit; definitely not from smart-ass women. She was fueling the fire that simmered just below the surface at all times, ready to ignite at a moment's notice, and I was defenseless to it. The flames that consumed me were a coping mechanism. Once set ablaze, they were an unstoppable force within me.
******
Hailey
I couldn't believe this jackass was trying to convince me I was...what?...seeing things earlier tonight? That I'd gotten it all wrong? Hello! I have eyes. I know what I witnessed. There's no use in him 'explaining' anything. Lies. Georgia was right. And now I know she knew all too well because she's screwing Kellan behind my back! Wait...what? It's not like you're seeing him. But then again, she said she could tell I had it bad for him, so why would she go after him herself? I mean, Girl Code, right?
Well...I guess technically she had met him before she met me, so it's really not fair to accost her for sleeping with him. But, damnit! Why didn't she just come out and tell me, rather than try and warn me off of him, like she was doing me a favor? I may have been disappointed, but I wouldn't be crushed by all the lies. I honestly wish Jordan were here. I wish he had been the one to swoop in when those guys were giving me trouble. I wish I were at his house, relaxing and talking and...
Pulled from my thoughts, Kellan stood up abruptly, threw a fist into the wall, and narrowed his eyes on me, yelling, "Don't you ever accuse me of being a fucking liar, got it Princess?" My eyes grew wide and I began to shake with fear, my mouth hanging open as Kellan stomped out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind himself as the walls rattled.
Chapter Twelve
Kellan
Fuck this. Fuck her. Fuck it all. I don't need this shit. I slammed the door behind myself, and slid down the wall, slumping against it, as I let my head fall back, desperate to calm my agitated nerves. I heard the familiar creak of the door opening, and didn't bother to look over. I was so done with all of this shit. I nearly had enough money saved to blow town, and that's exactly what I intended to do within the next couple of months. A couple of months...I just needed to hang on a little longer. Bury my head in the sand until then, and haul ass as I passed the city limits, blaring my music as I watched the 'Welcome To Chambers' sign disappear in my rearview mirror. Christ, I couldn't wait for that day.
My thoughts were interrupted as I felt Hailey's small, warm hand touch my own, causing me to flinch, instinctually, as I flicked my unrelenting gaze at her softened one. She gestured to my hand, and then looked back
to me, as she said, "You're bleeding. I'll get some ice and a washcloth."
As she began to stand, I halted her, saying, "Don't bother. A few minutes ago you were ready to burn me at the stake, now...what? You're some Florence Nightingale? Give me a break." An awkward silence settled in between us before I looked away, saying, "Just go to bed, Hailey."
"I'm sorry, Kellan...I was just..." she whispered, pleading, as I looked at her with indignation.
"Sorry? You're sorry? I fucked up, and you're apologizing to me?" I spat out, my voice rising. This was goddamn ridiculous. All I had tried to do all night was apologize for my colossal fuck up, and now she was in front of me, on her knees, telling me she was sorry! I didn't need this shit on my conscience.
Fire and Ice: Book One: Burned (The Fire and Ice Series 1) Page 7