FINDING TANYA - II

                                                                            Chapter 4

I know without a doubt if I don't act now, it will be too late. So I open my mouth and belt out Tanya's name.

"Tanya! Tanya Jackson, I know you're in here, come out this minute."

You guessed right. I'm just wasting my time because the din of the music completely drowns out my voice. The bouncer begins to drag me, eliciting stares from people, but I dig my heels in the ground and make it difficult for him.

The second bouncer joins him, leaving the entrance unmanned. Stupid move, but okay. Well, not for me anyway, seeing as I'd soon be thrown out, most probably on my face. He coils his hand around mine and twists.

Pain lances up my hand and I stifle the cry that jumps to my lips. Tears spring to my eyes but I blink them away. The first bouncer is still dragging me. I know he's taking it easy on me. He could easily force me onto his shoulder and carry me out of here, or worse still, manhandle me and hand me over to the police for trespassing.

Neither of the two options bring me joy though.

From the corner of my eyes, I see a few people slipping inside the club undetected by the bouncers. It's all because of me. I'm ready to capitulate, to give in, but then someone appears.

A man.

"I'll handle it!" He instructs the bouncers, who immediately let go of me and slink away.

Now, let me make you understand something. This man - he seems to ooze confidence from his very pores.

It could be the glint in his eyes, or the way he carries himself, or even the fact that people pay attention to him as he walks past them. Whatever it is, it unnerves me, because this man is stunning - not in the damn he's gorgeous, type of stunning, but in the dangerous glint of his eyes and the way he carries himself as he stands staring at me with an eyebrow cocked. And he's gorgeously tall with a lithe frame. I bet he works out.

Tanya is momentarily forgotten as I check him out.

I can''t help it. I swing my gaze from his sneaker - covered feet up to the black jeans he has on, and stop at his plain black tee. This man could have been wearing a burlap sack for all I know and he would still command respect more than a man wearing a three piece suit.

I don't know if I'm imagining it but his eyes seem to darken as he juts out a hand to me. "I'm the owner of this club, how can I help you, ma'am?"

My lips unknowingly coil in disgust as I reply. "Name's Alicia, and I'm here to take my sister home."

He combs his hair with his hand before his eyes flick to the people around. "Let's talk somewhere else, if you please, ma'am."

His hand is on the small of my back, already ushering me away from the stares of the vultures around. Before I know it, we're in an empty office and it's just the two of us. I feel my skin prickle as his eyes zone in on my face. This time, they go lower, and lower, lower still, until they get to the flip flops I have on my feet. Then, they make their way back up my body, scourging me with unseen heat. A smirk appears on his face as his eyes once more settle on my face.

"Your sister, yeah?" He walks a short distance away and returns with a glass containing a brown liquid in his hand. He holds it in the air. "Want some?"

I shake my head and look away. What kind of man acts this way in the face of someone else's pain? An irresponsible one, that's for sure. I mean, he owns a club for crying out loud. I shouldn't except anything more from him.

"I wish I could help you, but if she's here. . ." He shakes his head as a sorrowful look creeps into his eyes. "She's most probably snorting cocaine through her nose or whoring herself." He finishes, shrugging.

"E. . . excuse me?" The gall of this man. Tanya may be used to the streets but she'll definitely not go that way. Never!

I watch as the muscles on his face contort weirdly. And then I realize he's trying hard not to laugh. It comes out anyway. He throws his head back and lets out a large guffaw.

It doesn't matter that I'm not as tall as him, doesn't even matter that my chin doesn't get past his neck. I'm in his face before he can blink, poking his chest. "Listen here, mister, you better be kidding me because if not, I'll sue you and this garbage you call a business."

I'm in utter shock when he lifts a finger and skims my lips. "I can see you've got a big mouth on you, hazel eyes, maybe you should put it to more pleasurable use instead of sprouting threats."

Did I. . . ?

Did he. . . ?

Am I being punked right now or is this man hitting on me?

Alarm bells ring loudly in my head and I quickly swat his hand away before I step back and give him a wide berth. "I don't know what you're talking about, but you can be sure I'll be back."

I catch the amused glint in his eyes before I turn and walk out. I'm seething with anger. The nerve of the man. The absolute temerity. He dares insinuate that Tanya is a drug addict. I'm so livid, I don't see where I'm going and I bump into someone.

"Ouch!" I rub at the pain on my forehead, willing it to disappear when I look up and see- "Tanya! Oh my goodness, Tanya." I hug her small frame to mine, noting with a sad pang she's lost weight.

She struggles to let herself go from my smothering embrace. When she's finally free, she rears back in shock. "Alicia, what are you doing here, and how did you find me?"

My smile cannot get any wider. Apart from her eyes which are slightly red, she doesn't look the worse for wear. "Wait! Have you been taking drugs?"

She rolls her eyes and stands with hands on her hips. "I ask again. What are you doing here, Alicia?"

"Is that all you're going to say? You disappear for a whole week and I'm not able to get across to you on the phone because you blocked my number, and now you ask what I'm doing here." She's unbelievable. One would think she's my elder sister when the reverse is the case.

She seems to cave in on herself as her face suddenly looks older, like she's seen a lot in her just-recently-turned eighteen years of age.

"Alicia, I mean it, get away from here, you don't belong. Just go." She pushes me feebly before walking away like the world is on her shoulders.

"Wait, but. . . " she disappears around the corner. I feel like I've been punched. "I didn't get the chance to tell you mum passed away. She's left us, Tanya, and now you're leaving me as well." I finish in a small voice.

The tears I'd been holding at bay for a week now, finally fall from my eyes.