Chapter 5

Sarah's POV

Mr. Viper tattoo, looked at me like he had seen a flying leprechaun causing me to chortle, “Ow!” the martini had come right through my nostrils spilling on myself and the tattoo man.

“I'm sorry, I'm not always like this, I swear” I pleaded pinching my nostrils to ease the pain, thank goodness it wasn't the tequila, that would have been a full on funeral for my sinuses.

He looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite make out, maybe that's how you react when your thousand dollar jacket gets misted with snot.

Grabbing at the napkins across me, I stumbled to my feet, “Let me, help” help? Really Sarah, you made this mess, of course you have to 'help'

I pressed the napkins against his chest, patting it continuously like a malfunctioning robot, “See? Good as new, not even a stain” I mumbled struggling to keep him in focus.

Except he wasn't blurry, everything else was, his eyes looked silver? That had to be alcohol. Great. Now, I'm seeing anime eyes in real life.

His mouth moved but I couldn't quite make out what the was saying, before I could ask him to repeat it. *Bang*

At first I thought the bartender had dropped a tray, then it came again, *Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The music stopped, people screamed, someone yelled “Gun” and the whole bar turned into a mess, I snapped my head just in time to see a stampede headed for the main exit.

Mr. Viper tattoo was calm, too calm actually, but his associate however wasn't, he muttered a curse moved towards me and shoved me under a table behind the bar.

“Stay down”

“Excuse me?” I wheezed, my voice caught somewhere between confusion and excitement,

“Are those fireworks?” None of them answered, Tattoo guy received a call and almost immediately ordered “Henry. East exit now”

Henry? Who the hell was Henry?

Before I could ask another gunshot cracked, the mirror behind the bar shattered, sending shards raining like angry glitter,

I screamed, covered my head and swore under my breath.

He peeked beneath the counter “Can you walk?”

“Walk? I can barely see” I said wobbling more from the alcohol than fear

“Good enough, let's go” I side eyed him, how did he think I was gonna make it out of here on these limbs?

He pulled me up with so much force, my heel nearly snapped, people were running, pushing, crying.

Someone slipped on a spilled drink, and I tripped over them, nearly face-planting into Mr. Tattoo’s back.

Everyone was headed for the main exit which was closest and safer, but this man had other plans.

He took us through a shady route, (must not be his first rodeo.) and we burst through a door into an alleyway that smelled like wet trash.

My vision swam. My heart was pounding so hard it made my ears ring.

A black SUV screeched into view, headlights cutting through the dark. The other guy from earlier jumped out “We've got to go now!”

“Henry” tattoo guy barked. “Get her in the car.”

Wait, what? Who me? I didn't say anything about leaving with them. “I'm not going anywhere with...”

My sentence was cut short by his associate hoisting me off the ground like a sack of laundry and placing me on his shoulder.

Oh, he's Henry.

“Put me down, I can walk” I argued.

“Not fast enough he said ducking behind the SUV” If only they knew I wasn't human, not that I could do much without a wolf.

I might as well be one.

Gunfire echoed again. I saw the muzzle flashes before I heard the shouts. Three men at the end of the alley, masks up, guns drawn.

“You picked a bad night for a drink, sweetheart,” one of them shouted.

Oh, hell. Oh, actual hell.

Henry shoved me down behind the car. Tattoo Guy drew his gun, fast and quiet, like he’d done this a thousand times.

“Keep her there,” he said.

“No, wait.”

He fired. Once. Twice. One of the men dropped.

I froze. My mouth went dry. “Did... did you just?”

“Not now.”

Everything turned into a mess again. One of the shooters charged. Henry stood, still holding me like a human shield. My instincts kicked in, or maybe it was pure panic but I kicked out. My stiletto heel caught the guy’s cheek.

He howled. Blood streamed down his face.

“Oh my God, I’m so, uh, sorry?” I gasped, “Great idea blondie” Henry said before turning us in a circle, that brought about more howls. I think I'm gonna barf.

“Why didn't I think of that?" Henry questioned throwing me into the backseat, before I could object.

Tattoo guy came in after me, slammed the door, and Henry floored it.

The city blurred past, lights, rain, panic. I was shaking so hard my teeth chattered.

“What, what the hell was that?”

Silence.

“Hello? Anyone gonna tell me why people were shooting at us? I just wanted a drink and maybe some bad decisions, not this!”

Tattoo Guy exhaled slowly, still scanning the mirrors. “You were in the wrong place at the wrong time.” he said with a dismissing tone.

“Oh good, I love that. So comforting.”

Henry snorted from the driver’s seat.

"I'm not going anywhere with two random men until I get answers, answer me!”

“So, you'll go with us strangers when you get an answer? Doesn't seem right now does it?” Henry replied with a mocking tone. “This is New York, anything happens”

I leaned my head back, tried to breathe, but my mind wouldn’t stop spinning. The alcohol's hold on me seemed to be loosening and I didn't want that,

I didn't want to think of my husband... Ex.

“You know what? Screw it. Pull over.”

“What?”

“There,” I said, pointing at a glowing building as we passed it. MIRAGE blinked in pink letters, pulsing like a heartbeat. “The disco hall. I’ve always wanted to go.”

“Now’s not the time,” Tattoo Guy said flatly.

“Exactly. Which is why it’s perfect. Feel free to leave”

“Ten minutes.” That was all I needed.

Henry muttered something about me being insane, but pulled over anyway.

The second my heels hit the pavement, I bolted. I slipped into the crowd before anyone could stop me.

Inside, the lights were pure chaos violet, blue, gold. Everything Dimitri hated. The floor vibrated beneath my feet. I threw my hands up, laughed, and just moved.

For once, no one was watching. No expectations. No Dimitri shunning me.

I spun, laughed, let my hair stick to my face. My heart was still racing from the gunfire, but it felt like lightyears ago.

And then, like fate had bad timing the song changed. Slow. Soft.

The song I had always hoped I and Dimitri would dance to, my favourite love song.

I froze mid-spin.

And suddenly, he was all I could think of.

His voice. The way he used to say my name, there was never warmth in it, but I made do.

My chest tightened. The laughter died in my throat.

“I wish you were here,” I whispered, even though I didn’t. Not really. I just wanted to stop missing him.

Tears spilled, I tried to blink them away, but my vision blurred.

Someone’s arms caught me as I stumbled, they felt familiar.

“Hey, you’re okay,” a voice murmured.

I smiled weakly, reaching up to touch his face. “Dimitri…” I breathed.

And the world went black.