Chapter 29
I turned my head slowly. The motion was clumsy. My neck felt heavy. Like molten lead. The world lurched. From the cocktails in my veins.
My gaze crawled upward. Blurry and shaky. Until it hit Alexander's face. He loomed above me. Like a dark stone. Etched in sharp, angry lines. His gray eyes narrowed. Like slits of storm and steel. His jaw clenched tight. It could have shattered stone.
His power radiated. Like a physical force. It pinned me where I swayed. If he was annoyed this morning. He was a volcano now. A storm of control and anger.
I spun in his iron grip. My balance teetering. I glared at him. Liquid courage roared in my chest. Like a wildfire. "Oh, I have a big problem. With you, you bossy jerk," I slurred. My voice thick. But laced with poison.
As I poked a wobbly finger at him. Nearly hitting his chest. "You think you are king. Of the damn world, huh?"
His brow furrowed. A deep line formed. As he stared down at me. Like I was a bug. He would rather crush. Than understand.
"How much have you had to drink?" he demanded. His voice a low, rough growl. It sliced through the bar's smoky air. Thick with frustration. And authority. That demanded I obey.
His hand clamped my arm. His fingers dug in. Like steel claws. A silent command. To answer. Or face his anger.
I smirked. Squinting. I tried to count the drinks. Vodka lime. That pink sugary disaster. The shot I had chugged. To spite Rachel's dare. But the numbers slipped away. Like eels. In my foggy brain.
"Enough to know. You are a controlling jerk," I shot back. My words sloshing together. As I poked his chest again. My finger bounced off a wall. Of hard muscle. Beneath his crisp black shirt.
I poked harder. My scowl twisted into a sneer. "What, you think you are a big shot, huh? All muscle and no brain. Stomping around. Like a caveman. With a fancy suit? Pathetic."
Rachel, sitting nearby. With a soda in hand. Let out a sharp, amused snort. Her red hair gleamed. In the bar's dim light.
As she crossed her arms. Perfectly sober.
And smirking at my outburst. "She is not wrong.
About the caveman part," she teased. Her voice dripping with mischief.
As she sipped her drink. Egging me on. My laughter burst out.
Wild and sharp. My shoulders shaking. As I leaned forward. Nearly falling into Alexander's chest.
The humor of insulting him. To his face. Hit me. Like a punchline. "Caveman King!" I yelled. Pointing at him. With both hands. Like a drunk lawyer. "Grunt once for yes. Twice for 'I am a giant jerk!'"
Alexander's throat rumbled. With a low, rough growl. A sound of pure, raw fury. That rolled through the air. Like thunder. His patience snapped. Like a brittle thread.
"You are pushing it, Elena," he snarled. His voice a cold, deadly blade. Thick with rage. As he loomed over me. His power a suffocating wall. That pressed down. Like gravity itself. "There is no talking to you. You are a drunken mess. Talking back. Like you have no sense left."
I snapped my head up. My sneer flared. As anger surged through the haze. My grin twisted. Into a defiant snarl. "Oh, I have sense. You arrogant jerk," I shot back. My voice a sloppy, fiery slur. As I thrust my chin out. Wobbling like a top. About to crash.
"Sense enough to know. You are a pompous jerk.
Who thinks he can boss me around. Like I am a pawn.
In your little game. But damn it. There is something.
About how you carry yourself. Like the whole world.
Bends to your will. That makes it hard to look away.
Still. I am not your puppet. 'Jump, Elena, dance, Elena, bow, Elena,'" I mocked.
Waving my hands wildly. My voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Screw you. I am not your toy. You overgrown bully!" I yelled back. Cackling so hard. I nearly choked. On my own spit. The room spun. As I swayed. Clutching his arm. To keep from falling.
"That is enough," Rachel chimed in. Her tone dry. But amused. She leaned against the bar. Steady as ever. Her green eyes gleamed with mischief. She stuck her tongue out at me. A playful jab.
I copied her. Crossing my eyes. And making a silly face. "Bleh!" The motion sent the room. Into a dizzying spin. I doubled over. Clutching my stomach. As laughter shook me.
But even as I laughed. I could not ignore. The way his presence loomed. Powerful. Unshakable. It was not just his size. Or how he stood. Like a fortress. It was how he did not flinch. Did not rise to my bait.
He just watched. Calm and annoyingly in control. Like he knew. I would wear myself out. Eventually. And maybe that. Was the most annoying part. He was not wrong.
Alexander's hand shot to his pocket. Yanking out his phone. The sacred item. I was banned from even looking at. He pressed it to his ear. With a sharp, furious jerk. His jaw twitched. With barely contained rage.
His other arm clamped around my waist. Like a steel clamp. Hauling me against his side. With force. That crushed any hope. Of breaking free. His grip. A brutal command. To submit. Or be broken. I squirmed. Defiance blazing.
But his scent. Cedar, leather. A hint of smoke. Flooded my senses. If he let go. I would splatter. Across the sticky floor.
I gripped his suit jacket. My fingers dug into the fabric. As I pressed my face to his chest. Snarling into his shirt. "You smell like a dictator's wet dream," I mumbled. Then giggled spitefully. "King Jerkface. First of his name!"
"You are done seeing her," he roared. His glare cut toward Rachel. Like a guillotine. His voice a low, commanding bellow. That silenced the bar's chatter. His power. A tidal wave. That drowned out all else. Fury exploded. Hot and wild.
I shoved against his chest. With both hands. Forcing him to loosen his hold. Just enough. For me to stumble upright. My legs wobbled. Like a foal's.
"You do not get to decide that. You controlling jerk!" I snapped. My voice rising. Slurred but vicious. As I swayed. Jabbing at him. With a shaky finger.
"She is my friend. Not your little minion. To banish! What is next, huh? Locking me in a tower? You are not my lord and master. You pompous idiot. Get over yourself!"
Rachel raised a brow. Sipping her soda. With a calm smirk. Unfazed by his anger. "Yeah, Alex, chill out," she said. Her tone cool and teasing. As she twirled her straw. "She is not your slave. Let her live a little. You tyrant."
His eyes flashed. A wildfire of rage. Igniting. As he whirled on me. His voice dropped. To a deadly, guttural snarl. That shook the air.
"You will shut your mouth, Elena," he growled. His hand clamped my arm. With an iron grip. Yanking me forward. Until my chest slammed against his.
His power. A crushing force. That made my knees buckle. "I own every inch of your world. My rules. My choice. Keep talking. And I will chain you to me. Until you learn your place. You think you can insult me? You are mine. And you will act like it. Or I will make you."
"Go screw yourself!" I spat. The words ripped free. Before I could stop them. My defiance fueled. By the alcohol's reckless burn. As I shoved at him again.
My hands slapped his chest. "You are a walking ego trip. Walking around. Like you own the place. But guess what? Your crown is plastic. And your throne is a folding chair!" His head snapped back. Eyes widening. In a stunned, furious blaze.
While Rachel choked on a laugh. Clutching her soda. As she doubled over. Her cackle echoed through the bar. "Oh, she has you figured out!" she wheezed. Slapping the table.
Marcos appeared behind her. His broad body cut through the haze. His dark eyes gleamed with amusement.
As he steadied her. With a hand on her shoulder. "Careful, Rach," he murmured. Chuckling. As she straightened. Still grinning.
Alexander's jaw twitched. His fury boiled over. His gaze a molten storm. As he glared between us. His control shattering.
With a swift, wild motion. He bent low. His arm hooked under my knees. He slung me over his shoulder.
His strength was strong. His power absolute. I shrieked. My protests muffled. Against his back. As I flailed.
My hands pounded his suit. "Put me down. You bossy jerk!" I slurred. Kicking wildly. As the world spun. My stomach lurched. "I will, I will overthrow you! Revolution, baby!"
He silenced me. With a sharp, stinging slap. To my backside. The jolt rattled my teeth. As I gasped. Outrage fought with dizziness. "Quiet," he commanded. His voice a low, wild growl.
When I squawked again. Another smack landed. Harder. Forcing a scream. As I scrambled to brace myself. Torn between shielding my rear. And clinging to avoid puking. Down his perfect jacket.
We burst into the night. The cold air hit me. Like a slap. Stealing my breath. As I shivered. My jacket forgotten inside. Oops. The streetlights blurred. Into golden streaks. His men loomed nearby. Their large shapes. Stepped forward. From the shadows.
"Everything under control?" one asked. His voice a deep rumble.
"She is drunk. Deal with Rachel," Alexander snapped. His tone. A whip crack of authority. As he waved them off. His stride unending. As he carried me. To the town car.
He set me down beside it. With controlled force. His hands steadying me. As I wobbled. Clutching his arm. To stay upright.
He yanked the door open. With a sharp jerk. Shoving me inside. With a firm hand. I flopped across the backseat. With a groan. Limbs spread. Like a ragdoll.
My head throbbed. My vision swam. I just wanted to sleep. Preferably until the world. Stopped tilting. He slid my legs in. Slamming the door. With a thud. That echoed his mood.
Then circled to the other side. Climbing in. With a predator's grace. The car felt smaller. With him in it. The air thick with tension.
He did not say a word. As he reached over. Lifting my head. And settling me. With my cheek against his thigh. His hand clamped down. On my shoulder. Firm and unyielding. As if to remind me. Who was in control.
"Do not think this gets you anything," I mumbled. My voice a mushy jumble. As I instinctively hugged his leg. Like a lifeline.
The wool of his trousers. Was rough against my skin. A strange contrast. To the warmth. Radiating from him. "I am still mad."
"Good," he said flatly. His tone cut through the haze. In my head. "Stay mad. Maybe it will teach you. To think twice. Before doing something like that."
"Stunt?" I shot back. Tilting my head. To glare up at him. Though the motion. Made the world spin. "You mean calling you out. On your nonsense? Yeah, what a crime."
"I can stand just fine," I lied. My voice slurring. As I tried to push myself up. Only to have his hand. Press me back down. With annoying ease. "Let me go."
"Not a chance," he said. His voice low and steady. "You are not going anywhere. Until you sober up. And if you keep squirming. I will tie you down. Do not think I will not."
I let out a bitter laugh. Though it came out. More like a hiccup. "Of course you would. Because that is what you do. Is not it? Control everything. Everyone. God forbid. Someone actually stands up to you."
His jaw tightened. For a moment. I thought he might snap.
But instead. He leaned down. His face inches from mine.
His voice a low, threatening growl. "You want to stand up to me?
Fine. Do it. When you are not slurring your words.
And falling over. Right now. You are in no shape.
To test me. Try it. And you will wish. You had not. "
I opened my mouth. To fire back. But he cut me off. Before I could speak a word. "And if you keep running that mouth," he added. His tone darkening. "I will gag you. Do not think I am above it."
I wanted to argue. I wanted to scream. To fight. To prove him wrong. But the truth was. I could barely keep my eyes open. Let alone form a sentence. So instead.
I let out a frustrated groan. My cheek pressing harder. Against his thigh. As I muttered. "You are such a jerk."
"Noted," he said dryly. His hand still firmly. On my shoulder. "Now shut up and rest. We will talk. When you are sober."
"Promise?" I mumbled. Half-sarcastic. Half-serious. His fingers flexed. Against my shoulder. A subtle shift. That might have been. A reassurance. Or a warning. "Count on it."
My eyes fluttered shut. Too heavy to argue.
Though I strained. To catch the steel in his tone.
The dominance. That allowed no defiance.
His hand slid to my hair. Gripping it briefly.
A warning. Before loosening. Into a firm, controlling stroke.
Pulling me under. As the car's hum. Swallowed the night. Dragging me into the dark.