2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Alec
“I saw you looking at her.”
I grin at Samantha, watching her as she adjusts her jeans.
“Free country.”
Her lips purse, and she hums. “You’re taking my initiation of ‘you need to get laid’ a little too literal.”
I walk toward the small mini fridge on the side of the worn-out sofa and pull out a bottle of water.
“Who says I was planning on fucking her?”
Samantha slips her baseball cap on her head, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.
“I know how you are, Alec.”
Chuckling, I sidestep her to grab my guitar that’s leaning against the wall. Deep purple velvet curtains drape down the walls. I’m positive the owners hung them up to hide the torn wallpaper because they were too lazy to change it.
Although, I like that the wallpaper hasn’t been replaced after all these years. It reminds me of all the times my mother took me here as a kid. That is one of the only reasons this is my favorite place to play. I often feel her presence lingering and wonder what she’d think of me if she saw how my life turned out.
“What does that even mean?”
Samantha laughs. “You’d fuck the first pussy you saw if you wanted to.”
I scoff. “You’re the one who told me I needed pussy.”
Her arms fling up, crossing around her chest. “You know what I meant by that, Alec.”
My chest pulls, but I ignore it. She’s not entirely wrong. I knew exactly what she meant. But even if I wanted a relationship, it’d never work. There’s no room left in my heart to even think about loving someone else. I’ve made a promise that I stand to keep.
The handful of times I took women back to my apartment was simply to relieve the tension in my dick. I had always been upfront with them. They got to fuck me. My dick got wet. We go our separate ways.
Samantha scratches between her eyebrows. “Look, fuck who you want. But not her.”
I stare at her longer than necessary.
Who does she think she is? Telling me what to do with my cock.
“Let me ask you this… why do you care who I stick my dick in?”
She laughs. “Oh my god. You have no idea, do you?” My eyebrows draw together. “Real typical, Alec. She’s Officer Raleigh’s daughter.”
My jaw ticks, and I try to drown out the flashbacks that fill my head.
***
Pushing the door open to the most popular bar in town, I maneuver through the crowded booths, not paying attention to the old drunks by the pool table. When I sit on the bar stool, I wave toward the slim bartender and watch as he rolls up the sleeves of his black button-up shirt.
Adrenaline courses through my veins as I hand him my ID. I do everything I can to swallow down the nerves clawing inside me.
He takes longer than necessary, glancing at the card and back at me.
Finally, he nods and slides my ID across the bar counter. I stuff it back into my wallet, satisfied that he fell for my fake ID.
I order my drink, and it takes him less than a minute to hand it to me. The glass is cold to the touch. Bringing it to my lips, I savor the potent sting of whisky that hits my tongue.
After today, I needed this.
“Bad break up?”
I turn my head to a young female. My brows fall together as I take her in. She’s no older than I am.
“Excuse me?”
Her shoulders shrug and she gives me a half smile. “It’s not often I see someone underage at my father’s bar sipping Jack and Coke.”
She points to my glass. My eyes follow the movement, and I can’t tell if I’m about to be kicked out for sneaking in here underage.
I tilt my head out of curiosity. “Your father’s bar?” I question.
She confidently repositions herself on the bar stool. By how comfortable she makes herself, I can tell she doesn’t care anymore than I do.
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” She reaches her arm over and grabs my glass, bringing it to her lips. After she swallows she looks at me. “How old are you?”
I shrug, watching her place the glass back in front of me. “Depends. How old are you?”
“Is this a game you’re trying to play?”
I shake my head. “No games.”
She hums. “Right. I’m 19.” A low chuckle falls from my lungs, and her eyes narrow. “What?”
“I was right.”
“Gloater and stuck up. Check.” Her fingers tap against the bar counter. “Hey, you wanna get out of here?”
My lips curl upward, and I follow her out the door. We take my car a few miles south, and I park in one of my favorite spots, keeping my focus out the window.
“What’s your name?” She rubs her hand up the length of my thigh.
“Alec.”
She nods. “Samantha.”
Samantha inches her hand closer to the bulge she caused my pants. Right as her finger feathers against the button of my jeans, there’s a loud knock on the window. She jolts back.
Fuck.
Another knock on the window, and I roll my eyes, pasting a smile on my face as I roll down the window. “Hello, Officer…”
“Raleigh. Please step out of the car.”
My eyes draw. “There shouldn’t be any reason we have to get out of the car, sir. We’ve done nothing wrong.”
He cocks his head to the side. “Step out of the vehicle.”
I roll my eyes but get out anyway. The last thing I need is for my aunt to get involved. Samantha follows, meeting me on the driver’s side.
“Samantha, Edward called your father as soon as he saw you at the bar. He’s on his way.” Officer Raleigh looks at me. “Do you have anyone to call?”
I shake my head, which isn’t a lie. Not exactly.
He nods. “Well, you can come with me.”
“I’ll do no such thing.”
“Alec.” Samantha’s voice is wary.
The officer chuckles and stares at me with a hard expression. “Alec,” he repeats. “As in Alec Sokolov?”
My teeth grit, but I don’t answer him.
“Well, Alec Sokolov. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
Curiously, I tilt my head to the side, asking, “Well, what’s the hard way?”
“If you don’t cooperate, I will have to arrest you.”
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” I point out again.
Officer Raleigh forcefully twists my body and shoves me against the car, leaving a tight grip on my arms. I struggle to break free as he pulls out his handcuffs from his belt and wraps them around my wrists, ensuring they are tight.
He succeeded there. The cuffs dig into my skin, causing pain to shoot up my arm. He releases the pressure he had against my body and drags me toward his police car, shoving me inside.
***
“Alec, hello? Are you even listening to me?” Samantha waves her hand in front of my face, pulling me from the memory.
I slap her hand away, annoyed. “I can do whatever I want, Sam.”
Tugging my pack of cigarettes from the side pocket of my leather jacket, I pull one out with my teeth and pat my jeans, looking for my lighter. When I have it in my hand, I head out the back door.
Samantha follows me, sighing. “Alec, you are the biggest pain in the ass.”
I grin. “Am I?”
I flick my lighter and suck in a mouthful of smoke. She pushes me, but not hard enough to tip me over.
“Don’t be stupid. You know what he’s done.
Scoffing. “I know what he’s done. I’m the one who fucking lived through it. Every arrest.”
I walk a few feet away to where I parked my car, popping the trunk open and placing my guitar case in it. When I close the trunk, my eyes meet Samantha’s. She’s leaning against my car, one ankle over the other with her arms crossed.
She gives me a wry smile. “I’m only looking out for you. You’re my best friend, and if something happens again…” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “He will put you away. For good this time.”
My jaw ticks, but I listen to her. Considering my options. If I get cozy with Officer Raleigh’s daughter, I can find out his weak spots and stop him for good.
After a few minutes of silence, I nod. “I hear you, Sam. I’m not going to do anything.”
At least, that’s what she believes.