Chapter 6
Hannah
I could continue to sit around the house, feeling sorry for myself and allowing my anger at Rhys to grow, or I could do something.
One of my co-workers, Samuel, had been asking me for the last few weeks to join him for a drink at a bar downtown.
His boyfriend was the bartender, and he’d promised I would be safe to enjoy myself.
I kept telling him no, but after the shitshow this evening had turned into, I needed a drink, some loud music to drown out my inner dialogue, and no drama.
After setting a time to meet, I ordered a ride share for forty minutes from now and went into the bedroom to get cleaned up.
I was showered from this morning, so all I needed to do was freshen up my makeup, touch up my hair, and find something to wear that gave me confidence without showing off the goods.
I wasn’t one to show off too much skin, but after my attack, I’ve been reserved to the point of scared.
Tonight, I wanted to forget about all of it—the kidnapping and subsequent shame, the newfound family that apparently comes with its own kind of bullshit, and Rhys and his little display of power.
He literally kicked my door in, kissed me like I’d never been kissed before, then pushed me away, basically telling me that I wasn’t what he wanted.
It stung, but at least I knew now, so I wouldn’t make the same mistake again. After checking myself over, I shrugged at my appearance, hoping I wasn’t under or overdressed for the evening before I walked out to the driveway to wait for my ride.
Sitting on the steps, I glanced over my shoulder at the camera and shook my head as I turned away.
When my ride was close, I armed the security system, made sure the door was locked, and walked to the edge of the driveway to wait for my car.
As soon as it pulled up, I checked the tag, asked the driver his name, and verified the child locks were off before I got into the car.
I was pissed, not stupid.
The bar I was meeting Samuel at was near Centennial Park, and the traffic getting into the small downtown streets was packed. I sent him a message letting him know I was on the way, and he texted back a picture of two drinks and the caption, ‘Wish you were here!’
I chuckled at his silliness and smiled as the driver maneuvered through the traffic.
Tonight was exactly what I needed—an evening away from the chaos and secrets I’d engrossed myself in for the last six months.
Rhys said he’d have the results tomorrow, and if they showed what we all seemed to expect them to show, then I assumed I would be meeting my siblings sooner rather than later.
I didn’t want to think about that either. I just wanted to forget the name Lenkov for at least the night.
The car pulled up to the curb and I thanked the driver, added a tip on the app, and made sure I had all my stuff before getting out. Looking up, I confirmed I was at the right place before walking inside. A bouncer checked my ID and stamped my hand before allowing me to enter.
There was a faint smell of cigarettes and weed lingering in the air as I looked through the crowd for Samuel. Seeing him at the end of the bar, I side-stepped through the people enjoying their evening and walked straight to him. He saw me and hopped off his stool to give me a hug.
“Girl, I was about to send out a search party for you,” Samuel said as he helped me get onto a stool and pushed me closer to the bar. He took a seat next to me and pushed a drink toward me. “I ordered something fruity, but feel free to get whatever you want. Nick is covering our tab tonight.”
I took a swallow of the drink, and the sugary taste was overpowering the liquor, making it dangerous. Turning to smile at Samuel, I said, “I appreciate you inviting me out. I needed a night away from it all.”
He slapped my hand. “Don’t we all,” he said as he bounced in his chair. “Let’s get a shot.”
Raising his finger in the air, it took a minute but a hot bartender sauntered up to us and leaned over the bar to kiss Samuel. My toes curled watching two beautiful men show affection, and when he stepped back, he looked at me. “You must be Hannah. I’m Nick. Sammy told me all about you.”
I reached out and shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Honey, can we get some shots?” Samuel asked, and Nick smiled at him.
“Anything for you, lover. I’ll be back,” Nick replied before walking down the length of the bar.
“Damn, he’s hot,” I remarked, and Samuel smiled deviously at me.
“Don’t I know it. And he’s all mine.”
His eyes flashed wide and he wiggled his eyebrows as we both watched Nick return with two glasses holding at least a double shot in each.
“I wanted to make sure you were taken care of for a bit. It’s getting busy and I don’t know how often I can get back to you.”
Samuel pushed my half-full cocktail to me. “Drink up so we can order another, then we should be good for a while.”
“Coming right up,” Nick said and turned to make whatever it was we were drinking.
I picked mine up, and Samuel did the same as Nick placed two more drinks in front of us and slapped the bar with a wink before turning to help another customer. Samuel clinked his glass to mine and said, “Here’s to new friends.”
“To new friends,” I returned, and we tapped the glasses onto the bar before drinking half the contents.
The cinnamon whiskey was delicious, and I looked at Samuel, who explained, “I remember you saying you liked it, so I made sure to tell Nick when I got here. I want to pamper you, so you’ll come back out with me again.” He batted his eyes at me with a coy smile, and I was glad I agreed to join him.
Samuel’s work area and mine were next to each other, so we often poked our heads in to check on each other or ask a question.
He’d been a sweetheart since my first day, unlike most of the bitchy women in the office, and I realized he didn’t have many friends in the office.
I don’t know why because I thought he was amazing, but some people were narrowminded assholes.
When I placed the empty glass back on the bar, Samuel pushed my cocktail closer so I could chase the whiskey. Looking over at my new friend, I thought about how much my life had changed over the past six months and quickly pushed the sad thoughts to the back of my mind.
“So, Hannah, tell me all about yourself,” Samuel encouraged, and I turned to face him as I sipped on the last of my first cocktail.
“Born in Missouri and raised in Georgia by my Granny. She passed earlier this year, so I moved here to get a fresh start,” I replied, keeping it vague and skimming the top of the truth.
“No siblings?” he asked as he finished the last of his drink.
I shook my head as I reached over, grabbed the second drink, and took a sip.
“As far as I know, it’s just me,” I sassed, and he offered a smile.
I wasn’t going to tell him that I may have three siblings from my gangster father but wasn’t sure.
No one needed to hear that crap, so I inquired, “What about you?”
“Oh girl, let me tell you,” he started, and for the next ten minutes, I listened to him regale me with tales of being an openly gay man in the closeted southern U.S.
, how his twin brother was straight and an asshole, and how his mother thought all Samuel needed was a good woman to set him straight.
“I should take you home to meet my mother. She would be so pleased.”
He rolled his eyes as I chuckled at his animated story. Nick swung by and took our empty shot glasses, only to return a minute later with fresh shots for us. Samuel winked at him and asked, “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
“Of course not,” Nick answered as he smiled hugely and walked away.
Samuel leaned over and said, “That man knows he’s got a delicious ass that I’m powerless to resist.”
I was taking a sip of my cocktail and sprayed it out of my mouth before breaking out in hysterical laughter.
I wasn’t used to people being so open and carefree and it was refreshing.
For too long, there had been all these dark secrets hanging over my head, and after we downed the second shot of cinnamon whiskey, I felt the worry and stress bleed out of my neck and shoulders.
Samuel handed me a napkin to wipe my face as I struggled to catch my breath.
I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed so much, and instantly, I decided to take Samuel up on his offer more often.
Getting out, not obsessing about things I couldn’t change, and enjoying myself were things I needed to work on, but for the first time since my move, I didn’t feel so alone.
“Have you met anyone since you’ve moved to town?” Samuel asked as the music grew in volume.
I glanced over my shoulder and noticed people were starting to dance to the infectious music on a small dance floor before turning back to Samuel and answering, “Between work and getting settled, I haven’t given much thought to meeting anyone.”
I hated to lie, but there was no way I was going to tell him I got shot down today.
Since the moment I first saw Rhys, I felt drawn to him, and after his display of manliness today, I made a split-second decision to kiss him.
I never expected it to backfire in my face and certainly didn’t expect Rhys to tell me I was a mistake.
The pain from his rejection still stung my chest, but the more I drank, the less it hurt.
Looking down, I noticed my drink was less than half-full. I usually didn’t drink that much, but tonight, I wanted to forget everything. Samuel raised his hand, trying to get Nick’s attention, when I slipped off the barstool. Leaning close, I said, “I’m going to find the ladies’ room.”
Samuel nodded and asked, “Do you want another shot?”
“Hell yes.”
He smiled and pecked me on the cheek, saying, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
I offered a wide smile before he pointed to a hallway alongside the end of the bar.
Following his direction, I walked away from the bar, and as soon as I got into the hallway, the volume of the music lessened.
The women’s restroom was nicer than I expected, and after making quick work inside, I washed my hands and took a moment to look at myself in the mirror.
Happiness looked back at me through my slightly wobbly vision, and after touching up my eye makeup, I returned to my seat at the bar.
Samuel was leaned over the bar, saying something to Nick, when I got back, and the two of them turned to look at me with an expression I couldn’t decipher.
I heard someone yell Nick’s name, and he glanced and lifted his chin before leaving Samuel and I alone.
“Why do I feel like you were talking about me?” I asked as I noticed two shots sitting in front of my chair and two in front of Samuel.
“Because we were.” He chuckled and picked up one of the glasses.
Clinking it to mine, he said, “Here’s to getting you some good bone.”
Confused, I took the shot and looked at him before asking, “Good bone?”
“You know? The man bone,” Samuel explained and wiggled his eyebrows at me again.
“I’m not interested in hooking up with anyone tonight,” I said, and he patted my hand.
“I never said tonight.” The song changed and Samuel hopped off his stool and held his hand out to me.
Slipping mine into his, I allowed him to lead me to the dance floor, and when he started strutting his stuff, I couldn’t help but join in.
He was fun and unafraid of being himself.
I envied him and his carefree attitude, wishing I could be more spontaneous like he seemed to be.
The song changed again but it slowed down, so Samuel pinched his nose and gave the thumbs down before guiding me back to our seats.
I finished the last of my second cocktail to cool off before starting on my third.
The liquor was starting to hit my head as Samuel ordered us each another cocktail and shot.
I needed to slow down because I didn’t want the evening to end too quickly.
I was afraid being back in my house would cause the loneliness to grow, and the last thing I wanted was Rhys ‘monitoring’ me.
I was halfway through my third cocktail when I felt like someone was watching me.
Samuel was speaking with someone who’d walked up to him, so I carefully looked into the mirror behind the bar, trying to see who may have had their eyes on me, but there were too many people and I’d had too much to drink to be sure I wasn’t just being paranoid.
Samuel turned back to me, and I swung my chair to face him, hoping to get a better visual of the people in the bar, when I saw the one person I wasn’t interested in dealing with tonight.
Rolling my eyes, I shook my head and lifted up the last shot of whiskey before shooting it back.
The fire rolled down my throat as he approached behind Samuel, his hardened brown eyes locked on me.
Samuel, seeing my actions, turned and saw Rhys standing less than ten feet behind him. He leaned over and asked, “Who’s the tall drink of water who looks like he wants to eat you alive?”
Smirking, I lifted my gaze over Samuel’s head and spoke to him, though my words were meant for Rhys. “Him? He’s the guy who said kissing me was a mistake and nearly broke his neck to run from me.”
Samuel leaned closer and asked quietly, “And you wanted him to stay?”
I only had to look at Samuel for him to see how much Rhys hurt me with his words and actions.
My happy friend’s face grew hard as he spun around and stood from his seat.
Fearless, he walked up to Rhys and said something to him I couldn’t understand before he glanced back at me and walked to the other end of the bar, leaving me alone for Rhys to corner.
I was expecting anger.
But that’s not what I received, and the back and forth nearly gave me whiplash.