Chapter 16
Isaac
I’m going to have to talk to Cole about firing Savannah.
She’s been nothing but a pain in my ass since she started here. I don’t know how many times I have to turn her down before she gets the hint that I want fuck all to do with her.
Any other guy would jump at the chance to get into bed with her. I’m just personally not into the fake tits and face. Not to mention her personality sucks ass too.
She knew exactly what she was doing when she came up to the bar and interrupted us. Serena was falling apart, and I was going to make my girl whimper, begging for more. And now I’m left blue balled and pissed off.
Savannah passes the bar with an extra pep in her step and a satisfied smirk across her lips.
Glancing over my shoulder, I follow her path back to the bathrooms.
Shit. That can’t be good.
The door to the bathroom flies open and Serena storms down the hallway. She reaches the bar in record time, a murderous expression twisting her face.
“Take me home. Now.” She slams her hands on the bar in front of me, sending an echo through the empty club.
“We’ve already had this discussion; you can’t go home.” I cross my arms in front of me. “It’s too dangerous, and I am not going to risk your safety.”
Her eyes narrow and she rests her hands on her hips. “Bullshit. You just want to control where I’m at. I know it was all a set up and there’s no more threat to my safety.” Her fingers lifted in a quick wiggle around the word.
What the fuck is she talking about?
“I don’t know what gave you the impression that I would arrange for you to have the shit beaten out of you, but I can promise that you’re going to regret saying that when we get back home.
” The image of tying her up and edging her until she’s begging me to stop invades my thoughts and my cock twitches against my zipper.
I like when she’s feisty. Punishing for pleasure is one of my favorite things to do, and I can already tell I’m going to have plenty of opportunities to do so with Serena.
“What does that even mean?!” Serena throws her hands up in frustration.
“Keep acting like this and I’ll show you.” I threaten.
“Whatever.” She waves a dismissive hand in my direction. “Sorry to ruin your plans, but you’re going to have to find another poor, ugly girl to be your personal project. If you’re not going to take me home, I’m going to call Jules and have her pick me up.”
“Now I really don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shake my head and grab a wet rag to wipe down the counter.
“Oh please. Savannah told me all about how you play with girls’ hearts.
You get their hopes up and then drop them like they’re yesterday’s news.
Well sorry to break it to you big man,” She points a finger at me.
“But you’re not going to do that with me.
” Serena turns on her heels and walks towards the front door.
I glance over at Savannah, casually refilling a salt container on a nearby cocktail table. The triumphant glint in her eyes and smug expression on her face, lets me know that she heard everything.
I don’t know exactly what went down in that bathroom, but whatever game she’s trying to play, I’m not going to let it get between me and my girl.
I toss the washcloth on the counter, where it lands with a wet plop. Vaulting over the bar top, I beeline straight for her. Anger boiling in my chest. The fact that Savannah is starting shit, and that Serena would believe her lies so easily.
I’m not the kind of asshole that would do that to a woman. I have had my fair share of them, but it was always mutual one-night stands.
It makes me wonder what she’s been through that makes her think so poorly of herself that she would believe Savannah.
I push through the doors, squinting as my eyes adjust to how much brighter it is outside compared to the club. Serena is already halfway to the bus stop around the corner. What part of you’re not safe on your own right now does she not understand?
Damn I’ve got my work cut out with her. Stubborn girl.
Closing the space between us on the sidewalk, I grab her good wrist, and she turns, trying to remove it from my grasp.
“Let go of me Isaac.” She yanks harder.
“Forget it. You’re not going anywhere.” She may be stubborn, but so am I. Pulling her into my chest, I wrap my arms around her and hold her in place.
“I mean it! Get the fuck off me!” Tears stream down her face as she pounds on my chest and pushes against me.
“No Serena.” My voice calm. “I’m not going to let you risk your life because you’re trying to prove a point based off of whatever lies spewed out of the mouth of someone who doesn’t matter.”
“Why would she lie?” Her voice trembles and cracks under the weight of her hurt.
“Because she’s jealous. Threatened by you.” I pull her in closer, despite how hard she resists.
“Bullshit.”
I chuckle. “You really like that word, don’t you Mi Vida.”
“Don’t laugh at me Isaac. I’m not stupid. There’s no way that someone like her would be jealous of me.” Serena pushes off of me one more time, only causing me to tighten my grip more.
I lock eyes with an elderly woman across the street behind Serena, leaning against a convenient store with a cigarette balancing between her fingers. She gives me a hard stink eye. I give her a friendly wave, followed by an obscene gesture and she clutches her invisible pearls.
Mind your own business lady and we wouldn’t have a problem.
I rest my cheek against the top of Serena’s head and sigh.
“You really don’t know how special you are Preciosa.
Serena Rose Bennet, in a room full of women, you would be the only one I choose.
A thousand times over.” She continues to cry against my chest. “Your smile brightens every dark and twisted corner of my mind. Serena, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever had the privilege to lay eyes on. And your kindness makes me want to be a better man, so that I can be deserving of a woman like you. I have never wanted someone as badly as I want you.”
Serena stills and her body relaxes against mine.
All that fills the air between us, is her soft sniffling as she calms and the rumbling of passing cars.
She lifts her head to look at me, and I relax my arms, giving her space to do so.
Her eyes are edged with red, and her cheeks are wet with trails of fresh tears.
And she looks just as gorgeous as always.
Sniffing one more time, she peers up at me from beneath her wet lashes. “So…you’ve never slept with her?” She whispers.
My chest rumbles against her as I throw my head back in laughter. “Now that’s a good joke.”
Serena sticks out her lip and hits my chest playfully. “It’s not funny! I’m serious.”
I grab each side of her face with my hands and lock my gaze with hers. “I have never, and will never, sleep with that woman. Savannah has been a thorn in my side the moment she started working at Sanctuary.”
“Promise?” She says softly.
My chest tightens. I would promise her the world on a silver platter. “I promise.” Kissing her forehead, she hiccups and takes a deep breath.
“Can we go home now?” She asks.
I like the way that sounds. Home, together. Cole is going to be pissed that I’m missing another shift, but he can chew me out later.
We go back into the club with my arm around her and walk past Savannah. Her jaw drops to the floor and then twists into pure hatred. And I don’t miss the way that Serena gives her a sideways glance on the way in.
“Hey, it’s just you and me Preciosa. Nothing else matters.” I squeeze her shoulder for reassurance.
She nods her head and twists her hands in front of her. I take her hand in mine, showing her that she doesn’t need to be nervous. That I am here for her. Savannah can’t do, or say, anything that is going to change that fact.
When we reach the bathrooms, I have her wait outside for me so I can take a piss. I’m washing my hands when I hear commotion outside in the hallway.
Opening the door, I hear the sharp crack of skin-on-skin contact reverberate throughout the hallway. My head snaps towards the sound and see Serena, wide-eyed with her hand on her cheek, in front of Savannah. Her chest rising and falling rapidly. What happens next makes my blood boil.
Savannah takes a handful of Serena’s hair and shoves her into the wall. “You fucking bitch!” She shrieks as she lets go.
Oh hell no.
I reach Savannah in three strides, grab her by the throat and shove her against the wall. Her eyes widen and her hands claw at mine. I’ve never laid hands on a woman before, but I’ll be damned if she thinks she is going to get away with attacking my girl.
“You lay another finger on Serena and I will end you.” I growl. “Do you understand?”
“She… hit me… first.” She struggled to speak, the pressure on her throat turning every word into barely a whisper.
“I don’t care if she shot you. And honestly, you probably deserved it.” My face is inches from hers as I tighten my grip and press her harder into the wall. “Do. You. Understand.”
Unable to speak, Savannah nods in agreement. I release my grip and she collapses to the floor, gasping for air, glaring up at me while rubbing her bruised throat.
Serena comes up behind me and grips my arm. “I didn’t fucking touch you!”
Savannah lunges at Serena, and it takes everything I have not to kick her in the face. Instead, I pull Serena aside and Savannah misses the leg she was reaching for.
I was going to let Cole know I was leaving in person, but he will have to settle for a text. Serena needs a doctor, and then we are going home.
As we are walking away, Savannah mutters something under her breath. I don’t catch it all, but I’m pretty sure I hear “you’ll regret this.”
I pull out my phone and fire off a quick message, letting Cole know that I’ll be leaving and someone will need to cover my shift.
Cole : Is there a reason that you are leaving the bar empty handed AGAIN tonight?
Me : Sure. Why don’t you ask Savannah why I’m not going to be here tonight.