23
“You are under arrest for disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct,” says one of them, placing handcuffs around my wrists.
“What?” I mutter, my lips parting in disbelief. Then I am pushed out of the place by the police officer.
“But we haven’t done anything! Let me go! Help, someone!” Grace says beside me, struggling in the officer’s arms.
“God! Calm her down!” says the officer behind me.
“We really didn’t do anything, officer, we were just dancing,” I try to explain, but no one makes any move to listen to me.
“That’s not what the others are saying. Now get in the car, we don’t have all night here,” murmurs the man behind Grace when we reach a patrol car.
“Fucking snitches,” Grace mutters under her breath as she gets into the car with a pout on her lips.
I manage to sit down in the car despite my still blurred vision and the handcuffs. The car starts up quickly without giving us any time to get comfortable.
“Okay, I admit we were a little loud, but nothing like disorderly conduct. I’m sure we can work something out,” I say.
“We’ll see about that when we get to the police station,” I snort and look away through the window.
“We’ll be out of there in less than the blink of an eye. You’re just wasting your time. And gas,” I say mockingly.
“You’re talking to the city authorities, show some respect, girl,” retorts the other man with a dirty look that only makes me laugh.
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that you’re like Shrek and Donkey? One is an idiot and the other is big and ugly, like an ogre,” I scoff.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the driver clenching his hands on the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turn white.
His companion next to him looks at me with annoyance.
When I have a few drinks I’m the most honest person in the world.
Add to that the fact I laugh at everything, and it won’t be a good combination for sure.
“Hey, when you release us, can we keep the handcuffs? It’s for a class assignment,” Grace murmurs in a mocking tone, now a little more sober and relaxed than before. It seems that the situation sobered her up a bit.
“That’s right,” I say with a smile, extending my hand to them. “Lena Easton, future lawyer.” I pull my hand away with a grimace when I see that they have no intention of shaking it. Rude.
As the police officer who is about to respond glances at us, I see a black van pull up in front of the car.
I open my eyes wider than usual, fearing we might have an accident, but luckily the officer notices and brakes in time, letting out a curse.
More cars pull up around us after. Thinking it might be my father, my face turns totally pale.
“What the hell!?” screams the man in the passenger seat.
“Don’t move,” warns his partner as they get out of the car.
I try to see through the windows, but the officers’ bodies block our view of the other person they are talking to.
“This thing doesn’t even have the lock on!” Grace scoffs as she opens the door. I get out of the car too, but I don’t watch my step and trip as I get out.
“Ouch, my ankle!” I yelp with a pained grimace, attracting the attention of a few people. Among them is him. His blue eyes looking at me in an indescribable way. With the door still open, I sit in the car rubbing my ankle outside my shoe.
“You should take your shoes off too, it’s much more comfortable to walk that way,” says Grace at my side, helping me get rid of my heels.
“What the hell are you doing? Get back in the car!” We both ignore the police officer’s demands without even bothering to look at them.
“Done,” Grace murmurs, throwing the shoes aside.
I giggle when I see the shape of my feet. Come to think of it, they look like elongated hands, but they’re still very pretty.
“Hello!” Grace says, looking up at them and waving her hand in the air.
“The red-haired one disrespected the law and insulted us. I think she at least deserves something.”
“That’s not—”
“Excuse her,” he interrupts. “She seems to have a problem with authority and obedience, even though she wants to be a lawyer.” His voice is calm and his eyes have a hint of danger to the officers. They back away looking at each other with a fear they try to mask with a serious tone.
“Okay. You can take them both,” one of them says irritably, walking to the car. Then he takes some keys out of the glove compartment and unhandcuffs Grace and me. “Let’s go, Justin!”
“I hate Saturday nights,” the one named Justin mutters as he disappears in the car with his partner on the other side of the road.
“How are we supposed to get back now? Walking?” Grace blurts out of nowhere, waving her arms.
“Take her home. I want her safe,” he murmurs to one of his men without taking his eyes off me.
“Thanks, but no need. We can go back on our own,” Grace says firmly as soon as the words leave her mouth a young man grabs her and tosses her into the van, grimacing in disgust as he hears her scream close to his ear. “You fucking jerk. I’m not a sack of potatoes.”
After the van drives off, the others also disappear, leaving me alone with him.
Considering that the three of us have known each other for years and that our families are also friends, I know she’s in good hands.
Besides, for some strange reason, he likes her.
Maybe because she knows how close we are.
“This is what you understand by behaving? And why are you barefoot?” he finally murmurs, looking at my feet with a displeasure that I don’t like. My feet are very pretty. Many people have told me so. So why the frown?
“And what are you doing wearing shoes?” I retort with a smile.
He ignores my words with a snort before opening the passenger door of his car. I want to know what his feet are like.
“Get in,” he says, nodding toward the passenger seat, drawing my attention away from his lips.
“You don’t have to drive me, I know how to get home.”
“Get in the car, Lena.” His words are rougher now.
In the end, I sit down, remembering what happened the last time I dared to piss him off. Although, on second thought, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to do it again. My arse doesn’t hurt anymore and I’m really craving that pain now.
He quickly gets in next to me, and I bite my lower lip as a way to focus my attention on the pain my teeth are causing and not on my memories. Before starting the car, he fastens my seatbelt, making sure it’s tight. He then gets closer and I notice some red stains on his black shirt.
“I think… Your… Your shirt,” I murmur hesitantly, pointing to the stains.
“I ate a burger and some ketchup dripped on it,” he says, making me frown. The way he says ketchup doesn’t sound right to me.
“I could use a burger now,” I whisper ignoring the sudden tingling sensation in my stomach as I remember his angry face from earlier and Liam’s last words. All my thoughts that had been planted in my head are soon forgotten when I realize we’re not following the path to my house.
“Where are you taking me?”
“I’ll take you to the apartment. It’s not far from here.”
“I thought you were taking me home,” I say, frowning.
“I could, but it’s not that late and your parents are still awake. I don’t think it’s a good idea for them to see you arrive like this,” he replies, pointing at my feet.
“Hmm. True,” I murmur, wondering how he knows what time my parents go to bed. Although it wouldn’t be difficult to guess, considering how much time he spends at my house with my father. “You didn’t tell me you were back,” I say, pouting. He tenses his jaw without taking his eyes off the road.
“I texted you, but apparently you were too busy with your friend to see my messages or my missed calls.”
“Sorry, I didn’t see them.” That’s all I can think to say, unable to hide the smirk on my lips or take my eyes off his mouth as it moves with each word.
He looks at me sideways for a moment before shaking his head and snorting in resignation. He might as well be a bull with all that snorting.
“What? Do you think I’m lying to you?” I ask, frowning until my eyebrows meet. “I’m not lying to you, I didn’t see them.”
“Okay, I believe you.”
It doesn’t take us long to reach a large building that looks quite luxurious, then we drive into the garage. He gets out of the car and in a few seconds he’s at my door. Before I can open it myself, he does it for me.
“What are you doing?” I whisper as he puts his arm under my thighs and then lifts me up in his arms and closes the door. “Put me down.”
“I don’t want you walking barefoot on the ground.” I bite my lower lip, suppressing a silly smile and the blush on my cheeks.
“You can put me down here,” I say once we’re inside the elevator.
He refuses. I end up rubbing my face against his chest, searching for him and his scent without realizing it.
Upon entering his flat I part my lips in amazement, observing the furniture and decor of the place.
Not to mention the large windows that offer a great view of the city.
It’s really beautiful. I blink when he starts moving, climbing the stairs to what appears to be a bedroom.
“You have a very beautiful house,” I whisper softly. And the best part is that we were going to be alone together. All night long.
“It is, but you’re much more beautiful, lyubov’,” he replies, slowly laying my body down on the bed. Of course. I think to myself sarcastically.
There is gold-coloured furniture and precious stones encrusted in the bedside lamps.
I didn’t even know you could do that. He disappears through a door, leaving me with my mouth open.
I take the opportunity to take a look around the room.
It seems he spends quite a lot of time here even though it’s not his main home, and unlike the downstairs, this part shows signs that someone has been here recently.