Chapter 6
“Let me go!” Esmie screamed at her assailant. She kicked out and connected with a shin. The assailant groaned and the grip on her arm slackened. She elbowed her way free, stepping back.
“Whoa there, slow down tiger,” Chad chuckled, rubbing his shin.
He glanced at each girl’s blanched face.
“Thought I was the police?” He flashed his teeth.
“I see you girlies got away alright. I guess mummy and daddy won’t be getting a call from the station tonight.
” He placed his hands on his hips mocking a serious expression.
“Go away, loser. We’re trying to get home no thanks to you and that stunt in your shady club.” Esmie bit back.
“Aww, is it past the little princesses’ bedtime?”
“Cut it out, jerk.” Mindy stomped toward the street. Tessa rushed after her with Esmie shouldering past Chad to follow them.
“Oh no, did I hurt the princesses’ feewings?” Chad followed them a few paces behind making strange crying noises.
Esmie’s irritation bubbled over after everything they had to encounter tonight and now having to listen to this moron.
Her eye pulsed, lancing pain through the right side of her head with every pulse.
Great, just add a headache to her already miserable evening.
She spun on her heel to face Chad. “Stop following us, otherwise I will call the cops myself and tell them all about your little glass business.”
Chad’s grin disappeared from his face. His eyes flashed and hardened, malice covering the easy-going expression he usually carried.
Esmie’s stomach dropped at the confrontation, but she wasn’t going to back down.
Although Chad was a good several inches taller than her, she still squared her shoulders and brought herself up to her full five-foot-four height.
“You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” Chad’s voice dropped an octave. “I suggest you watch what you say to me, little girl, or no police force on earth will help you.” Mindy’s nails dug into Esmie’s arm, tugging her backward. Tessa ducked behind Mindy, pulling on her elbow, but Esmie refused to budge.
“I’m not afraid of you. You’re just some druggy low life punk who had his business raided as it should have been.
Now you’re taking your anger out on a couple of girls you just happened to run into at your club because you know had they would’ve found us there; you’d be in even bigger trouble having underage women at your club.
I don’t care who you are or what you do. You’re scum.”
In two strides Chad loomed over Esmie. “You have no idea what you’re saying. You may not be afraid of me, but you should be afraid of who I report to. One call from me and…” he swiped his neck with his finger. They stared each other down, refusing to waiver.
Chad’s gaze shifted to Esmie’s swollen eye that still refused to open and watered even now.
He immediately stepped back from her, casual as before.
The sudden mood change from a menacing jerk to his easy going self was unnerving.
Esmie’s gaze faltered. Chad smirked. “Stop being so uptight about everything, ladies. It’s a beautiful night.
” He gestured absently to the sky. “Come on, I’ll help you get home. ”
“No thanks, we’ll find our own ride.” Esmie snapped.
“All the buses have stopped running and I’m sure your little feet don’t want to walk across the bridge all the way home in those heels.
” Chad glanced at Esmie’s vans then laughed, gesturing at Mindy’s and Tessa’s heels.
“Ok, maybe your friends don’t. Look, don’t worry little princesses, I won’t even come along for the ride if it makes you feel any better.
” Before they could respond, Chad whipped out his phone.
“Hey, I need two rides. We’re on the corner of Welshire and Bellington. Yup. See you in five.”
“I said we can find our own way home.”
“Stop being stubborn. Just wait right here and your carriage will be here shortly.” Chad bowed for effect.
“I need to make some important business calls so excuse me princesses.” He walked a few feet away, talking animatedly on his phone.
Esmie attempted to shuffle closer to listen in on his conversation, but he paced back and forth making it difficult to be discreet.
After a few minutes, two black town cars—the newest ones only the most elite in Andloor were able to afford—pulled up and identical men in black suites exited, opening the doors. They waited in rigid silence.
“I guess our ride is here.” Tessa hesitated. Esmie shot her a scowl. She ducked behind Mindy, whose blue eyes gleamed brighter in the neon lights of the buildings.
“If we had to get chased by police, with my dress getting ruined in the process, at least these are some sweet rides to go home in.” Mindy winked at them, then sashayed to one of the cars.
Esmie glared at the back of her head, hoping she could feel holes burning through.
Tessa skittered away, following Mindy. Esmie shook her head.
She turned to find Chad immediately behind her and jumped.
He stared into her eyes with a blank expression.
What was his issue? His face broke out in a smile.
“Your carriage awaits.” He gestured toward the car.
Esmie spun away from him and marched to the open door the suited man held.
She jumped in the back, buckling herself in, the soft leather cushioning her sore body.
The suited man walked away as Chad sauntered up to them.
“Thank you for an…interesting night, princesses. It was very nice to meet you and I’m sure we will meet again soon.
” His gaze landed on Esmie last. She wiggled in her seat.
With a smirk he slammed the door closed and rapped on the top of the car.
The driver twisted in his seat. “Destination?”
Mindy leaned forward, placing a delicate hand on the driver’s arm as if she had done this a million times before. “Drop of us off at the bus station in Brookshire.”
The driver nodded and drove off through the empty streets of the city.
The night sky was mostly hidden by the neon light pollution filling every available spot where the stars could shine.
Esmie’s eye throbbed, her headache growing into a full-blown migraine.
She closed her eyes against the flashing lights, wishing only to be in her dark room under the covers of her bed.
A short ride later, the girls thanked the driver as they stepped out into the chilly night.
He sped away the moment their feet touched the pavement.
“Well, that was a night for the books.” Mindy tossed her hands in the air.
“It was one, I think I don’t want to do again.” Tessa’s smile wavered at Mindy’s dark expression.
“A book I’m closing to never open again. I’m going home.” Esmie wrapped her arms around herself, dragging her feet toward home.
“Whatever, you girls are so boring. You’ll thank me one day when you realize I am the most excitement in your life!” Mindy called after her. Esmie trudged on without saying goodbye, her house several blocks in the opposite direction of Mindy’s and Tessa’s homes, from where they were dropped off.
Esmie didn’t dare chance her luck going through the front door of her house.
She scampered up the tree on the right side of her home, whose branches reached out to the window in her brother’s old room.
Hopefully his window was unlocked. A few tugs on the pane, and it gave way with a loud squeak.
She squeezed through the opening, ripping her black tulle skirt before she flopped onto the floor.
She lay there exhausted, waiting a few beats until she could force herself up to close the window and make her way to her room.
Esmie kicked off her vans and pulled off her clothes, tossing them into the closet.
She clamored into her pajamas and climbed into bed.
The stiff bed felt comforting after the long night.
Esmie stared at the night sky through her high bedroom window, wishing on every blinking star, that this night was all just a terrible nightmare which would disappear in the morning.
She slid into a fitful sleep filled with dreams of running away from shouting dark shadows, then end with her swimming in a sea of multi-colored glass.