5. Chapter 5 #2
My eyes continue to look around until I see Angel.
We lock eyes, and she discreetly motions for me to follow.
She must see the desperate look on my face.
I make my way down the dimly lit hallway and slip into the restroom after her.
The low lighting will ensure that no one notices me following her.
She leads me to a quiet corner and pulls a small package from between her breasts.
Angel opens the small bag and pulls out a few white pills.
I open my mouth, and she puts one underneath my tongue just like I was trained to do.
She gives me two pills, and I put them in a hidden compartment in my purse.
I hand her a couple of hundred dollars, and she nods before leaving the restroom.
A simple transaction. As I exit, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror; the feeling of self-loathing is trying to creep in, but the pills will start to kick in soon.
I move to the dance floor, giving myself over entirely to the feeling of ecstasy that’s starting to take over.
A man approaches, his presence screaming "danger.
" I couldn't care less; the high is too good. He reaches me, and I take his hands, guiding them firmly to my waist, pulling him closer into my space. His hands dig into my skin. I lean my back onto his chest. He brings his mouth to my ear; the music is loud, but he’s so close to me.
“Hey, sweetheart.” His words cut through the loud music. “Fuck, by the way you move your body, I know you’re going to make me feel so good.”
My body stops moving. Those words. “Wh-what did you say?”
“You’re going to make me feel so good,” he repeats.
I look at Ruby, who must notice something is wrong; she picks up a phone. I don’t even realize I have my knife in my hand when I shove it into the man’s thigh and pull it out.
“Ahhhh! What the fuck? You goddamn whore.”
He pushes me away, and I stumble but don’t fall. My grip is still on the small weapon. He grabs me by my arm; I see his hand balled into a fist. He’s going to hit me. That’s when everything goes dark.
I'm startled awake by loud voices and force my eyes open, disoriented to find I'm not in my own apartment.
The room seems familiar though. When I lift myself from the bed, the world spins.
I bolt to the bathroom, just managing to make it to the toilet.
It takes several minutes for the nausea to pass enough for me to stand.
I stumble to the sink to try and clean myself up.
I see my reflection staring back at me. I’m a mess, makeup smeared, still in last night’s dress, which is now stained.
A closer look confirms the stain isn't wine; it's blood.
The realization hits me hard, and I miss the toilet, vomiting all over the floor this time.
In a panic, I grab the nearest towel and frantically try to clean up the mess.
Looking at my surroundings, I recognize it as my old bedroom and ensuite at Caleb’s penthouse.
How did I get here? This was my home away from home, so I keep essentials and clothes here.
I slowly walk into the shower; I smell horrible.
After what seems like an eternity, I manage to walk to the living room, where my brother Gabe, my cousin Caleb, and his second-in-command and my close friend Felix are standing.
They all look at me, and I can tell they are furious.
“Look who decided to join us,” Felix says with a weak smile. He walks to me with a plate of toast and a glass of water. I sit on the couch, where he joins me.
“Don’t coddle her,” Gabe tells Felix.
I take a sip of water. Hoping it stays down. “What am I doing here?” I ask the men. That was a mistake because if looks could kill.
“Do you remember what happened last night?" Gabe looks like he’s about to explode.
“I went to the club and drank.” I look away, ashamed, because if that was just it, they wouldn’t be here.
“Are you fucking serious, Veronica? Do you know the consequences of what you did? No, let me rephrase it. Do you care?” Gabe yells.
My head is killing me, and I can’t keep up. I’m trying to remember everything that happened, but the night is blurry. I turn to Felix, who’s usually on my side, but even he looks disappointed in me. Fuck, what happened?
“Gabe, can you elaborate on what I did this time?” The three men look at me, dumbfounded.
Caleb speaks first; his voice softens. “Vee, you don’t remember?”
I shake my head because everything hurts. They all look at each other, as if deciding who’s going to remind me of another fuck-up. But it’s Felix who speaks.
“Vee, what do you remember?”
I try to think back to last night. After I saw the photograph, I went to my freezer, pulled out the vodka, and took a couple of shots, but I don’t tell them that. “I remember calling my driver to take me to the club and making my way inside.”
“That’s all?” Felix asks.
“I went to the bar and got a drink, then danced.” I leave out the part where I went to the bathroom and took a pill from a waitress.
Caleb interrupts, “So you don’t remember dancing with my potential business partner and then stabbing him with your pocketknife?” I see he’s holding back a smile, trying to be serious.
“I did what?” My head is spinning.
Caleb continues, “He was about to hit you when security stepped in. You blacked out; I figured you drank more than what you had at the bar. You were brought here. What did he say to you?” I try to remember, but if my reaction was to stab him, then it must have been bad.
“Miles is going through the footage, but regardless, you don’t hurt women, and especially the women in our family, without consequences. ”
“Caleb, I can’t remember. I’m sorry.” I can’t hold back the tears. I feel like complete shit.
“Caleb.” Felix pulls me close. “Let’s wait for the footage before you decide to do anything irrational.”
“Irrational? Me?” Caleb raises his voice at Felix. “If Ruby hadn’t called security when she did, there is no telling what would have happened. Do you know the strength it’s taking to keep Damon from going after Eric and skinning him alive? And Serena is upstairs trying to rein in Ian.”
Fuck I’m so screwed. Just then, I hear the front door open and slam shut. Speak of the devil. Ian all but barrels in; there is no sign of Serena. Fuck, they’re inseparable, and if he’s here, I want her here as well. She has a way of calming, no, controlling my brother.
“I-Ian.” I look at my brother. There are so many emotions conveyed in his face. I’ve learned that with my brother, I need to put up a strong front, or at least try to. “Where’s Serena?”
“She’s indisposed at the moment.” He looks livid.
“I just spoke with Miles. He went through the surveillance video and didn’t find anything new.
” He says it loud enough for everyone to hear, but his eyes are on me.
He continues, “I don’t know what the fuck you were thinking, Veronica Kayde, but this behavior has to stop.
Eric is a powerful and dangerous man. This could have led to a fucking war between Eric and Caleb.
” He looks at the other men. “Once he found out who you are, he apologized.” He runs his hands through his hair, a clear sign of frustration.
“Still, there must have been a reason for you to stab him. Even if you don’t remember. That itself is a declaration of war.”
“I’ll have Miles dig deeper into him. But I agree. Regardless of the situation, no one touches our family. The deal is off,” Caleb tells my brother.
Ian looks at me, then at Caleb. “She is not to go near any of your clubs and bars, is that understood?” My cousin nods. He isn’t done. Ian turns his attention back to me. “Get your shit together, little sister.” Then he turns and walks out the front door.
I stay seated on the couch. I can’t look at anyone.
The weight of their disappointment makes the air around me thick.
It’s hard to breathe. Not only did I fuck up my evening, but I’m fucking up my cousins’ business.
I fidget with my manicured nails and wish the floor would open and swallow me whole.