36. Chapter 36
Veronica
A Few Hours Earlier
I’m so angry. I cried myself to sleep earlier. I woke up with a fuck-everyone attitude. I looked at my social media and found exactly who I needed. Angel. She travels in the party scene, and since it’s Saturday night, I knew I’d find her in the background of someone’s post. And I did.
I texted Kai the location for tonight, and when I make it out of my building, he’s already waiting for me.
It doesn't take us long to get to our destination. Unlike the last bar I went to, my cousins have no say here. They aren’t the owners, and unlike their bar, this one is shadier. I know I’ll get what I came for.
I make my way inside and scan the area. The music is loud, and the lights flicker to the beat of the song.
I can feel eyes on me. I’m certain it’s the revealing outfit that I'm wearing, showcasing my voluptuous features. I make my way to the bar and lean forward to give the bartender a view of my tits. I order a vodka tonic and look around. I know she’s here somewhere.
A man approaches me. “Hello, beautiful.”
He’s tall and is all muscles; he’ll do. I feel an ache in my heart, but I ignore the feeling. Miles made a fool of me. More so because I asked him for help; I let him see my shame. Fuck him, and fuck my brothers.
I bat my eyes and give Mr. Muscles a smile. Men fall for that shit all the time.
“Hi, I’m Kate,” I lie. Hell if I’m going to tell him who I really am.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman. I’m Vaun.”
God. Does that actually work on women? I look at the dance floor and see her: Angel.
I turn and look at my new friend, Vaun, and turn on the charm. “How about you stay here and wait for me? I’m going to say hello to a friend real quick.”
“All right, beautiful.” He turns to the bartender and orders a drink.
I can feel his eyes on me. I approach Angel, and she immediately recognizes me. She grabs my hand and leads me away from the dance floor.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Veronica?” she shouts so I can hear her over the music.
“You know why I’m here, Angel.”
“Who would have thought Ms. Veronica Kayde would hunt little ole me down for drugs?” I can see she’s enjoying this.
What a bitch. I place my hands on my hips. “Or I could just have my cousin hunt you down.” That wipes that smug look off her face. “Do you want my money or not?”
She extends her hand and opens her palm. I take a couple of hundred-dollar bills out of my purse and place them into her hand. She pulls a small plastic bag from between her breasts, takes three pills out, and hands them to me.
“These are new, but don’t worry, they’ll give you what you’re looking for. Have fun, Veronica.” Then, she walks away, back onto the dance floor.
I look at the pink pills, placing one under my tongue and the other two in my clutch.
Then I make my way to my new friend. He’s still at the bar, waiting for me.
When I reach him, I wrap my arms around his neck, lean into him, whispering, “Let’s get out of here.
” I take his hand and lead him out of the bar.
He kisses my neck as we walk out. His kisses are harsh, but that won’t matter soon.
Kai is leaning against the car. I don’t wait for him to open the door for me.
Vaun and I get into the back seat. I can feel the pill’s effects.
I pull Vaun into a kiss; his body is practically on top of mine.
His hands roam my body; every touch makes my body feel like it’s a live wire.
I bite his lip and grind my pussy on him.
“Fuck, Kate.”
Mmmm. “That’s what I’m counting on.” I laugh.
I needed this—to let go of my pain and shame.
I need something meaningless. I hear someone’s phone ring in the background, but I don’t care.
Vaun kisses my neck, making me laugh. We pull up to my apartment building and head straight to the elevator.
As soon as we enter, Vaun pins me against the wall.
He grinds his dick on me, not that big, but it will do.
I grind right back as if that will make his dick grow a couple of inches.
It’s not the size but what you do with it, right?
The elevator opens, and I grab my keys as he grabs my waist and kisses my neck.
We enter my apartment, and I close my door.
My purse and keys fall to the floor. I face the man I just met and head to my bedroom.
He pushes me against the wall a bit harder than I expected.
He puts his hands above my head and looks around.
“Are you going to fuck me or look around?” I ask; my body feels like it’s going to combust. Vaun presses his body weight against me. He grabs my hand and places it over his hard cock. I don’t know why I laugh, but he doesn’t seem to like that.
“It’s not nice to laugh at a man’s dick,” he says bitterly.
“How about you show me what you can do with it?”
He leans down and starts to kiss the curves of my breasts. My head is facing the ceiling; I hear him loosen his belt buckle, and I close my eyes. I can’t help the laugh that escapes my lips.
I hear a loud thump, and the door crashes open.
I turn and see Miles. I don’t even register what happens next.
He grabs Vaun by the hair and punches him in the face, repeatedly.
I hear the sound of bone breaking, followed by blood gushing from Vaun’s face.
I can smell the copper in the air—blood.
I feel like I’m going to be sick. I see the man I just met; he’s on the floor.
Miles isn’t stopping. I grab him by the shoulders and try to push him off Vaun.
He looks at me, completely lost in his rage.
I see blood all over his shirt and splatters on his face.
“Miles, stop,” I scream.
I’m left stunned when he grabs my face with his bloody hands and looks at me. Oh god.
“Are you fucking high, Veronica?”
I can’t focus. I look past him to the man on the floor. I can’t respond. One bloody hand grips my cheek while he uses the other to bring the phone to his ear. He speaks to someone and then hangs up. He makes another call, but I can’t make out the words.
“Yes” is the only word I can make out.
“Are you fucking out of your mind? What did you take?” he shouts.
“I don’t know.”
He mumbles something, but I can’t understand the words. I hear Vaun groan on the floor.
“He’s lucky I didn’t kill him for touching you.”
What does he mean? Miles moves to the kitchen and returns with a damp cloth and iced water. "Drink this," he orders. He then places the cold, wet cloth on my forehead, and I notice the weapon that’s around his fingers. Then, he walks me to the couch.
I don’t know how long I’ve been sitting here when the front door opens.
I feel the shame wash over me as Felix steps into my apartment, with Kai behind him.
His eyes are full of disappointment—no, it’s sadness.
I look down and see bloodstains on my carpet.
When I raise my eyes, I see Felix crouching down to meet me at eye level.
Barely audible, he says, “Oh, Veronica. What are you doing to yourself?”
I feel like there’s something stuck in my throat. I don’t say anything. What is there to say? He stands up and moves to where Kai and Miles are, over Vaun’s unconscious body.
“Is he dead?” I ask the men.
Miles doesn’t look my way. “Not yet.” Felix and Kai bend down to pick him off the floor.
“Use the emergency exit,” Miles tells the men.
Still not looking in my direction. They nod and carry the unconscious body away.
Miles finally looks at me. “Who gave you the drugs?” he shouts, making me jump off the couch.
I look at my purse that’s on the floor, a lump forming in my throat.
His gaze follows mine, and he walks over to it, picks it up, and starts digging through the contents.
I say a silent prayer, a desperate plea that he doesn't find the rest, but of course, it’s in vain.
My heart sinks as I watch him pull out the two small pink pills
“I’m going to ask you again, Veronica. Who gave you the pills? I’ll find out either way.”
“Please don’t hurt her,” I plead.
His eyes widen. “I won’t hurt her, but I can’t say the same for the others. Now, give me a fucking name.”
“Angel from the club.”
Before he’s able to say anything, my front door opens again. It’s Tomas. He walks straight to me. I see he has a bag with him.
“Hi, Veronica. I need to know what you took tonight.”
“This.” Miles shows Tomas the pill.
“Shit.” I hear Tomas mumble. “Veronica, have you taken that pill before?”
“No.” I’m only able to answer in short sentences.
I can tell he’s concerned. “This is a new drug. I’m going to give you an IV to help flush the drugs from your system, and I also need to keep your body cool.
” He looks at Miles and gives him orders.
Suddenly, I’m being lifted, an arm under my legs and another supporting my back.
It’s Miles. He’s carrying me and making his way to my bedroom.
He lays me down and, without hesitation, starts to undress me.
His bloodstained hands are so gentle, moving as if I were made of glass, careful not to shatter me. It’s too late for that.
Soon, I’m in my bra and panties. I see him staring at my body.
If I wasn’t high, I would think he’s admiring me.
He lifts his arms and takes off his T-shirt.
I can’t help but stare; his body is so defined, the V-line catching my attention.
I look at those gray eyes, staring into me.
He helps me put on his shirt while Tomas starts to set up the IV.
I feel the poke of a needle. Miles is just standing, watching everything. Not speaking a word.
“Please don’t tell my brothers.” I begin to cry. “Please.”
“You may feel sick throughout the night,” I hear Tomas tell me. He walks to Miles and whispers something. Tomas examines his friend's hand; he cleans it and bandages it up.
They walk out of the room, but Miles returns moments later with his laptop.
He pulls the chaise chair right up alongside the bed and places the trash can on my nightstand, maneuvering carefully so he doesn't bump the IV setup.
He sits down, opens his laptop, and immediately starts working, completely silent.
The only sounds in the room are the tap of the keyboard.
I’m sick all night, and he’s here holding my hair as I throw up in the trash can. I don’t know when I fell asleep. The scene of Vaun being beaten replays over and over again. All because of me. Because I was angry and I needed to be self-destructive. I wake up to find Felix sitting in the chaise.
“Where is he?”
“You don’t want to know.” That is all he replies.