Chapter 9 #3
I push a little harder than before, but it doesn’t have much effect.
Isa grins, turns around, and heads back to our table.
Great, no help from her. Does she not realize Noah is seriously crossing lines now, or does she just not care?
Noah is tall and quite muscular despite his slim build.
His fingers dig into my body possessively, and his crotch grinds against me.
My eyes scan the room, but Dennis, of all times, is nowhere to be seen.
Did he go to the bathroom? Is he at the bar?
I’m on my own, and I press my hands against Noah’s chest to push him away. It doesn’t work.
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Nora. I know you want it,” he whispers in my ear.
Panic takes hold of me, even though we’re in the middle of a crowded room. No one seems to notice what’s happening. I do the only thing I can and shout.
“Let me go, Noah, I don’t want this at all!”
There’s a bit of pushing and pulling between us, and the next thing I know, Noah is on the ground.
I’m shocked and look at the man who just gave him a hard shove.
The panic turns to relief when I see Andreas standing next to me.
His fists are clenched, and his eyes are blazing.
His gaze tells me he’s ready to do just about anything right now.
I’ve seen him angry and frustrated at the table during our dinner, but this is on a whole other level.
Hatred and rage fill his eyes, and I almost feel sorry for Noah, who has no chance against Andreas. Almost.
Andreas’s appearance completely throws me off.
I thought nothing could top his Italian suits, but the tight jeans, hugging his butt, make me doubt that.
His black, fitted T-shirt accentuates the size of his biceps.
His disheveled hair and shadow of a beard only add to his intensity.
I hold my breath and don’t know what to say or do.
How on earth did I end up in this mess? I stand there, dazed, watching the scene unfold in front of me.
The alcohol is probably also making my reaction time far from record-breaking.
“Keep your hands off her, understood?” Andreas roars, his voice like a storm.
Noah doesn’t answer and is still on the ground. Fear flashes in his eyes, but something else too—recognition.
“Do you two know each other?” I ask, my voice barely audible.
The men don’t answer, but Isa, who has just joined us, does.
“Oh, we know each other, all right. We had such good times together, remember, Andreas?”
Andreas and Isa? I can’t believe my ears. The room starts spinning even more. I don’t like Isa at all anymore.
“You and I, Isabella, had anything but a good time. You and your boyfriend stay the hell away from her,” Andreas spits back, his voice like a blade.
Isa is Isabella? Is this the woman he was talking about on the phone on Wednesday?
It almost certainly must be. I can tell he wants to hit her too.
Everything about Andreas shows he’s about to explode, but he’s holding back.
He positions his body and shouts but doesn’t touch her.
She, however, touches him, running her finger over his chest.
“Oh, now I get it. Is that your new girlfriend? Is she tasty?” Isa taunts.
As quickly as he can, he slaps her hand away.
“Don’t touch me, Isabella, and stay the hell out of my sight,” he warns with lethal intent.
“For what it’s worth, you just came to me, Andreas,” she replies, her voice still playful and seductive.
The next thing he says, he whispers in her ear. I notice a painful grimace form on Isabella’s face. Even in the dim light of the club, I can see all the color draining from her face. She looks ghostly pale, takes a step back, and walks away. Noah, who has finally scrambled to his feet, follows her.
“You! With me!” Andreas commands me. Verbs are apparently a waste of time.
“Not so fast. So, you’re Andreas?” Dennis chimes in, stepping into the conversation, seemingly unbothered. His confidence is undeniable, especially when you consider Dennis is just as tall and almost as good-looking as Andreas.
“And you are?” Andreas seems ready for round two.
“I’m Dennis, Nora’s cousin. I know exactly who you are, and Nora is not going anywhere with you.”
I watch Andreas’s face tighten, a clear sign he isn’t happy about me telling Dennis about yesterday. Not. My. Problem.
“I understand your concern and even appreciate it, but I have no bad intentions. I’m taking Nora home safely.” Andreas’s tone is softer now, but his conviction hasn’t wavered.
“It’s not about the taking her home. It’s what you do afterward, asshole.” Dennis is ready to defend my honor with his fists, and I only love him more for it, but I’m sure Andreas would win anyway, and I don’t feel like waiting to be proven right.
“It’s fine, Dennis, Andreas is taking me home. I’ll text you when I’m there, okay?”
Dennis’s eyes widen as he pulls me aside, his concern evident.
“Are you sure about this, Nora? I mean, after what he did to you? Is that really wise?” His voice is gentle, but his worry is palpable.
“I trust him enough to know he wouldn’t hurt me, and I actually want the chance to hear why he did what he did yesterday. It’s my choice, Dennis. I’m old enough to make it myself.” Dennis curses under his breath, realizing I’ve made up my mind.
“Send me a selfie when you’re home. Not just a text. If I don’t hear from you in half an hour, I’m sending the police after you, okay?”
“I will, but the police won’t be necessary. I’m really not afraid of him.” At least not when it comes to my physical safety.
Dennis nods reluctantly toward Andreas, giving him the go-ahead to take me home.
I see the warning in Dennis’s eyes, and I feel so lucky to have him in my life.
I kiss him on the cheek and hug him tightly before walking with Andreas toward the exit.
I hope I’m making the right decision as Andreas’s hand burns in my back as we walk.
Once outside, a car with a driver is waiting for us.
Andreas opens the door for me, and I try to get into the car as gracefully as possible.
That’s not easy after a night of cocktails.
It’s not exactly elegant, but I manage to get in the car, slide over and buckle up.
Andreas does the same, giving the chauffeur my address.
“How do you know those people, Nora?”
I’m startled by his stern tone. He doesn’t look at me, his expression exhausted and annoyed.
“I don’t know them. Dennis knows Peter from work, and he knows Isa and Noah. I’d never seen them before tonight,” I say honestly.
“That’s good.” He’s genuinely relieved, though I don’t understand why.
“Why is that good? Who are they?” I ask, intrigued.
“They’re junkies, they were high as a kite. You don’t want to know them, Nora, really.” Oh.
I replay the events and conversations of the evening in light of this new information. It makes sense now, why Isa was so focused on the "buzz" and Noah’s overly touchy behavior. I stare out the window, quiet. Suddenly, a new question pops into my head.
“What were you doing at the club?” I ask, turning to look at him.
He hesitates before meeting my gaze, our eyes locking.
“I came to get you,” he says.
Oh.
“How did you know I was there?”
“Because I’m a co-owner of the club. Isa is on the blacklist. She’s not allowed in.
We’ve only just opened. Security has a list of photos of people who aren’t allowed in, but in practice, it’s not always easy to recognize them right away.
I was sent the video footage to confirm if it was her.
I saw her, and… I saw you. You know the rest of the story.
” His explanation sounds plausible. But there’s still one crucial question left.
“Who is Isabella to you? What does she mean to you?” I’m not sure I want to hear the answer.
“Isabella means nothing to me. I wish I’d never met her. She can drop dead for all I care.” Even for someone as blunt as Andreas, his words sound particularly harsh.
He stares stoically ahead again, his face not betraying a single emotion. The hatred he holds toward Isabella runs deep. I decide not to push any further. In a way, this is what I wanted to hear most.
We arrive at my house and get out. Andreas walks me to the door, looking concerned. Aside from a bit of wobbling, I manage to make it there fairly independently. Once at the door, I turn around and look him in the eyes.
“Why do you care that I was there? I don’t get it?” I really don’t, not after yesterday morning.
Tears prick at the back of my eyes, but thankfully, I manage to hold them back.
“Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this out here on the street.”
Smooth, Andreas.
“Nice try,” I say with narrowed eyes.
I feel the electricity between us and know it’s not just crackling because I’m so incredibly angry.
My brain, soaked in alcohol, is on a strange rollercoaster of emotions.
I sigh, feeling completely lost. This is a decisive moment.
Just a few hours ago, I officially decided Andreas could go to hell.
I need to protect myself, but he smells so good, and his tight T-shirt really isn’t helping.
“Nora, I’m sorry about yesterday. I know I acted like a complete jerk. I know nothing is in my favor right now, but you have to believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you on purpose.”
I think I’ve been waiting two days to hear this.
I don’t know if it’s enough to trust him again, but I’m a little drunk, so my judgment is completely shot, and my emotions have taken the wheel.
I feel my body aching for his touch, and my brain is struggling to come up with objections.
I know there are plenty, but for the life of me, I can’t think of a single one right now.
“Shouldn’t you send your cousin a selfie to let him know you’re safely inside?” he suddenly asks.