Page 39 of Bonded

***

Nearly an hour has passed, and Kat has consumed several more large vodkas. Then, having finally had her fill, she drops drunkenly down from the barstool and staggers in a liquor fueled daze towards the ladies’ bathroom.

Zak’s eyes follow her, and he takes a deep breath as he looks at Oz. “You think she’s gonna be okay?”

Oz turns around and nods as he checks the time on his phone. “You think maybe we should get QT back, then take her and go? Bud’s nearly asleep, anyway.”

“Oh shit… Where is our little omega-sniper?”

“Over there.” Oz grins, pointing QT out in the corner near the bar. A larger, wily older looking guy is shoving his tongue down the sniper’s throat. “He’s with that guy, Gregg. You remember, the one he pulled once before. Didn’t you say he’s an out-of-town lawyer or something?”

“Oh yeah… Him…” Zak sneers, “yeah, he really thinks he’s something special, doesn’t he? Well, he might be an alpha, but God knows what QT sees in him, he could do so much better than that guy. I mean, he’s really not all that and hell… even I’m better lookin’ than him.”

“Yeah, well QT seems to like him, he’s always gushing about him after they meet up—if there’s actually a way for QT to gush over people? They’re just having fun, so leave them be.”

“Hmm… yeah, well, I don’t like him.”

“You know, sometimes Zak, I think you and QT should just be together. You don’t like anyone around him. I don’t get you; I mean, if you like him, then stop teasing and tell him. Otherwise, you’ll just have to keep watching him with Gregg,”

“Look, I told you I got over that phase a long time ago. I’m strictly women only now.”

“Right, yeah sure, whatever you say. But I’m just saying—”

“Well, don’t. Now that’s the end of the conversation.”

“Okay. But that doesn’t answer my first question… Should we go or not?”

“You go if you wanna go, but I’d better stay and keep an eye on her. I can’t leave her on her own, especially the state she’s in. Digby would kill me. And he’s not answering my damn calls either. I hope he’s not still screwin’ Alyssa, cos I was tryin’ to warn him to get rid.”

“You know this was a dumb idea; you saw the mood he was in earlier. We shouldn’t have brought him here, let alone let her get anywhere near him.”

“Yeah, well, tell that to Darius… It was his dumb idea.”

***

Kat checks herself in the ladies’ room mirror. Her face is flushed red from the over-consumption of liquor. Splashing her cheeks with cold water, she then washes her hands and tidies her hair. Taking a breath, she checks her text messages—Riley thanking her for a nice evening.

“Me too.” Looking at the picture he sent of him in bed, with the wolf plushie on the pillow next to him, ‘Baby-Wolf says good night’, she laughs. “Oh, c’mon Kat… you need to get a fuckin’ grip.”

She sighs loudly and then pulling herself together, she leaves the quiet sanctuary of the bathroom. At the doorway she hesitates, looking first at the boys still sat in the booth and then in the opposite direction, at the two burly bouncers stood by the velvet roped hallway entrance.

Taking a breath, she quickly darts behind some clubbers—out of sight of Zak and Oz. Then flicking her hair, she teasingly tips her head in a pathetic submissive way and smiles at the taller of the security doormen. “Hey um, I need to see Darius.”

The doorman, Carlos, smiles, but chewing his gum he stares blankly and ignores her.

“Hey, he’s expecting me. So, can I see him?”

She tries to push past, but he pushes her back. “Who’d you say you are? And what do you want?”

“I said I need to see Darius. I need to speak to him. He knows I’m coming,” she lies.

“I’ll need to check. We’ve upped the security tonight.”

“Yeah, I heard… Eric, at the door, he spoke to Rhys for me.” She name-drops and smiles. Then again, flicking her blonde hair to one side, she teasingly licks her lips. “Can you check… please?” she purrs.

“Okay, sure.” He turns, talking into his radio. “Hey yeah… Abby, this is Carlos, is Darius expecting a guest?” He pauses as Abby responds. “Yeah, yeah, she’s got blonde hair. Okay… yeah, all right, I’ll tell her. Sending her your way now.” He smiles. “Abby says you’re late. You need to hurry. He’s pissed already, so c’mon speed it up.”

Kat frowns she’s not sure how he’s ‘waiting for her’ but without argument, she slips under the rope and hurries down the dark corridor—this time knowing where she’s headed. Stopping halfway along, she turns, listening to the loud cries coming from inside one of the rooms. Nervously curious, she wonders what they’re doing.

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