Page 5 of Promise of Destruction
He says he’s promised to protect me, but I’m not the one who needs protection. It’s whoever is responsible for the nightmare that haunts me every time I close my eyes, every time I sit alone, every time I feel the quiet threatening to smother me.
But I’ve worked hard the past year to convince the rest of the world that I’m fine, so I’m sure as hell not going to let on that I’ve been lying this whole time. I force a little smile and nod my understanding.
“I’d love to stay and chat, but I’m meeting Rissa and Khan.”
“Ah,” Shriek nods, squinting to see the time on the gold watch hanging on his wrist. A thin man with a mess of dark, curly hair, and wire glasses perched on a crooked nose, Shriek looks innocent enough. But I know better. None of them areinnocent. “How late are you?”
“Just late enough.” I grin, waving around at the men again, looking past the stacks of cash sitting on the tabletop. I don’t want to think about what things they may have done to get that money. “I’ll talk to you guys later.”
As I open the door into the bar, Nika tosses her long pink hair over her shoulder and waves quickly before going back to trying to seduce a patron into something. He’s got both eyes trained on her tits, and honestly, I can’t blame him when they’re propped up on display like that. Nika knows she’s gorgeous, and she isn’t afraid to use that to get what she wants. I should have taken pointers from her long ago.
How different things may have been if I had.
“Margariiiita.” Marissa’s sing-song voice calls to me over the crowd of conversations, the drone of the televisions, and the music playing from staticky speakers.
“Wow.” I sidle up to her and drop onto the velvet couch, immediately kicking my heels off. “You’re really punishing me, aren’t you?”
I lift the drink to my lips, smell the wicked tang of the tequila, and subsequently try not to vomit before I can choke it down in a matter of seconds.
Marissa knows I hate tequila, and Nika knows how to make a drink that is strong right from the start. The sooner you get people to loosen up, the more they will buy. And the more they buy, the heavier her pockets are at the end of the night.
Khan shakes his head, his disapproval radiating off of him. I know he hates it here; this isn’t his scene. He favors the quiet of the lounge down the street, the scent of Cuban cigars to cigarettes, and the sort of refined décor that is typical of upscale bars.
But I like the things he doesn’t.
I honestly am not sure why he even puts up with me, much less Marissa. Something in his soul just calls out to a piece of mine, and I assume he must feel the same. Perhaps, in another life, he was a brother of mine. Despite our differences, he’s always willing to support whatever crazy antics Marissa and I put him up to.
I decorated this entire place with every intention of making it feel like a strange mix of cozy and industrial and lush. And somehow, it works. Or at least,Ithink it does.
I haven’t looked at the books in a year, and I really could care less about profit, but if the way we’re always packed is any indication, we’ve created a place that people like to be. As strange as it is, this bar is my home, and these workers are all the family I have left.
“I saw your article.” Marissa grins, chewing at her plush pink lips almost like she can contain the satisfied smirk. “That took balls.”
“That wasstupid.” Khan amends, shaking his head at me. “You love to rock the boat, don’t you?”
“Well, smooth seas never made a skilled sailor.” I smirk and signal to Nika that I’ll be wanting another drink.
“I wasn’t aware you were a sailor.” Khan rolls his eyes. “Listen, Ren, you should be careful.”
Yep, hemusthave been a brother in a past life, because he’s relentless in scolding me when I do something he disapproves of.
“Yeah, yeah,” I wave him off. “I’m fine.”
“You’re notfine.” Marissa has decided to join the conversation, and instead of helping back me up, she’s siding with our buttoned-up friend. Turncoat. “I love you, but that’s pretty obvious.”
“How am I not okay?” I cross my arms over my chest and arch an eyebrow, daring them to tell me what’s so wrong about me.
“The anniversary is just around the corner.” Khan says it gently, like he thinks the words can shatter me.
But nothing can shatter me… I’m not made of glass. I am iron and stone, cold and unyielding. I’ve loved and lost, and it has hardened me, but never broken me. What doesn’t kill me will make me stronger as I harden my heart and focus on the only thing I have left to make life worthwhile— revenge.
“I know the date.” I snap, despite the fact that I actually don’t. I’m not even sure what day of the week it is, to be perfectly honest. They’ve all sort of blurred together lately.
“Then you know why we’re concerned.” Marissa rests her hand on my shoulder, her eyes level on mine. She’s beautiful, brilliant, and vivacious. I am dark, cold, and distant. I don’t know why she’s my friend, either. Perhaps because I wasn’t always this way, because she has hope that I can one day be the girl I used to be.
Marissa doesn’t realize that her friend is dead and gone, and she isn’t coming back.
Her loyalty is admirable, but I’m sure she won’t be able to deal with me for the rest of my life.
