Page 15 of Chasing Hope

‘For the love of God, let me finish speaking.’ Frustrated, Hope threw her hands in the air. ‘Like I was saying, before you rudely interrupted me – severaltimes– I’m not exactly sure what his undertakings are but my sources have reported that there are a lot of suspicious activities that have been taking place lately in his warehouses by the docks. I need your help to find what they are so that I have enough proof to put the bastard away for the rest of his pathetic life.’

‘What's in it for me?’

‘Apart from the fact that you will be doing a wealth of good for the society? During our escapade you will be lucky to spend time in the pleasure of my company. Two birds, one stone.’

Resounding laughter startled her and she jumped back. He laughed so hard that the ground beneath her shoes seemed to shake.

‘Sorry to break it to you, sweetheart. Your company is as pleasurable as getting my tooth extracted.’ At Hope’s feral snarl, he had another fit and all but rolled on the floor laughing. ‘I’ll grow on you,’ he said, with suppressed laughter.

‘Yes, like a fungus,’ she hauled back at him. She wasn’t known for taking a hit lying down. ‘Great. And here I thought we got off on the right foot.’

‘We got off on some foot, all right. Only time will tell if it was the right one or the wrong one.’

Chapter Nine

Ethan grimaced as the music blasted, threatening to blow off his ear drums. The crowds went ballistic belting the lyrics of the new hit. Rock concerts were definitely not his thing. Ethan massaged his aching forehead. The punk playing the electric guitar looked like he had gotten electrocuted by that same guitar. Ethan winced at the ferocity with which the hulk at the drums beat the shit out of them. And he failed to catch a word of what the lead singer was screeching into the mic. Beams of neon lights shot out of the stage nearly blinding him with their intense glare. Ethan’s bemused gaze swirled around the massive grounds. In all his life, he hadn’t seen this many people gather in one place at the same time. It looked like the entire youth of India was at the venue.

What the fuck were you thinking?Totally pissed off, Ethan glared at his phone while he texted Aarav.

You’re welcome.The asshole replied within seconds which angered Ethan even more.

You’re such a fucking prick.

Relax. I just tricked you into going to a concert. I didn’t haul your ass off to the moon.

Not just any concert – a blasted rock concert. I’m sure you fed her a load of bullshit about me being a fun guy. Let’s just say she isn’t too impressed.

That’s because you always have a stick up your ass. Stop being such a pussy and enjoy your date. Just FYI your dick can do more than just piss. Come on, man. Restore its lost glory.Ethan’s lips flattened. He could picture Aarav laughing like a loon. The man and his sick jokes.

Just ‘cause your dick’s been all over town that doesn't make you a dicktator.

Haha. Good one.The guy was hopeless.

That wasn’t a compliment. Wait till I get my hands on you. You cheap son of a bitch.Ethan signed off on that threatening note and shoved his cell back in his pocket. Immune to Ethan’s commination, Aarav would just ignore it like he had since forever.

A wave of shouts erupted across the grounds; the sound effects deadlier than a bomb blast. Ethan ground his teeth and shifted his accusing glare to a boy who elbowed him painfully in the gut. Without a care in the world, the boy thrust his tongue down the throat of a girl. Who from the looks of it seemed to dig it. Ethan screwed up his face.

‘Jesus Christ. Show some class, man.’ His words were lost in another defining rumble. A sharp tug at his arm snatched his attention away from the couple.

‘Carry me on your shoulders.’

‘Sorry what?’ Ethan pretended to have not understood his date. No way was he going to do as asked. He preferred to get to know a woman better before he planted his head between her thighs. Squashed between sweaty teenagers with raging libidos was definitely not his idea of a good date. Ethan was more of the wine-and-dine kind. Besides, he was too much of a gentleman to turn away a lady. Therefore, he felt compelled to fulfil his commitment. Or rather Aarav’s commitment that was made on his behalf. This was turning out to be such a clusterfuck.

Is this how the dating circuit works these days? Never in his life had Ethan felt so out of place. Sure, it had been a couple of months – scratch that, more like over a year or so since he last went on a decent date. Nevertheless, his hand and he were getting by just fine. Ethan would be lying if he said he did not miss the warmth and intimacy of a naked woman besides him. The scent of her skin, the smoothness of her…

Hope.Ethan’s heart banged against his chest. He closed his eyes as memories of her soft body sparked in him feelings he had long since buried. She had felt so good in his arms. If things had been different, he would have been content just holding her all night long.

He sighed dismally. Ever since the realisation hit him that he may not live to see the next day owing to his dangerous nightly pursuits, Ethan had sworn off any committed relationships. The only serious relationships he currently had were with his grandma, Phoenix and Aarav.

‘Bastard.’ Ethan cursed Aarav for thenthtime in the past hour. His gaze flipped over to his date – a girl fresh out of college. Seriously, standing next to her, Ethan looked like he was there to babysit her. Dressed in a black mesh top, her tits spilled out of her neon green bra. There were more piercings on her face than the entire rock band combined.

Insistent, she screeched and flung her body at him. Stumbling, Ethan tossed backwards, breaking the connection of another couple in the midst of a passionate make-out session.

‘Sorry.’ Ethan didn’t know why he even bothered with an apology. Seconds later, the boy pounced on the girl and took up from where he left off.

‘Carry me. Carry me.’ His date threw a fit. Her pointy black painted nails were very close to clawing his eyes out. There was no shame in admitting that Ethan’s USP was his face. The sounds of the guitars and drums swelled and so did her excitement. Ethan opened his mouth to politely deny her but the fierce look on her face told him she wouldn’t budge. Biting down his frustration, Ethan wrapped his arm around her slim waist and hurled her up on his shoulders. Wasting no time, she straddled his head and bounced on his shoulders as if a bee had sprung up her butt. She yelped and squeezed his head between her leather-clad thighs, almost cutting off his air circulation.

Only one powerful motivation powered him to survive this hell of a night.

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