Wicked Destiny

Chapter 7





After our talk, I sat there a little longer wondering what to do. In a way, she was right. I must have lost track of time, because there was suddenly a knock on the door. Then immediately I realized I left Viktor out there by himself. I walked over to the door and opened it to find Viktor standing on the other side.

“Are you OK?” He wore a sad smile.

“Yeah, sure, I’m great. I own a club that’s the devil’s playground. Other than that, I’m coming to terms with my freakish abilities. I’m stoked about making some hellacious money tonight.” I walked past him, but he pulled me back to him and wrapped his arms around me.

“You will get through this. You are stronger than you know. You just have a problem with letting people get close enough to help you.”

“I just don’t get along with other people. I find it hard to trust them. It seems simpler to just stay away than to get hurt.”

“You can think that all you want, but you could also be missing out.”

“Like what?”

“Like having a boyfriend, maybe.” He smiled that fantastic smile of his.

“Is that right? And just what makes you think I want one?”

“Well, I think Mindy has already determined it for you, because she specifically told me she had special plans for me if I ever break your heart.”

“Well, apparently Mindy can whip your ass, and if she felt like she couldn’t I’m sure she would have Dale do it.” I laughed. Mindy, I had to admit, was another great friend I couldn’t imagine living without.

“I’m sure he would have to comply just so Mindy wouldn’t whip his.” We laughed and I caught Mindy and Dale watching. I gave them a wink just so they knew everything was OK.

“You really want me that close to you? As broke as I am?” I looked into his eyes.

“I think I might be the glue that puts you back together.”

“OK, don’t ever say that again because that was just so cheesy.” I laughed hysterically and I actually snorted.

“Come on. Put me to work boss; tell me what you want me to do. I’m not leaving your side.”

I took his hand and led him to the employee closet where we kept everything personal and most of the club’s merchandise. I went in and handed him a security shirt. Even though we both knew Dale didn’t need the extra help, it made me feel good having Viktor here. Dale walked Viktor around the club so he could show him what to look for and whatever else it was that Dale did.

And unexpectedly, I heard someone behind me.

“Hiring people without asking, bartender?” It was Jared, smug as ever.

“Now why would I do that without consulting my boss first?” I said over my shoulder.

“Sloane, what do you know about him? I mean, other than that he’s a great lay?”

I whipped around on him. “It’s not any of your business, but I haven’t slept with him. In fact, he hasn’t even suggested it, unlike you I might add.” I turned back around to clean and stock my area again.

Jared was pressed right up against me. He lowered his head to the side of mine until we were cheek to cheek. He rubbed his face against mine and I closed my eyes.

“I have always been truthful about my intentions. There have never been any secrets between us, but ask yourself this, what is it he’s hiding from you? Do you think all of this just happened and he knew you were ‘different’ right off the bat? I’ve been here with you for years and I knew you were special, but in a different way. How does he know so much about you that no one else knows…even you?” He kissed my cheek and left me to my job.

As I watched him walk away, I spotted Viktor watching the whole act. I was about to say something, but then Jared’s words stuck around a little bit. He was right. I gave Viktor a quick smile so that he’d think Jared’s words meant nothing to me. I wasn’t certain if he was a mind reader, so for now I’d just smile like nothing bothered me until I could figure everything out. Viktor smiled back and continued to walk around with Dale.

Customers started to flood in and the orders started piling up as the music blared in the background. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and everyone loved my so-called contacts tonight. Apparently I was a little too happy. Thinking about actually having a boyfriend for the first time in years had me a little giddy, I would admit, and it must have showed in both of us. Every time I needed something, Viktor was there to get it. The ice, beer, or more of anything—just making him work gave me and other females something to watch. One female customer asked how I did it and I told her he was gay just to see what she would say. And then, out of nowhere, he was there planting his soft lips on mine and told the female I was sadly mistaken. She was embarrassed, of course, and took her drink. We smiled at each other as he walked off, but not before I could pop him on his butt with my hand towel.

It was probably about one o’clock in the morning when I was writing down the number of bottles used with my back turned away from the bar. The club was loud, naturally, but it seemed even louder for some reason. I heard a guy order a beer and, without hesitating, I pushed back the door to the cooler I was writing on and reached into my back pocket to grab my spinner to pop the top off. As I turned to give it to the person on the other side of the bar, I was greeted with those icy blue eyes. I froze.

“Hey, babe, I was just wondering how you were doing on ice.” Viktor was on the other side of me. I gave him a side glance and he looked at the person that threw me off guard. And so, he did the only thing that could break the ice.

“Hi, I’m Viktor. Sloane’s boyfriend.” He held his hand out to Declan.

My anxiety level was an all-time high. I wasn’t sure what to do and I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest. I think I might have even forgotten how to breathe when I saw Declan size up Viktor, who did nothing but smile at him. What the hell is up with tonight? Declan looked at me and I swear, for a split second, I thought I glimpsed hurt. Why did it kill me to see this? He reached out and they shook hands like nice little boys on the playground.

“Can I get my beer?” Declan had a chill in his throat.

I handed it to him, and when he offered his cash for it, I shook my head no. Though, he placed a twenty dollar bill in the tip jar anyway. I couldn’t even look at Viktor, because I wasn’t sure if my eyes would betray me.

“Can you stay right here for a moment and let me get something out of my purse?”

“Sure. Are you OK?”

“Yeah, I’m great. I got a headache and needed some Excedrin.” I walked off and gave him a quick kiss, smiling to smooth everything over. He smiled back, but he wasn’t fooled.

I grabbed my purse and pretended to look for anything so it wouldn’t make my getaway seem obvious. There was nothing in my purse but lip gloss and my wallet that contained everything. Finally, my breathing slowed and I was ready to return. I leisurely walked back and Viktor stood at the other end of the bar looking sexy as ever. What was I panicking for? I mean, Declan left me and here is a guy, or Fallen Angel, waiting for me. Declan could eat his heart out.

“I just realized that was Le Blue Eyes.”

“Yeah, about that, you have nothing to worry about because he left years ago and it’s, well, over.”

“I wasn’t worried about that.” Viktor wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in for a long kiss, only to be interrupted but someone clearing their throat.

“Um, Viktor, I need you to tear away from your girlfriend and help me out, please.” Dale was so professional while he was at work. Never mind the fact he couldn’t keep his hands to himself where Mindy was concerned.

“Sure.” Viktor smiled at him. “What can I say, she’s adorable.” Now he had me laughing.

I watched him pace around with Dale, and Dale winked at Mindy as he passed by. Since I told Shay not to come in tonight, which I regretted now, Mindy took her place next to me. When she finished serving her last customer, she sat next to me on the beer cooler.

“So, who was that?”

I let out a sigh, “It was my ex from about three years ago. I haven’t seen him since he left.”

“Ah, unfinished business. Do you still love him?”

“Love him? Yeah, there will always be love, but he shattered my heart. I mean, shattered. If it wasn’t for Shay I wouldn’t have gotten through all those years.”

“You and Shay are pretty close, huh?”

“You can say that.” I laughed because it was totally obvious she was my sister. Maybe not in blood, but she was family.

“Does she know about everything?”

“She knows that my eyes change with my moods, but not the new strength I have now. And for some reason I have these dreams that seem so real.”

“Sounds like common witch traits.”

“Witch?”

“Yeah, those are common, but it sounds like you also have Fae ancestors as well. Then you went from having an angel boyfriend to a Fallen. Girl, you are straight bad.”

“So you know what Viktor is?”

“Yes, I know what Viktor and your other boyfriend are. Technically, they are brothers if you think about it.”

“Wait, so Declan is an angel?”

“Wow, we are going to have to hang out more. Look, we creatures have this ‘thing’ that can predict what a person is. It’s like a seventh sense. I say seventh because everyone has a sixth. I’ll teach you.”

“OK, sure, just tell me when.” And maddeningly enough, we were interrupted again and this time by Declan.

“So, um, that’s your boyfriend?”

“Wow, really? After all these years, that’s what you have to say? Wait, before I get rude, let me introduce you to Mindy. Mindy, this is Declan, the one that was a selfish coward that left me to perfect his disappearing act. I’m assuming he just learned how to reappear. How amazing!” I was in total bitch mode and it wasn’t funny. Mindy leaned over and shook Declan’s hand.

“Look, I tried to talk to you the other day when I saw you, but you ran.”

“Are you serious right now? Declan, I think you need to go. In fact, I would run if I were you. I’m not as nice as I used to be.” I had no idea how mad I was until the bottle in my hand broke. It must have been loud enough for Dale and Viktor to notice, because they both flanked Declan’s left and right side.

“Do we need to continue this conversation outside?” asked Viktor.

“I think he needs some fresh air. What do you think, Sloane?” Dale looked at Declan, but spoke to me.

Declan kept his eyes on me, though he suddenly turned to look at Dale and Viktor. He raked his hand through his hair before casting one more final look my way and his sorrowful eyes gave him away again. It was like they held a silent plea.

“You don’t even know him!” Declan yelled at me.

“She knows enough, which is more than I can say for you, angel boy.” Viktor inched impossible closer, if it were even possible.

“I’m sure throwing out the ex just makes your night. I’ll let you have this, but there’s more and you know it. If you told her everything, why is she still with you, Fallen?” He stared right into Viktor’s eyes.

“Because he doesn’t run!” I interrupted. “In fact, he chases. And I’m standing right here in front of you in case you haven’t noticed.” Yeah, I was a little pissed at the moment. Declan looked straight over Viktor’s shoulder and caught sight of me, and he was immediately alarmed.

“Looks like your girlfriend is pissed. Maybe you should take care of that instead of me, or do you want me to show you how to take care of her?”

Dale and Viktor both looked at me and Dale, for the first time ever, looked pale. I’d never seen that before; Dale had never been in a situation he couldn’t deal with. Next thing I knew, his lips were moving and I couldn’t hear anything. The music, the people—nothing but silence. It was as if I was deaf. I wished I was blind instead, because all I could focus on was the two men in my life arguing and basically beating on their chest like gorillas.

“Shit, get her out back Mindy. Now! Before she takes this place down.” Dale was motioning toward the back.

As I was being dragged outback, I caught sight of Jared coming out of his office and the look of concern written all over his face. He caught a glimpse of Dale and Viktor struggling to take Declan out. I was now in the back alley behind the club where the barbacks took out the trash. I placed my hands flat against the brick wall and I took deep breaths, though they weren’t helping. So, I did the next best thing. I reared back and hit the brick wall and chunks of it flew off next to Mindy.

“Hey, I think you got it in my hair!”

“Sorry,” I said, blowing air out of my lungs. “I just don’t understand why they acted the way they did. I mean, Declan left me and I’m with Viktor, so why the games?”

“Baby girl, I haven’t a clue, but I have to get back in there and serve those drinks. Are you OK out here?” Mindy would’ve stayed if I asked, but I knew Jared would spaz.

“Go, I’m good out here. Just give me a minute or two.” Mindy gave me a quick squeeze on my shoulder, and then went back inside the club.

I walked to the corner of the alley where it met the street. I was hoping I could steal a glimpse of Declan leaving, but before I made it that far, I saw him walking to his truck in the garage across the street, Viktor trailing right behind him.

“Why are you back?”

“That’s none of your business. That’s between me and Sloane,” Declan shot back.

“She doesn’t want nor need you. Not even your damn guidance. You abandoned your mission and you abandoned her. You failed!” Viktor turned to leave, but before he was completely out of sight, he yelled, “Stay away, Declan. She’s ours now.”

Ours? What was that supposed to mean, and what mission was Declan supposed to complete? I couldn’t take this anymore, so out of the shadows I went.