10. alessia

10

ALESSIA

"So when will you say yes?"

I gave up trying to find Winters. She texted me while I was gathering myself in the women's restroom. She's dancing with Lopez and made sure to mention he's a great kisser.

Lopez and Danny have reputations for being womanizers. Well…Danny used to have that reputation. Now he's married to his best friend's little sister.

I watch Gabe slide Miller Lite beer to Zeke. It glides across the counter smoothly. He takes it into his hand and downs a swallow.

"Yes to what?" Zeke never gives up on asking me out.

"To a date with me? Maybe the military ball that's coming up after the deployment?"

I dislike going to military balls. Something wild always happens. Men act like they're in college again or like it's their first time at a college party, getting wasted and fighting. I try not to attend when I don't have to.

"Zeke. Really? You know I'm with Jack. And you know I don't like going to those." I tell him, drinking my water.

"I've been trying to go on a date with Alessia since she first came in for her 21st birthday. Get in line, buddy." Gabe says over his shoulder as he walks by, serving another customer a beer.

Daegan slides in next to Zeke, not bothering to introduce himself, and my heart quickens.

"Ahh, Creature, what can I do for you, buddy?"

"I'm just wondering why you're talking to the Admiral's daughter when she clearly has told you no." He takes a sip of his bourbon; his eyes scream a murderous gaze. The way he stares at Zeke is sharper than a knife.

"Step-daughter." I correct him. "Mr. Hannibal, it's okay. Zeke and I have been friends for a while."

Why do I feel like these two know each other? I don't remember Zeke being a part of the executioners. How would they know each other?

"Friends for now," Zeke winks at me, and I throw a forceful, uncomfortable smile. He was in a friends-with-benefits thing with a girl named Violet, and that still hasn't changed how he feels about me.

I tighten my grip on the counter, cringing at his flirty attempts and attitude.

My eyes fall on Daegan, and he's tense like a rock.

"It looks like Alessia here is just too nice and letting you down easy. If any of us would take her to the military ball, it would be with me. Wouldn't it?" Daegan teases.

My jaw drops open, and my immediate reaction is to protest. Tell him he's insane; deny it. My tongue goes to a standstill, and a smirk unfolds on him. This is my way out. He knows it. We both know it.

So I fall silent.

"Does the Admiral know about this?" Zeke's tone changes to jealousy.

"Of course he does. He was the one who assigned Alessia to me. He trusts me. I'm her personal security, remember? I don't know if he can say the same about you."

"But not as her date, Hannibal." Zeke snarls, "Mind your business."

Daegan grins with humor like he's enjoying purposefully getting under Zeke's skin, refusing to back down.

They're both glaring, none of them wanting to wean. Finally, Zeke looks at me, his brown eyes pleading with me to say Daegan is wrong. When he digests my silence, he realizes I'm not going to. Zeke clenches his jaw, and an awkward silence fills the tension. He takes his beer, watching Daegan.

Frankie decides this is the perfect moment to butt in. He gets in the middle of the men, palming the bar counter for support.

"Creature, there are rumors."

Daegan folds his arms across his chest. "Ah, what kind of rumors?"

The entire section of where we are standing changes. The air thickens with red and rage, and I can feel a bar fight coming along. Then, as if on cue, Kane Slaughter enters the chat, standing behind Daegan with a pointed chin on his right and my left.

"That you're blind as fuck."

He did not just fucking go there. That's a low blow. I've heard the rumors that Daegan lost his vision in one eye while he was captured.

If it's true, how he's still a sniper is beyond me.

Kane's eyes widen with disgust and so do mine. I'm about to shout at Frankie to get the hell away from us, but Daegan doesn't get angry. Doesn't get defensive. Instead, he lets his head fall down, his chin almost touching his chest as he chuckles deep and slow.

Zeke pats Frankie's shoulder like he's trying to de-escalate his demeanor.

"Do you want to see how blind I am, Frankie? Do you want to test this theory? Do you want to see if those rumors are true, Zeke?" Daegan smiles, his canines digging into his bottom lip.

Frankie's drunk, and instead of shutting his mouth, he tests Daegan further.

"Whatever you have in mind, Creature. Let's see ‘Mr. Best Sniper in the military'." Frankie throws air quotes with his fingers above his head. "I'm game. Can you even see me?" Frankie laughs, but no one else chimes in, with the exception of another guy in Frankie's circle. He's short and wears a beanie with tattoos all around his neck.

"Are you sure you're game?" Then Daegan pulls out his knife. A sharp, thick, shiny blade glints across the neon cattle lights of El Devine, and I feel like I'm the only one strong enough to say something.

"Zeke, stop this! Gabe!" I turn around, desperate for help, my chest heaving. Where the hell is Winters?

I'm hoping Gabe has already called security on Frankie.

"Let them be," Gabe orders from behind me.

Daegan is smiling ear to ear, his eyes crinkling with excitement and adrenaline.

"I'm not a coward," Frankie shrugs, getting into Daegan's face.

"Slaughter," he orders, and as if Kane can read his mind, he hovers over Frankie, pushing him towards the counter and making him face my direction. He tightens his hold on him, locking him into the chair so he can't run. He holds his wrist, forcing him to plant his palm down on the bar hard.

Daegan grabs Frankie's wrists, and he grits out, his throat hoarse and dry, "What the fuck! Let me go!" He wiggles, but Kane overpowers him easily.

"You said you were game, Frankie…and I love to play." Daegan smirks, "Try not to move…or do. Please, do."

He starts stabbing the spaces in between his fingers fast and hard. I gasp, holding my hand over my mouth. Gabe chuckles behind me, shaking his head.

Frankie starts wailing like a baby, realizing he can't escape his current fate. He doesn't struggle, like he's fearful if he moves an inch, Daegan will miss. Zeke has his mouth dropped open, as is mine.

Everyone is stunned with shock. No one dares to try and de-escalate the situation anymore.

Then Daegan doesn't bother looking at Frankie's hand anymore, not bothering to see if he'll stab him or miss. Instead, he looks straight into Frankie's watery eyes and laughs wickedly.

"Do you think the rumors are true still, Frankie? Huh?"

"No! Please! Stop! You're fucking insane!" Frankie's eyes circle with desperation.

"Aww, you flatter me," he continues, but this time, he increases his speed, the counter taking every blow. The only thing everyone can hear is Frankie's pleas and dark snickering coming from Daegan's throat.

Frankie struggles to claw out of Kane's tight grip, but Kane holds him down and smirks.

Suddenly, Daegan stops but holds the blade in between his index and middle fingers. The blade is still stuck into the wood. He managed to do all of that without nicking Frankie's skin.

"This will be the last time you come into El Devine. Do you hear me, Frankie?" Frankie nods erratically, sweat forming and dripping down his face. "Apologize to Alessia for touching her." Daegan tilts his head in my direction.

My chest rises and falls with each intense breath.

Frankie looks at me, blinking fast and nervously. He's flushed and embarrassed. A crowd of sailors and marines circle them, laughing.

Frankie reads the room, and then he lets out a hard, breathy scoff. He doesn't want to back down.

"Fuck no, I'm not apologizing. She's begging to be touched and slapped with the outfit she wears!" Zeke turns away from Frankie, shaking his head like he wants nothing to do with him.

Wow. I have no words.

"Thank you." Daegan spits with glee. He takes out the blade from the wood in one swift pull, but Kane doesn't let him go. He still holds him down, restraining him despite Frankie's desperate wiggling. Everyone in the bar is confused, including me.

My palms are still pressed to my lips.

"For what? I didn't apologize to that slut." Frankie spits, his saliva flying out of his face as he fights Kane's hold.

Daegan roars with a burst of accomplished laughter. He leans in, licking his teeth, and whispers into his ear, barely loud enough for me to hear.

"Thank you for giving me a fucking reason to see my favorite color."

Daegan raises the blade, slamming it into Frankie's hand. The sound thunders as the knife pierces through flesh and bone until it's pinned into the wood. Blood pours out along with Frankie's screams. Everyone in the bar gasps with awe.

Red. His favorite color is red.

Daegan sucks in a breath like he would a cigarette, his cheeks hollowed, furrowing his brows, "Ooo, I love the sound of bones breaking!" He exclaims with ominous glee. A hellish, sinful grin draws on his face, and he shakes his head once like he's having the best time of his life. He licks the bottom of his straight white teeth. His tongue grazes his sharp canines, and the sight pulls me into him like he's magnetic.