Chapter 2

SCARLET

2

Ireplayed the entire thing, sharing it with the three of them as the raunchy, sexually laden music played in the background. I told them how I'd ended work at the diner early, picking up Tommy's favorite take-out and some ice-cream so we could watch a movie, and I'd changed into some fancy new lingerie I'd bought as part of my newly-engaged haul after he'd proposed.

I ignored the buzzing of my phone, and Noms even opted to take it away from me, ordering Raymond to keep it behind the bar.

I told them how I'd come home and found him not downstairs, where he'd normally be watching a game or playing the PlayStation. So I'd figured he'd be chilling out in bed or showering, and I'd crept upstairs. As soon as I'd heard the telltale signs of people fucking, I'd switched it up, barging in there and flinging the door open.

Rachel had screamed and scrambled off of him, shielding herself with the blanket as I'd marched over, seeing red.

Without a thought I'd thought as I'd punched her in the eye socket, and her pained scream as she fell on the bed holding her face had Tommy lunging for me.

His junk was on full display, not even wrapped, the fucker, and I'd reacted by punching him in the balls as he'd tried to calm me down.

I couldn't say what he'd been saying, whether he'd been cursing me for punching her or begging my forgiveness, I'd been too focused on the blood pumping in my ears and the need to hurt them for the pain that had hit me.

I'd been used once again, betrayed and tossed aside. So much for Tommy not being like all the other men in my life.

I'd pushed all my emotions down as I'd spun away and tromped down the stairs, leaving the pair of them. They were made for one another if they were so willing to hurt me, Rachel had even pretended to be my friend.

They could go to Hell.

I'd not bothered to share my burning of his bar, not wanting Raymond to give me that sad look like one would a rabid pup who needed to be put down, or to scare off Steve, since he'd be paying big bucks for Noms later. Nommy, as he called her, the name she used here at work.

"I think you handled it with finesse," Steve said with a bob of his head, and Noms and I shared cheeky smiles, doing our best not to laugh.

If only he knew the full extent.

"I think this deserves another round, don't you? Miss Scar here needs to drink away her problems," Steve said as he nodded at Raymond.

Raymond just gave me a thin-lipped, sympathetic smile before he got to work on another drink. I'd downed another cocktail before switching to my usual white rum and coke.

Steve was a welcome comfort in the form of endless drinks, his credit card one that Noms was more than happy to splurge with. Steve didn't seem to care, especially since she was now hanging off him, her tits so close to popping out of her outfit that it wasn't funny. I knew once her shift started, Steve was going to be requesting the ‘special' attention in a back room.

Noms had used her body in the past to score, back when we were in the full throes of teenage rebellion and struggles of entering adulthood. She'd been clean for four years now, and I couldn't be prouder. Watching her struggle yet still be a loyal friend had been hard, especially since my main troubles had been with partners, booze, and the law. Drugs had never been something I'd delved into.

Noms had me laughing as we reminisced about past incidents, including the time we'd put hair remover in an ex's shampoo after he'd threatened to put me out on the streets because he thought I was cheating on him, and he'd have his friends teach me a lesson. We'd done a few other dirty things while he was at work, from disconnecting the hose from the washing machine to severing the coolant lines in his second car that he was doing up. I never did find out how that went down, but it sure had made me feel better before Noms had helped move all my shit out of his place and into hers.

As much as we got along like a house on fire, I always wound up moving out with partners. Noms had embraced singledom, enjoying the money brought in as she had her regular men who doted on her at work.

"It'll be good to have you back, the spare room is always waiting there for you," she said as Steve kissed her cheek, although her attention was focused on me.

"You say that like you expect me to come back all the time," I shot back with feigned hurt as she laughed. With my track record, her front door was pretty much a revolving one for me. I'd moved in and out of her place far too many times, always thinking the next guy was the one. Tommy had held promise, helping me finally relax after years of shitty men and abuse. But, alas, it was all a facade, the sting not being eased despite the burn of each shot I threw back.

I cast wary glances to the front door, awaiting the men in blue to come marching in, but no one came.

"Come, dance a little with me." Steve's arm tugged lightly at Noms waist, and the edge of her mouth quirked downward as those sharp blue eyes burned into me. She had her full attention on me, knowing full well the hurt I was hiding. I was more than happy to drown myself in booze until I got locked up.

"I can't, Scar?—"

"Is fine right here, doing another shot. I've got Ray-Ray here with me," I said with a wide grin, my head now beginning to spin. All my worries were beginning to melt away, a problem for me to deal with at a later date.

Noms wasn't convinced as her lips set in a thin line, but I waved her off.

"I have a drink, I'm set," I assured her as I picked up the cocktail Raymond had slid to me. I had a sneaky suspicion he'd halved the alcohol contents in this one after how many drinks I'd tossed back already. I'd had enough of the rum and returned to the sweet delight of all the cocktails.

"C'mon, one dance, I'll make it worth your while," Steve stage-whispered.

"Do it, you may need to bail me out," I barked out a wry laugh, and Noms finally caved in.

I waited until she had turned away to let my plastered on smile fall.

"How many years do you think I'll get for burning the bar down?" I mused as Raymond planted himself on the other side of the bar, his hands spread on the glossy black marble top as he gave me a sympathetic look. Ugh, I hated that look, like I was worth his damn pity.

"I mean, Noms said no one was hurt, so that'll work in your favor," Ray said, although those dark eyes were worried as he let them drift over me. "You two have chaos at your heels. You need to think before you act."

"Yeah, I guess that's what normal people do, huh?" I took a hefty swig of my fruit cocktail, letting my gaze slide down the bar. Noms and I had pasts that plagued us, a history that had brought us together. We were two people who'd walked through our own hells and had found a way to survive. They said trauma did things to you, supposedly made you stronger. I believed it made us crazier, less trusting, more wicked. We knew that the hands that fed us brought us pain, that there was no true place that was safe. Those who were meant to protect us were the ones who would hurt us the most. And finding someone who understood that pain, had felt the same hurt, it bonded us like nothing else.

My eyes locked with two dark orbs trained on me at the far end of the bar, and a chill swept down my spine at the blond haired stranger.

Was he a regular? Why was he looking at me the way a wolf would look at a lamb?

Too bad this lamb had had enough. I was just as much a wolf as he was, whether he liked it or not. After Tommy, I'd be breaking hearts if it wasn't getting locked up. I was never going to let another man steal my heart from me. I'd cage that thing up tight and throw away the key.

"Who's that?" I asked as I focused on my drink, dragging my gaze from the fine specimen of mankind that had been watching me.

"Who?" Ray asked, and I arched a brow before sliding my gaze back to the man, only to find he was nowhere to be seen.

Well, that was a shame, he'd been quite a sight to behold.

"Guess this is life for me now, huh?" I said with a sigh before downing the last of my drink.

"How about some water?" Ray offered, but I just scowled.

"I'll get plenty of water behind bars. I need booze."

"Scar…"

"Don't feel sorry for me, Ray. This is me, my life. It's just how it goes." I smirked. My life was one gigantic train wreck, always had been.

"What troubles such a fine thing like you?" a smooth voice cut through my pity party. Ray's eyes moved to the body that had stepped up beside me, and I turned, ready to chase them off with some choice words.

Too bad whatever snarky comeback I had died as I found the dark-eyed stranger now beside me, giving me a better view of him.

This man was too young and good-looking to be here enjoying the ladies. He could reel them in with the crook of his finger with that sharp jawline and clean-shaven face. He was model material, high cheekbones, deep brown eyes that were swallowing me up, and a body that was only accentuated by the tailored suit he wore, his undershirt undone enough to give me a glimpse at the muscled expanse hidden beneath.

It took all my constraint to not drag my tongue over my lip.

Maybe he was a mistake I'd be more than happy to make. Go out with a good bang as they say before I get carted off.

Yes, that sounded good, especially now that my head was light and unburdened.

"Mr. Silvestri," Ray said as he straightened behind the bar, his face sobering as he turned. "The usual?"

"And whatever the lady is having," the man said as he gave me a charming smile that made my heart flutter. Damn, this man was beyond fine, but those eyes were dark, hiding something behind that smile.

Then again, I hid plenty of my own secrets. Perhaps tonight was a night we'd keep them hidden and enjoy some sins of the flesh. Wash away the pain with bliss and debauchery.

"I'm Cristian." The man offered his hand, and I smiled as I took it.

"Scar."

"So, what troubles you, sweetheart?" Cristian repeated, and I sighed, not wanting to do a deep dive into my woes. Especially not since I could see almost every woman in this establishment watching him. He truly was a fine piece, but were they all that thirsty? Sure, the normal flow of men were older and less model-like, but they still waved the green, which was ultimately all they cared about.

Although Cristian's suit screamed wealth, along with that Rolex that glinted in the flash of lights from the stage.

Perhaps the lost and hurt woman part would reel him in for some mischievous fun? A damsel in distress always got men to sweep in. Men wanted to feel useful and powerful, and I'd play on that.

"Just drinking away some troubles, unfaithful partner and all that jazz. Well, ex-partner now," I stated as I glanced at Ray, who had wrangled me another cocktail with no complaint, and slid what looked to be a whiskey on the rocks to Cristian. But he was watching me carefully, an odd look in his eye. Did he know what I planned to do?

He didn't need to worry about me. A little fun with a stranger was the least of my concerns tonight.

"Ouch, drinks sound ideal then. Although, if I may say, he really fucked up there." He chuckled, the sound wrapping around my misery like smoke. He leaned closer, his cologne a mix of danger and something wickedly inviting. "Perhaps you'd like to vent your frustrations?"

"Are you offering me a shoulder to cry on?" I smirked, and his smile widened.

Or a dick to ride on.

I reached for my glass, taking a sip before setting it down.

"So, tell me the tale, sweetheart, I'm curious," he said as he leaned one elbow on the bar and lifted his glass to his lips. "I want to know how you handled it?"

I barked out a laugh and rolled my eyes, causing him to arch a brow.

"Tried to surprise him by coming home early, found him in bed with his co-worker. Punched her in the face, punched him in the jewels, then made a potentially big mistake." I took another hefty swig of my drink, letting my gaze dart across the room to find Noms dancing with Steve, grinding on him and easily earning the hefty pay she was going to wind up with tonight. I had to commend her on her work ethic, she always went one hundred percent in life.

"Damn, aren't you a fiery one, sounds like they both deserved it though, if the woman knew of you." Cristian cocked his head at me, the dancing light reflecting in those dark depths. "Did she?"

"Oh, most definitely."

"And what was this potentially big mistake you made, sweetheart?" His voice was far too sweet, yet his eyes showed another side. They burned into me, with a strange curiosity mixed with sympathy, and something else, something… darker. Had he been scorned just as I had? Perhaps this was why some people gravitated to one another, sensing the shared pain.

His smile had dropped as he gazed at me, as if he was reading every line in my face, every mark my soul wore from the years I'd endured in this life.

In for a penny, in for a pound. I was here to drink my worries away, and I was beyond the point of now caring just how much I shared with this wickedly handsome man. If he got scared off, so be it, I'd nurse a stiff drink until the men in blue came for me.

"I burned down his bar."

His lip twitched, hinting at a smile before he shifted, and suddenly, his face was all wrong. Sympathy morphed into something calculating, something hungry. And then he kissed me. Hard. Like he wanted to steal whatever breath I had left.

I knew I should have pushed him away. Some part of me knew this was just me rebounding and looking for whatever solace and comfort I could in another. But I also wanted to enjoy myself before I found myself locked up. So, instead, I kissed him back. Because screw it, I was already on a one-way trip to hell.

His kiss was ferocious, like he was trying to quell a thirst that couldn't be quenched. His hand moved to cup my cheek, his tongue spearing between my lips as I melted into the scorching kiss.

All the music around us faded, the moment spiraling until it was just him and I, our lips locked in a passionate kiss of something completely raw and feral.

Something I craved right now.

He pulled back just enough to whisper against my lips, "Come upstairs with me."

A smile danced on my lips, my head woozy from the bruising kiss. "Huh?"

Upstairs? I didn't even know what was up there. Noms had once said it was storage and some other areas, but she'd never gone into detail, nor had I asked.

"Upstairs, sweetheart. I think you could use some tending to after the day you've had, don't you think?" He cocked his head at me, his eyes trained on mine, daring me to accept his advance. Why did I suddenly feel like a mouse seated between the paws of a wicked cat, his claws ready to extend?

It was the glimmer in his eye, something devious and dark, and all too tempting.

"Why would I do that?" I breathed as I reached for my glass once more, my gaze glossing over Ray, who looked unsettled. He worried too much.

"Because I can clean up your mess," he said, his hand rising to brush his thumb over my lower lip. "Make it all go away."

And damn if that isn't the best offer I've had all night. Maybe all year.

"How can you do that?" I tipped my glass back, disbelieving him as I downed the remnants of my drink.

"Quite easily, Scar. I have friends." Those dark pools were all-consuming as I drowned in them, processing his words.

There was no way he could do that, he was just saying whatever he could to get me upstairs and into my pants.

Then again, I was all for it. I'd be carted off soon enough.

"Ray, my phone?" I turned to Raymond, his brow furrowed as he flicked his gaze between my new friend and I. He fished my phone out from under the bar and handed it over, although his gaze held mine for a moment until they flicked to Cristian, and he nodded before moving off to serve another patron. What had that been about? Then again, tonight was not the night to overthink. We were beyond that point.

"Lead the way." I focused on my new supposed savior, hoping he was just as good in bed as he looked. What did I have to lose, anyway? My dignity took the last train out of here hours ago. I had no shame anymore, I just wanted to get my rocks off while I still could.

Cristian's face split into a wicked smile, one that had my heart fluttering like a damn teenager, and my panties pooling at the thoughts of what he'd do to me.

He took my hand, and I cast a final glance at Noms, who was now sandwiched between Steve and another guy. Would she notice my disappearance? Ray would tell her where I went, he'd been right there.

I stumbled as a drunken patron got too close, and Cristian tugged me to him, his arm sliding around my waist and holding me against him. He guided me across the darkened room, and I felt all eyes on me, although I paid them no heed. They knew exactly what was about to go down, and I didn't care. Wasn't that the purpose of this entire establishment anyway?

I frowned as Cristian led me to a door marked ‘Staff Only', and he swiped a card on the keypad before shouldering it open for me.

"Such a gentleman," I said wryly, and he just chuckled, the sound making a thrill sweep over me.

"Oh, sweetheart, the things I'm going to do to you, they'll be anything but gentlemanly," he said as he pushed me up against the wall, his lips crashing against mine in a kiss that made my legs threaten to give out.

The words should've scared me, hell, a sober me may have hesitated, but I'd thrown caution to the wind now.

I gasped as his teeth caught my lip, biting down painfully as I flinched, but then he was kissing me softly, one hand teasing along my waistband.

"Come, Scar." He pulled away, those dark eyes making me falter for just a moment before I allowed the haze to reclaim me. He took my hand, leading me down the hall to the very end with an unmarked door. He swiped the keypad there, and it clicked open.

Alcohol dulled everything, otherwise I'd maybe have been a bit more unsettled by his harshness with me as he practically dragged me up the darkened staircase.

Was he going to fuck me raw in some musty storage area?

We reached the landing, and I blinked stupidly at yet another door, this one needing a code punched in.

He stepped in front of it, blocking my view as he punched the code in, and then the door was being shoved open.

I had no idea that being pulled through that doorway was going to be the point in which my life was going to plunge into true darkness.

How could anyone know that?