Chapter 21 Drunk
\[Tabitha’s POV\]
I wasn’t quite sure why I agreed to come out this evening with Anthony and Atticus; maybe it was because I needed a way to calm down after what I did with those vampires, or it was the fact that the mystery behind all those deaths that were occurring had something to do with me. Either way, I was already beginning to regret it as either man sat beside me.
Sighing, I down the drink in front of me before beginning to stand.
“Where are you going?” Anthony demands. “Let me escort you.”
“Bathroom,” I huff, narrowing my gaze. “You aren’t allowed there.”
For a moment, it looks like Anthony is going to argue with me, but before he can, a laugh escapes Atticus that draws Anthony’s attention from me.
“Quit fucking hovering!" Atticus chuckles. “Can’t you see she is sick of your clinging?”
“Who the fuck are you to say anything?” Anthony challenges him, allowing me the opportunity to escape.
Rolling my eyes, I begin to move, making my way through the crowd until I reach my destination, where a long line has already formed.
Sighing, I take my place and let my thoughts begin to wander to the two vampire brothers who had their way with me the night before. No matter how many times I told myself that I didn’t enjoy what happened, I knew damn well I did.
“Shit,” I hiss in frustration, earning myself a few stares.
I was really out of my fucking mind. It had to be because of the devastation I suffered due to Anthony’s betrayal. Yes. That had to be it.
Settling on this, I reach the bathroom and get my turn. Once I’m finished, I make my way back to where Atticus and Anthony should have been waiting, only to find that Anthony is nowhere to be seen.
Plopping down, I turn my gaze to Atticus and raise a brow, urging him to explain what happened while I was gone.
“His sweetheart called,” he responds.
Flinching, I try to ignore the pang of pain that shoots through from knowing that Anthony actually went running to Holly when called.
“What?” Atticus pushes. “Does it bother you that much?”
Did it? Of course it did! But I wasn’t about to admit that to him.
“Another round,” I call, ignoring his question. “Please.”
Nodding, the bartender, a pretty woman with long purple hair and golden eyes, turns and begins to whip up some cocktails while I try to ignore Atticus’ stare, which is burning into the side of my head.
“What?” I ask, unable to stand it anymore. “What is…”
Shock rolls through me at how close his face is to mine, and for a moment I find myself getting lost in his blue eyes.
“I can help,” he murmurs, giving a mischievous grin. “Just say the word, and I’ll make sure that you have no room to think of that two-timing bastard.”
Eyes widening, I can’t stop the sudden flare of desire I feel due to his words.
“What do you say?” He continues, lifting a hand and running it across my cheek. “I’m not such a bad choice, am I? What does he have that I don’t?”
My heart.
It pops into my head immediately, and I hate myself for it. Maybe he did have my heart, but he didn’t fucking deserve it. Not anymore.
“You’re too close,” I sigh, suddenly losing my mood. “Don’t you know what personal space is?”
“Not when it comes to beautiful women,” he counters ruefully.
Opening my mouth, I prepare to argue, but stop as a glowing blue drink is pushed toward me and a look of promise crosses the bartender's face.
For a moment, I reconsider whether or not I should drink it as memories of the last time I drank something made at this place hit me, but in the end, I take it and take a sip.
Immediately, warmth seeps through me, and I feel all my worries beginning to drift away, and a fuzzy contentness starts to roll through me.
“That’s more like it,” I murmur, letting a smile spread on my face.
Beside me, I take in Atticus, who is eyeing my drink with a look of dissatisfaction. I could only assume that he wasn’t happy with whatever was in it.
“I think it’s about time to go,” he announces. “Thanks for the drinks; keep the change.” He continues, throwing a hundred on the counter and hopping up.
“No!” I gasp as he grabs me and begins to pull. “I don’t wanna go!”
“You don’t have a choice,” he argues, pulling me against him and beginning to lead me out. “Who told you to drink something made by a member of the fae?”
“You’re the one that brought me here,” I point out with a giggle. “So wasn’t it you?”
Letting out a grumble, he continues to lead me out until we are stumbling onto the busy street beyond, earning ourselves some looks from passersby.
“I didn’t tell you to drink a specialty,” he sighs, lifting a hand to hail a cab. “Don’t you know that those are filled with fae drugs?”
Drugs? I had an idea that was the case, especially after my encounter with the vampire twins, but to have it confirmed was a bit... Oh well, who cared? What mattered the most was that all bad emotions were gone, and in their place was a sense of peace that I had never felt in my life.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask, turning my gaze on Atticus. “I can go home alone.”
“Like hell, I’ll allow that,” Atticus huffs as a cab pulls up to us. “Come along, drunkard, get your ass in.”
Puffing out my cheeks, I do as I’m told and then get comfortable as Atticus climbs in beside me and gives the cabby my address.
Once we are moving, I begin to take him in as something bubbles in me.
“You know,” I whisper, scooting a little closer. “You’re actually pretty handsome.”
“You just noticed that?” He chuckles. “Should I be offended that it took fairy drugs for that to happen?”
“I’m serious,” I continue, placing my hand on his leg. “Why is it that supernatural beings are so fucking tempting?”
Maybe that was the reason I couldn’t resist the vamps when they were around. They had this strange aura around them that sucked me in and made me want to please them. Even now, I was feeling the same thing for this fae man.
“You’re not thinking straight,” Atticus points out, lifting my hand and removing it. “Come say all this to me when you’re sober.”
“Then I won’t be thinking it,” I giggle. “When all this wears off, all I’m going to feel is hatred and pain.”
“So that bastard did hurt you, huh?”
“Beyond belief,” I confirm, feeling a small twinge of heartache. “Do you know what it feels like to give your all to the one person who was never meant to hurt you, only for them to betray your trust?”
It had to be because of the drink that I was suddenly opening up to Atticus, but now that I was speaking, I didn’t want to stop.
“We grew up together,” I continue. “He was my first everything, and I even joined Boston PD to be with him.”
As I speak, Atticus remains silent, listening intently as his face remains neutral.
“That must have been rough,” he murmurs. “I can’t say that I know how that feels, but I do know how it feels to lose everything.”
His words are full of pain and sorrow as he speaks, but when I give him a look to urge him to continue, he doesn’t speak, and before I can push him, we arrive at my apartment building, and I’m being dragged out of the taxi and up to my home.
“Keys,” Atticus orders, holding out a hand.
“I can do it,” I grump, beginning to dig in my pocket. However, no amount of searching brings up my key, and I realize that I left it in my jacket back at the precinct. “Shit,” I huff, then giggle at my mistake. “Looks like I can’t go home tonight; can I stay with you?”
Now that the heavy moment had passed and some of my burden was off my chest, I was beginning to become turned on by the icy man beside me, and I wanted him to help scare away the rest of my demons.
“Do you know what you’re asking?” Atticus says slowly, his eyes flashing with desire. “Do you know how dangerous it is for a woman to stay at the place of a random man?”
“I do,” I confirm, leaning in close. “But I’m not afraid of you, Iceman."