Breathless Promises (Alluring Promises Series Book 3) (20 page)

“How are you…”

Tears poured as she tried to speak. “Please don’t. Don’t be like the rest of them.” I pulled her close to me as she let it all out. Sobbing uncontrollably into my shoulder, I held her tight. “It hurts. It hurts so fucking bad,” she broke down. “Why? Why did this happen to my baby?”

My stomach tightened. I didn’t have an answer for her. I had no idea why she lost her baby. Horrible things seemed to be happening all around me and I had no answers for any of it.

The love that Vanessa and Matt would have lavished on that one baby would have been enough for so many children.

“I wanted my baby so badly. I wanted to give Matt a child,” she told me between cries. “He was so excited. He loves kids. Do you know that?” I nodded again and scooched my body to sit up more, still holding her to my chest so she could continue to cry.

“Vanessa, that’s not why he’s marrying you. You know that right?” I paused and heard her inhale a deep breath. Her body quivered as she continued to sob. “You’re not a baby factory for him or anything. He loves you. It’ll happen one day.”

She nodded into my shoulder as she continued to cry. “It hurts. It feels like my life was ripped from me.”

I held her tight and whispered, “I’m here. I’m here for you now.”

She sniffled and then pulled back to look at me. The anguish on her face pained me. “Where were you? And I don’t mean just at the hospital. I mean…where have you been all this time? I missed you.”

I nodded, knowing she was right, but there was no way I could explain anything to her. “I’ve missed you too.” I didn’t want to talk about it nor did I answer her question. I just held her tight and let her cry.

After Vanessa fell asleep, I wanted to let her rest. Matt came in shortly after and he curled up next to her, so I knew she wouldn’t wake alone.

As I took a shower, I tried to gather my thoughts about Vanessa losing her baby. Why would it happen? She’s healthy and we all thought the baby was healthy. None of it made any sense. I hated it all. I hated everything about life.

Clark, thankfully, left for work. I decided to get some fresh air. Breathe some new life back into my lungs. Maybe a walk would help answer all the questions and anger that were swirling around in my brain.

I walked for a long time. So long that I had no idea how much time had passed, nor did I care to check my phone. I had silenced my phone earlier not wanting to hear any calls from Clark. Now I really didn’t want to check the time, afraid to see how many times he’d called me.

I had no intention of going to a bar. I was going to be there for Vanessa. I knew she needed me. But as I walked down the sidewalk, the glint of the brass handle caught my eye. I stopped in front of the glass window and stared through it for a long time. The escape I wanted was there. If I went in there, I wouldn’t have to think about all my questions. The questions of why it happened. Why to my best friend? Why to such a good person? I didn’t want to have to deal with the pain my friend was going through. I managed to dodge all her questions about where I’ve been and why I’ve been so drunk and out of it lately. But everything hurt. All this
life
shit was too much to take.

My mouth started to water as I watched people take a drink from their glasses. It was too overwhelming and I decided just one drink would help me not have to deal with anything right now. I would deal with it all later. Right now, just one drink would be nice to have.

The shiny brass handle on the door welcomed me to the bar as I tugged the door open. Loud shouts slammed my hearing from people shouting obscenities at the TV. The next thing I noticed was the difference in the crowd. They were definitely not the uptown career type at this bar, like at Allure, which was fine with me. I located a bar stool on the other side of the long wooden bar; a seat that I could people watch and be out of the way. There seemed to be more guys here tonight and I assumed it was probably because of the game.

I caught the bartender’s eye and he motioned he’d get to me soon. Goosebumps traveled up my arm as I felt hot breath against my ear causing me to shudder. I couldn’t tell if it was in a good way.

“How’d I miss you walkin’ in the door, gorgeous?” Turning my head, I came face to face with a guy wearing way too much cologne and obviously drank his fair share of beer. Beady eyes stared at my cleavage as he licked his thin lips. The shudder I felt earlier was definitely not in a good way.

“Probably because I don’t want any company tonight.” I wasn’t actually sure about that but I knew I didn’t want his company. I turned to face the busy bar before me and watched as the bartender walked toward me, eying the new guy next to me. Cheers erupted and the creepy guy next to me slammed into my body, spilling his drink all over the front of my shirt. Cold beer ran between my boobs and I leaned forward to keep my wet shirt away from my chest.

“Shit!” I grabbed some bar napkins and started wiping up the beer as the creepy weirdo attempted to help me. He wasn’t helping—he was groping. Angry with him, I checked him with my elbow and shoved him hard. “Knock it off asshole!”

He sneered at me as he grabbed his beer and stumbled off.

“You all right?” The bartender asked as he handed me a couple more napkins and threw the used ones in the trash. I looked up, noticing his warm emerald eyes. They reminded me of Gregory. Sucking in a breath at the thought of him, I nodded, unable to speak at first. The thought of Gregory made my heart ache.

“Jack, neat. Please,” I told him. He nodded with a small smile that made my heart race, eliciting the same excitement I’m used to.
The chase.
I enjoyed that feeling way better than the ache I felt so constantly now.

I watched his muscular arms pick up the bottle and pour the liquid into a glass. He must have felt me staring because he glanced my way and winked. Cute and sexy mixed together as I watched him bring my drink to me…with a smile. Ah, someone to make me forget all about the pain going on all around me.

Setting the glass before me, he leaned in. “Are you meeting up with anyone tonight?”

I curled my lips into a seductive smile. “Nope. I’m here all by myself.”
Completely available and more than willing to let you use me.

He nodded as he heard someone calling for a bartender. Slapping the counter, he told me he’d be right back. I stared into my glass knowing he’d be my next one tonight. I looked around and knew I’d have to wait until closing and after clean up. I’d been around Allure enough to know how long it would take before I could sink my teeth into him.

Deciding to try to pace myself, I pulled the glass to my lips and sipped. I loved how that initial taste dulled my tongue. I rolled it around my mouth and let the liquid slide down my throat enjoying the slow burn. That first taste lingered in my mouth as I ran my tongue along my lips feeling that first taste start to dissipate. It would be tough not to slam more down my throat, but maybe I’d start to really enjoy the process to becoming numb a little more if I went slower.

Owen, as I learned the bartender’s name to be, continually came back to my area to chat with me. The game finished and slowly the bar started clearing out. I was on my third drink and starting to feel slightly numb. Nowhere near as much as I wanted to be, but for some reason I wanted to be a little less numb for Owen.

He leaned over providing me a clear image of the muscles in his forearm. I glanced to his bicep and noticed just as much strength. The guy works out which added another thrill for some reason. “I’ve got a break coming up. You feel like getting some air?”

I licked my lips as I looked at his full ones. “Yes,” I simply responded. I downed the rest of my drink and walked around the bar. He grabbed my hand and led me to the door.

Somewhere at the back of my mind I knew how strange that is. Mark never left the premises during his break, although I wasn’t sure if that was a rule or not. An eerie feeling gripped me and suddenly I wished I had drunk more to push away those thoughts.

As he held my hand and we strolled down the sidewalk, his senseless chatter put me at ease. Those feelings of oddity left me as he joked and teased me. We turned a corner and he playfully pushed me against the brick wall. All too willingly, I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pressed his lips to mine. Even though his kiss was more forceful than my liking, my normal sexual cravings grew inside me. His lips invaded my mouth as his hands thrust through my hair, followed by his hands quickly groping my body.

Feeling his body press against mine, I felt how hard he was. He stopped for a moment and smiled down at me before glancing down the alley. He grabbed my hand and led me deeper into the darkness. The alarm bells in my mind returned as I glanced down the black alley. I pulled back attempting to let him know I wasn’t going to walk there, when he tugged me hard.

The moment I tried to pull from Owen’s grip, hands hit my back and shoved me forward. My heart raced immediately when I realized I wasn’t alone with Owen. Another push from behind caused me to stumble and this time, Owen caught me in his arms. I looked up to see his snarl and knew the quickie I was looking for was turning into something horrible.

The hands from behind me roughly pulled my elbows together, shooting pain in my shoulders.  There’s nothing like panic that will sober you up. Adrenaline kicked in as I looked around trying to figure my way out of this situation.

“Fuck she’s hot, Owen,” the voice from behind me growled as I felt a hand squeeze my ass hard. “Where’d you get this one from? The bar again?” My heart beat furiously as I realized how bad this scene had turned so quickly. I tried to jerk my arms free so I could run, when the guy from behind me tightened his grip and lifted my elbows higher. Pain shot through my shoulders and I cried out.

His hot breath churned my stomach as he licked my ear and then laughed. “You ain’t going nowhere, sweetheart,” he growled as his other hand reached in front and groped my tit. Owen ripped my shirt open and jerked my bra down exposing my breast completely. His other hand clutched at the crotch of my jeans. With everything I had, I kneed him as hard as I could, hoping to hurt at least one of them.

Creepy guy slammed me face first against the brick wall and pain shot through my forehead. Owen was doubled over.

“You fucking bitch,” he screamed as Creepy Guy braced me against the brick wall. Searing pain continued through my shoulders as Creep Guy pulled my arms up higher.

“We’re gonna fuck you so hard, you little bitch. You’ll wish you’d never kicked my friend in the nuts.” I was paralyzed by fear, unsure of how the hell to get out of this as I felt a hand reach around and try to undo the button to my jeans. I pressed my hips hard against the wall, hoping to hurt him or at least make it tougher for him.

I tried to think clearly as to what to do, when I was jerked around to face them. Slammed against the wall of the building, my head throbbed with pain when it knocked against the brick again. Owen stared at me with hatred in his eyes. His jaws locked as his eyes roamed over my body while Creepy Guy pinned me against the wall. 

With no time to process his next move, sharp pain blindsided me as Owen backhanded my cheek. Physical pain that I didn’t think I could feel anymore sliced the side of my head.

As he grabbed me again, I screamed out “Help!” at the top of my lungs as I felt a hand completely cover my mouth. I opened and bit down on the flesh as hard as I could.

“Ow!” Owen cried out as creepy guy lunged forward and punched me in my stomach. I doubled over in pure pain.

I felt a hand on me, but before anything happened I heard Creepy Guy scream out, “What the f…” Owen shoved me against the wall and I fell to the ground as I tried to get over the pain coursing through me. I heard grunts and punches, but I couldn’t process what was happening until I looked up.

Thick black wavy hair and strong shoulders were silhouetted by the light from the street at the end of the alley. I squinted to see Clark fighting both Owen and Creepy Guy. And it seemed like he was winning too.

I wasn’t about to chance Clark getting hurt, so as soon as Creepy Guy stumbled back, I grabbed a bottle from the ground and hit him over the head with all the strength I had left. He stumbled backward and then fell to the ground. He seemed to be unconscious. I hoped. I was too afraid to go near him again.
That's how characters get killed off in movies.

I looked up just in time to see Clark cock his arm back and throw a hard punch to Owen’s jaw, knocking him to the ground. He looked over to me briefly before checking to make sure Owen wouldn’t get back up. The warmth of Clark’s hand shot relief through me as he grabbed my hand and led me toward the street.

“You okay?” He asked when we hit the sidewalk outside of the alleyway. His concerned eyes grazed over my body and he tugged my shirt closed and pressed it hard to my body. When his eyes returned to mine, I was still too stunned to talk. I nodded right before he looked behind us again.

My fingers were shaky as I double-checked the button to my jeans and by the time I started to press my shirt against my stomach, all the feelings swirled together of what just happened. Clark grabbed my hand again just as I glanced toward the alley. I didn’t see anyone coming, but I was glad he wasn’t going to take any chances.

Clark flagged a taxi down and told him to take us to the hospital. Once there, it was a flurry of questions from the nurses and the police officer. My mind was exhausted by the time I was released.