Wicked Destiny (8 page)

“You think you’
re hot shit, don’t you? Walking around here in your whorish clothes thinking you are so damn superior.” He was really pissed.

“Technically, I am superior
, and as for my whorish clothes, you love them. I’m going to tell you one time and one time only—get your hands off me.” I couldn’t believe how calm I was. He gripped a little harder, and then there was another presence in the room with us.

“I think the lady ask
ed you to let go nicely enough. If I’d asked, you’d have lost that arm.” It was Viktor and he leaned against the desk with his arms crossed over his chest and a look that scared even me.

“
I knew you were something else. This is between me and her, Fallen.”

“See
, that’s where you are wrong. Whatever business you have with her you have with me, and I promise you that whatever deal you made to secure your title won’t be enough to fix what I will do to you. So, let her go. The both of you have to get back to work.”

I couldn’t take it anymore.
The anger that I tried to hold back and keep hidden was pushing its way to the top and it felt like I was about to explode if he didn’t step back.

“Jared,
this is your last warning before she really unleashes what she has buried inside her. If you don’t believe me, just look into her eyes.” This was Viktor’s last plea.

It must have worked
, because Jared let go and backed away slowly. And then in a split second, I had him pinned on top of his desk with my hand over his throat. Never before had I wanted to just beat the hell out of someone as I did in that moment.

“Well, this isn’t how I envisioned you on top.” 

“I could snap your neck right now and never think twice about it, you piece of shit.” My teeth were gritted and I could’ve spit in his face.

“
Sloane, let him up.” Viktor stood so close and I assumed it was to keep me from doing anything stupid.

Jared wasn’t scared at all
and this threw me off a little. He was obviously used to this kind of thing—girls that are able to manhandle men with no problem. He smiled at me as if he approved of my actions. I myself had a little euphoric high at the moment. My grip loosened from around his throat, but Jared didn’t move. In fact, he placed his hands behind his head as if he was relaxed, and he cast me a sly smile.

“Should I do a memo announcing your
‘coming out of the closet’ with being the secret owner?” Jared was being sarcastic.

“Open your mouth a
nd I’ll make sure to shut it.” I began to walk towards him again, but Viktor caught me by the arm.

“Why don
’t you let her go, Viktor?” Jared looked me dead in the eyes. “I’d calm myself before going out there, witch. Your eyes are glowing.”

“
What did you call me?” I asked. My anger was rising.

“What
, witch? That is what you are. Did he not tell you? Wow, what a beautiful beginning to your relationship. If you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do. And if you expect me to keep your little secret, I suggest you don’t try to pull that superior bullshit on me in front of the employees.”

I said nothing.
I turned and walked straight out, and just as I rounded the corner, I caught a glimpse of Mindy and Dale. I had to know; there was no way getting around it. Just as Viktor tried to tell me something, I ignored him and went straight for Mindy. 

“Hey, Mindy, can I talk to you
for a minute in the bathroom?” I smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“Sure, let me grab my bag. Is Shay sick or something?”

I shook my head.

Mindy was gorgeous; she didn’t have to work hard on her appearance at all. She was tall and skinny, but not sickly skinny, and she had long, straight dirty blonde hair. She could wear anything and it looked great on her. She and her boyfriend Dale spent hours in the gym and it showed. Dale kept his head shaved and was really big muscle-wise with loads of tattoos. He was easily about six feet. 

I never understood people in relationships after Declan, but
when I looked at them I remembered why it was so easy to get lost in someone else. They were like puzzle pieces that fit perfectly within each other. I watched as Dale handed Mindy her bag and she stole a quick kiss.  As she turned to walk away, he gave her a playful pop on her behind and she turned to smile over her shoulder. I couldn’t help the smiling, but then I saw Viktor at the other end of the club. What was really going on here? There had to be more.  

“What’s up? Is Jared bothering you again?”
She was looking into the mirror as she applied more lip gloss to her lips.

“As always, I have a question and I’m not sure how you will take it.”

“We never choose the good ones, Sloane.”

“What?”

“You want to know how I pick them, right?” I shook my head. “Well, we can see their light. Meaning goodness, I guess. It shines like someone’s aura and we can use it as a way to determine how much of their life force they are willing to forfeit for one night, or for one act of indiscretion.”

“So
, what happens if you get a good person?”

“Well, then we can probably go a month without having to seduce anyone again.”

“Dale does this too? How do you two tolerate knowing you were each with someone else?”

“Sloane, Dale and I have been around a long time and the
fact that we have each other makes the penance easier. I’m not going to get into why I agreed to this, but we both had our reasons and we’ve found whatever ounce of happiness there is in this situation. And that’s what we hold onto. I won’t lie to you and say it doesn’t bother me that I have to share him with another woman. It bothers him just as bad, but it’s better than not doing it and spending an eternity in Hell alone. You do what you have to in order to survive.” Mindy adjusted her clothes and freshened her makeup in the mirror as she explained.

“I don’t know if I could ever allow som
ething like that. Viktor and I are barely a couple and I can’t deal with anyone else staring at him for too long, more less think about him with someone else.”

“It’s the price we pay to be happy.”

“So, the people you choose are …”

“Already
damned,” she said, finishing my sentence for me. “When did you find all this out in the first place? I mean, I knew Shay was one hundred percent human, but I’m figuring you had no idea about yourself, did you?”

“I still ha
ve no idea what the hell I am. I just found out that everything from the movies is true, obviously.”

Mindy pushed off the sink
and walked over to me. She put her hands on both sides of my face and stared at me intensely as if she could see right through me.

“Just kidding
, I can’t see anything.” She laughed hysterically and I chimed in too.

“You are such an ass.” I shoved her to the side and applied my own lip gloss.

“Sloane, regardless of what it is you are looking for, you need to know that everything happens for a reason. You can’t stop it from happening.” Mindy turned and walked out after patting me on my back.

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.

“Yea
h, 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 wil
l 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 su
re 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 jus
t 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 t
he 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 peop
le 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 wa
s 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 m
usic 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 anxi
ety 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?”

“Yea
h, 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 was
n’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 watc
hed 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?”

“Yea
h, 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.”

“O
K, 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 contin
ue 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.