Page 1 of Blood and Thorns (Twisted Ever After #1)

Arabella

I swear, if this guy touched me one more time, I was going to scream.

I didn’t, obviously. Because I needed this job, and Michael was my boss’ nephew’s son twice removed, or something equally as ridiculous.

He was family, apparently, and since he liked to run the bar as if everyone was one big happy family, he was off limits.

So rather than shoving him like I’d wanted, I forced my smile to look a little more threatening, which apparently translated to ‘please, grope me harder.’

Suzy snickered at me from across the room, clearing up the table while I tried, and failed, to untangle myself from Michael’s greasy fingers. I shot her a pleading look, but it only made her cackle harder.

“Come on, cupcake. Just one date,” Michael crooned with a slight drunken slur. “I promise you won’t regret it. Is it the age thing? It’s what… only eight years? What’s eight years between two people wanting to get to know each other?”

But it wasn’t eight years. He must be in his late forties, which made him almost two decades older than me.

Not that age mattered, but it was still a hard pass.

But rejection clearly meant little to Michael, because he’d ignored all my protests over the past few weeks since Suzy turned him down.

Then there was Rachael before that. I should probably be more offended that I was the last woman in the bar he’d tried to date.

“I have a boyfriend,” I lied, finally managing to twist myself away, only for another set of hands to land on my hips, making my skin crawl.

“Fuck off, arsehole,” a familiar voice growled, and honestly, if the ground opened up and swallowed me whole, I wouldn’t even be mad.

Pulling away, I turned to find none other than my ex, his dark hair expertly styled to frame his handsome face, and those familiar blue eyes looking down at me with a glint I once loved. Now I couldn’t stand them, especially when paired with that smirk that seemed to permanently curve his lips.

“Gabriel,” I said stiffly, putting some space between us, “what are you doing here?”

“Is that how you greet your man?” he asked, reaching out to grip my wrist.

I didn’t fight because I didn’t want to make a scene, especially considering I could see my boss hovering in the corner.

Now, the bar wasn’t exactly glamorous, but with its dated décor, neon beer signs and dim lighting, it had a gritty charm that I enjoyed.

Plus, the patrons usually kept to themselves, coming to enjoy a cheap drink without all the fanfare the more expensive places offered in the city.

Gabriel wouldn’t usually be caught dead here and had never once bothered to come see me when we were actually dating.

Which begged the question why he was here now.

“I was out buying a new watch because for some reason I can’t find mine, and I thought, why not come visit the love of my life?” His eyes narrowed in suspicion, even as he continued to smirk in a way that was supposed to be intimidating.

That was the problem with Gabriel: he always wanted everyone to feel smaller than he was.

I swallowed, tugging on my wrist, but his grip only tightened with a sharp chuckle. Up close I noticed his dilated pupils, which made sense with his slightly manic energy. “Are you high?”

His lips tightened into a thin line. “You’ve been avoiding me, baby.”

Disgust roiled through me. “I’m not your baby .”

“You left me on read.” His definitely high eyes narrowed. “And you never answer my phone calls. You’ve even blocked me on Instagram.”

“I got tired of seeing you pose with all those women.”

That glint brightened, his mouth curling into a cruel smile. “So you’ve been looking at my pictures?”

Fuck.

“No,” I lied, because of course I’d been secretly stalking his Instagram. Firstly, because I was clearly a glutton for punishment, and secondly, because it reminded me what a sleazeball he was. “It’s been three months. I thought you’d have gotten the hint by now.”

He licked his lips. “I was only posting those girls to get your attention.”

“Gabe, you’re hurting me.” His grip didn’t let up.

“I’m bored of this now. I’ve given you long enough to get over it.”

I scoffed. “Over it? Are you serious?” I finally noticed Lennon over his shoulder, his friend and colleague from the Metropolitan Police grinning with the same chaotic liveliness. Neither were in uniform, which meant they’d been out partying .

“You still reading this shit, Bella?” Lennon drawled, leaning over the bar to grab my latest book and peer at the cover.

I bristled. “I’ve told you before not to call me that.”

But Lennon didn’t care, continuing as if I hadn’t even spoken. “What’s wrong? Reality not exciting enough for you?” he taunted as he flipped through the pages.

Where Gabriel was tall and handsome, Lennon was the opposite. His height was only an inch or so taller than my five foot five, and his nose had been broken one too many times. Not to mention his dark eyes always made me feel on edge, his lingering gaze like hornets prickling my skin.

“She won’t be reading much once we’re married,” Gabriel laughed like I was still his girlfriend and we hadn’t been separated for the past twelve weeks. “No wife of mine will have her nose buried in a book.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Not your baby. Not your wife.”

Gabriel’s smile slipped, and I recoiled when he dipped his head close enough that his lips brushed against my ear.

“You’ll always be my baby,” he hissed, his breath hot against my skin.

“And you will be my wife. You’ll regret turning down my proposal, but you’ll still end up mine. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Not in this lifetime.” Gabriel was a walking red flag, and I couldn’t believe I had been blind to it for so long. I’d once loved him, but luckily my rose-tinted glasses shattered when I walked in on him fucking not one, but two women at once. “You cheated on me, remember?”

He dared to roll his eyes. “If I can forgive you for stealing my watch, then you can get over those women. They meant nothing.”

“I never took your stupid watch.” Apparently, the stress of being a detective constable was reason enough to stick his dick in other women, not to mention his need to party hard.

The drugs I could handle, because I understood addiction and the need to escape.

Although my escape was dragon riders, long lost cities, and fairytale endings.

I’d even forgiven him for trying to share me with his friends, but clearly cheating was a hard no, because after almost a year together I’d walked away.

Gabriel was a toxic narcissist, and it sucked that it took me so long to see it. He was supposed to be the one who saved me from this life, a man of the law, but instead he’d made it even shittier.

“Once we’re married, you’ll be enough.”

“I didn’t take your stupid watch,” I insisted again. “Maybe it was one of the girls you were screwing behind my back.” I dropped my tone, hoping it came out threatening. “Seriously, Gabe. Get off me.”

“Is there a problem here?”

Gabriel’s head jerked up to glare at my boss, Chase, who despite being the calmest guy I’d ever met didn’t look the least bit friendly.

Probably due to the fact he was built like a pro sumo wrestler.

He was genuinely a decent guy, and while he liked to ogle the girls, he didn’t dare touch any of us.

Plus, he let us all keep our tips, which was a bonus.

“No problem.” Gabriel finally released me, and I immediately stepped back, my wrist throbbing. “Arabella and I were just discussing something personal.”

“Arabella should be behind the bar,” Chase snapped, gaze piercing.

“Please, just leave,” I urged. “Go get yourself clean. Straighten out your life, and stay out of mine.”

Gabriel finally returned his attention to me, his smile unfriendly as his voice dropped to a whisper. “This isn’t over, baby .” He turned, stalking toward the exit with Lennon sneering at me over his shoulder.

With a thwack Lennon dropped my book to the floor, making sure to step on it on his way out.

With a curse I dropped to my knees, ignoring how the floor was sticky.

The cover was ruined, his shoe print marking the picture as well as ripping the paper.

Luckily the inside seemed mostly unharmed, even if my bookmark was missing.

“You’re not bringing any trouble in here, are you doll?” Chase asked, folding his arms across his chest. His shirt stretched obscenely, the buttons threatening to explode and ping in all directions.

A shiver ran down my spine as I stood. “No.”

“You sure?” Chase narrowed his eyes, and I forced a smile.

“Everything’s fine.”

It wasn’t, but Chase didn’t actually care. As long as I turned up to my shifts and smiled at his customers, he was happy. His favourite motto being, ‘Not my circus, not my monkeys.’

“Sorry about that. It won’t happen again,” I mumbled, dusting off my clothes.

“Make sure it doesn’t,” he grunted. “And what did I say about reading behind the bar?” His eyes dipped to my breasts, and I held back a grimace.

I wasn’t actively looking for attention, but considering the majority of Chase’s customers were older men, the less clothes I wore, the more they tipped.

Was I proud of myself? Not really.

Was I desperate enough to wear low-cut tops, short skirts, and tight jeans? Yes, even if it made me feel uncomfortable.

Hiding the paperback, I returned to serving drinks. On a brighter note, Michael had gotten over my rejection, having swiftly moved on to another patron who had the misfortune of sitting on the stool next to him. So I got lost in serving the regulars, glad that embarrassing encounter was over.

But it didn’t take long for my phone to brighten with a notification, and once I’d handed a regular his scotch on the rocks, I risked a look.

Gabriel:

You looked beautiful tonight.

I didn’t bother to reply, leaving him on read again.

Luckily the next few hours were busy, distracting me from my crazy ex. My phone beeped a few more times, and I ignored every single one.

Gabriel had never been physically violent towards me, but he’d threatened me enough times after a night out with his boys when I didn’t do what he’d wanted. So I swore to keep my distance and hoped he eventually grew bored before he could act on those threats.

Ringing the bell for last orders, I finally let myself check my phone.

Gabriel:

Not nice to be left on read again, baby.

Last warning, Ara.

Answer the fucking phone.

Fine. I’m no longer being the nice guy.