Page 40 of Illusory (The Marked Saga #8)
Operation Ditch The Guys And Sneak Out worked like a charm. After discussing our escape plan in depth, Tessa and I rejoined the guys in the living room and went straight into the script we’d rehearsed in the bathroom as we pretended to settle on a Girl’s Night In together. We’d even gone as far as to argue about which movie we were going to watch first as we left the kitchen with armfuls of drinks and snacks that neither of us would be indulging in.
Once behind the safety of Tessa’s locked bedroom door, we fixed our hair, threw on some makeup and then changed into a couple of club appropriate outfits with Tessa sporting tight leather pants and a crop top and me in one of her skin-tight black mini dresses.
Considering how little time we had to get ready, I thought we looked pretty darn cute.
Giving ourselves one final look in the mirror, we finally headed out. And by heading out, I mean we proceeded to sneak out the bedroom window and shimmy down the rose trellis that ran along the back of the house with our purses and heels clutched in our hands.
The whole thing went off without a hitch and judging by how effortlessly Tessa had made her way down, I was pretty sure this wasn’t her first time. I imagined she’d probably sneaked out dozens of times back in her younger, more rebellious years when Uncle Karl was still alive and running the show. Even though I hadn’t had nearly as much experience as she did with it, I thought I’d done a pretty good job keeping up with her seeing as I didn’t fall off the trellis and break my neck.
After creeping around to the front of the house and making our way down to the street, we put our heels back on and then started down the road where Tessa called us a taxi to take us the rest of the way. She didn’t want to risk taking one of our cars out of fear that the guys would hear the engine turning over and foil our fun before it even had a chance to start.
Also, we both planned on drinking tonight—a lot—and neither one of us wanted to be stuck being the designated driver. Because there was literally zero fun in that.
Thirty-five minutes later, we were leaning against a weathered bar counter inside of a packed, smokey tavern called Bad Moon Rising with a row of flaming shots that tasted like black licorice lined up in front of us. We hadn’t even been there for five minutes and already I was having a blast.
Tessa had informed me about two seconds before we walked into the bar that we were smack in the middle of werewolf territory. The Avalon pack’s territory to be specific. I’d hesitated at first, arguing that I much preferred to go to a club filled with humans who couldn’t tell the difference between Lucifer’s Daughter and a spork, but Tessa reassured me that we’d be safest in Avalon.
For one, the wolves were neutral when it came to matters of the Order and The Dark Legion. They didn’t live by the same rules as the rest of us and frankly couldn’t care less about either side or the war that was currently dividing us all.
It all sounded too good to be true and I’d been somewhat skeptical until we finally walked through the tavern, and I took in the scene around me. Not a single person seemed to bat an eyelash at either one of us. Everyone was busy having a good time—playing pool, dancing, drinking, and doing other more inappropriate things in the darkened corners of the bar. There was some kind of pissing match going on between two of the larger guys a few feet away from the bar, but even that didn’t get in the way of anyone’s good time.
It was clear that people came here for one reason—to party—and nothing was going to get in the way of that.
By the time I downed my third shot, nearly all the anxiety and tension I’d felt on the way over here had already melted away and anything that remained was quickly being swallowed up by the swamp rock song blaring over the speakers. The whole place was a vibe, and I was completely there for it.
“You’re going to want to space those out,” warned Tessa as I blew out the flame flicking out from my shot glass and then tossed the warm liquor down before it had a chance to cool off. “I don’t want to have to carry you out of here. That isn’t the way I’m planning on ending my night.”
“Please.” I rolled my eyes at her. “I can outdrink you any day of the week.”
Tessa whipped her head back and laughed so hard that it made my cheeks sting like she’d just slapped me. “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response,” she said and then blew out the flame from her own shot glass.
Tipping her head, she downed the shot and then slammed the empty glass on the bar counter, signaling for the bartender to line up another row.
Alright then. Challenge accepted , I thought as I smirked to myself like the brat I was. Nothing gave me more satisfaction than besting my sister.
“So, how did you find out about this place anyway?” I asked, my eyes tightening with curiosity. “I didn’t realize you had an in with the werewolves,” I added pointedly as Tessa turned away from the bar and faced the packed dance floor, propping her elbows up on the counter behind her as she took in the crowd.
I couldn’t tell if she was canvassing the area for threats, or for a hookup. Judging from the way she bit her lip when her eyes zeroed in on something—or rather someone—across the room, I was guessing it was the latter.
“I knew the owner once upon a time. I used to come here whenever I needed to, you know, get away from things.”
My brows rose at that. “Once upon a time? Did he die or something.”
“No.” She turned back around as the bartender—a doll faced blonde with a purple pixie cut and boobs up to her chin—lined up another row of shots in front of us, minus the dancing flames.
Tessa handed me a glass and then picked up one for herself before we clinked our glasses together and then swallowed down the alcohol like the seasoned pros we were.
I crooked my head and examined her. “You’re not going to fill me in on any of the details, are you?”
“What gave it away?” she answered without meeting my eyes.
“I thought we were supposed to be having some kind of sisterly bonding night out?”
“We are,” she said as she pulled out a fifty-dollar bill from her back pocket and put it down on the counter and then called out to the bartender, “keep the shots coming.”
“You got it,” said Miss Pixie Cut and then paused to look at us, her brows pulling together slightly. “You girls have a safe ride home tonight, right?”
“Taxi’s already on speed dial,” confirmed Tessa.
“Good.” The bartender smiled and then veered her eyes to someone over our shoulders.
A wall of a man stepped up between Tessa and me, his gaze fully pinned on the bartender as though they were having a private conversation no one else could hear. She nodded to him and then shuffled off to serve another customer on the other side of the bar, leaving Tessa’s fifty-dollar bill stranded on the counter.
Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome flattened his hand on the bill and slid it back to Tessa. I craned my head all the way back to get a good look at him.
And what a good look I got.
A tailored jacket and tan skin peeking out from his unbuttoned dress shirt, shaggy brown hair and linebacker shoulders. I was starting to understand why Tessa used to like coming here so much. If nothing else, the scenery was positively delightful.
“Your money’s no good here, Tessa. You know that,” he said with a husky rumble that practically vibrated through the floorboards.
She pushed the bill back to the spot it had been in. “I can pay my own way, Americo. You know that.”
“I never said you couldn’t,” he replied, a playful note to his voice.
“Then we’re square.”
He shook his head and tutted. “Still just as stubborn as always I see.”
I snorted at that causing him to turn his head and look at me. Gold eyes flicked over me and then narrowed with recognition even though I’d never seen this tall drink of water in my life.
“You must be the little sister,” he said with the kind of smooth, easy smile that could charm the panties off a virgin.
“I usually go by Jemma,” I said and then extended my hand to shake his, but he brought it up to his mouth and kissed the back of it instead. “Oh. Okay. Thanks.”
“Americo.” He was definitely charming, and also definitely a werewolf. Possibly an Alpha. I could tell he wasn’t human by the way my skin prickled when he touched me, but it was his musky masculine scent that gave him away most. “I’ve heard a lot about you over the years, Jemma. It’s nice to finally put a face to the stories.”
“Stories, huh?” My brows went up as I eyed Tessa, wondering what exactly she had shared with him. “And how bad do I come out looking in these stories of hers?”
His smile widened. “Not bad at all. She’s only ever spoken very highly of you.”
“Well, now I know you’re a liar,” I said with a knowing nod, and he laughed at that.
“So, what brings you ladies all the way to Avalon territory?” he asked as he adjusted his shirt collar, casting a sidelong glance at Tessa. “Something tells me it’s not because you missed my company.”
“Nothing gets past you,” said Tessa as she picked up another shot glass and gulped it down. “We’re not here on business if that’s what you’re wondering.”
“Pleasure then,” he surmised, his voice dropping.
“Sure.”
Silence .
I blinked, my attention darting back and forth between the two of them as they just continued to stare at each other without saying anything. At least not with their mouths. Their eyes, however, seemed to be saying a whole lot of something .
“Yup. Just a couple of sisters having themselves a well-deserved, trouble-free girl’s night out,” I said, throwing that tidbit in for no other reason than to relieve the third wheel awkwardness I was feeling from all the eye-fucking they were doing.
“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” he said, finally tearing his gaze from Tessa like it hurt to do so. “You won’t find any trouble here. Not the kind you’re running away from anyway.” A pointed pause. “Enjoy your night, ladies. Drinks are on the house.”
And with that, he flashed another one of those sultry, panty-eviscerating smiles at us and then disappeared back into the crowd like he hadn’t just gone to third base with my sister by way of his eyes.
“What the hell was all that?” I asked when he was out of earshot, dying for just a crumb of detail. There was no way she would leave me out to dry now . Not after what I’d just witnessed.
I needed information. I needed context .
“All what?” she asked flippantly and then yanked me off my barstool. “Come on. Let’s dance.”
* * *
Many songs and even more drinks later, I found myself surrounded by several Avalon pack members, locked in a high stakes game of pool with Americo’s younger brother Aemon. That is, after my sister abandoned me to go make out with Americo in one of the back booths of the tavern like a fourteen-year-old on her first night away at summer camp.
Lucky for me, I had way too much liquid courage sloshing through my veins to let it put a damper on my evening. I was there to have a good time and to forget about everything else, so I didn’t even hesitate when Aemon challenged me to a friendly pool game.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that he was very easy on the eyes. Divine gold irises like his brother, though his were rimmed in dark brown and his hair was shorter and shaved on the sides. Not that I was trying to look, because I wasn’t. Well, not in that way anyway, but it definitely helped with the whole distraction thing.
My mouth dropped open as he sank the final eight ball. “Are you kidding me? You totally cheated,” I accused, more flabbergasted at his audacity than angry about it.
Aemon smiled as he propped the pool stick on the ground and leaned his weight on it. “I didn’t cheat.”
“Yes, you did. You literally hustled me.”
“A bet’s a bet, Slayer. Pay up.”
“No way.” I crossed my arms, refusing to let him play me like that. The guy literally acted like he didn’t know how to hold a pool stick when we’d first started. “I want a rematch. Double or nothing.”
The corners of his lips twitched as though he were working to keep himself from grinning like a Cheshire cat that was about to score its milk. “Fine. Rack em’ up.”
I paused, suspicion creeping in at how quickly he’d given in. “You’re up to something.”
“Me?” he asked innocently, pointing at himself. “You’re the one that asked for the rematch.”
“Yeah, but you gave in too easily.”
He wet his lips and then stepped into me, flashing a bright grin as he scanned his friends and then settled his eyes back on me. “Maybe I’m just easy when it comes to pretty girls,” he said, his words coming out all flirtatious and gravelly.
Howls and heckles broke out from his packmates around us.
I had to admit that if my heart weren’t already completely owned by Dominic and Trace, I probably would have melted a little at that line and the way he was grinning at me. Especially with the absurd amount of alcohol I’d downed that was currently making me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
“I bet you think you’re just so damn cute right now, don’t you?” I said, shaking my head at him, but unable to bury my own smile.
“Among other things,” he said, placing his hands on the pool table on either side of me as he inclined his body toward me.
He was standing really close then, and the room was definitely spinning.
“Is a cheater one of them?” I asked as I hopped up onto the pool table and then playfully kicked him back a step with my foot.
More cheers broke out as one of his friends rustled his hair and taunted him. Aemon laughed again, knowing it was all in good fun.
“So, are you going to give me a chance to win my money back or what?”
“How about I give you a chance to erase your debt completely?” he countered.
My eyebrow arched up at him like a question. From the confident way he was standing and the playful smile on his face, not to mention being spurred on by a literal pack of wolves, I could already tell he was going somewhere different with this new bet.
“Something tells me you’re not going to suggest a dance-off.”
“I considered it, but no,” he said as he closed the gap again and gripped the edges of the pool table on either side of me before bringing his face next to my ear. “I was thinking we could settle this with a kiss instead.”
“A kiss, huh?” I asked, laughing. I wasn’t sure if I should have been flattered or offended, but with the asinine amount of alcohol in my veins, the only feeling I could pull off was amusement. “As tempting as that offer is, I’m going to have to pass,” I said and then bopped him on the nose with my index finger.
I had enough guy problems as it was. The last thing I needed to do was add another one to the mix.
“Why is that? You got a boyfriend already or something?” he asked, genuinely interested in the answer.
“Two actually.”
He started to laugh as though I was joking, but then he got quiet, his gaze assessing. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not joking.”
“Must be those killer wolf instincts.”
He was about to say something back to me when something over his shoulder caught our attention.
A group of people had gotten rowdy toward the front of the bar and then suddenly the crowd was shuffling around and changing shape as though it were a single, sentient mass. A shot of excitement buzzed through me at the thought of another brawl breaking out. I’d already seen three since I’d arrived here, and since neither one had ended in bloodshed, they’d only served as tantalizing entertainment.
And then I felt them, clear as the breath passing in and out of my lungs—Trace and Dominic.
I knew they were in the tavern even before I saw them shove their way through the large crowd, coming to a stop just a few feet in front of me, with a very pissed-off Gabriel at the center of their formation.
I should have been nervous for Tessa and myself, petrified of the consequences even, but all I did was smile and wave at them. Trace’s gaze darkened dangerously as his eyes flicked over my dress while Dominic looked around the room and smirked. On the surface, he appeared to be entertained by the scene, but I knew him better than that. He was scanning the number of wolves slowly closing in on us and mapping out all the possible exits.
“Where the hell is Tessa?” asked Gabriel, his teeth practically gnashing together from how firmly his jaw was wired shut.
The music cut before I could point her out and suddenly it seemed like everyone in the tavern was staring at us. Well, at them actually. Because unlike them, I was a welcome guest here.
“You have ten seconds to get your bloodsucking asses out of this bar before we ruin your night,” warned a burly guy with dark curly hair that I hadn’t noticed until just then. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with Aemon and neither of them looked friendly anymore.
My mouth was dry as I slid off the pool table and landed on unsteady feet.
“Do you know these guys?” asked Aemon, his glowing gold eyes never wavering from my guys.
I nodded nervously as my stomach churned from the sudden nose-dive our night had taken. The last thing I wanted was for anyone to get hurt. “Yeah. They’re my friends.”
“We’re not looking for any trouble,” assured Gabriel and then grabbed Trace’s shoulder as he tried to move toward me. His blue eyes were pitch black then and still fixed on me like a man possessed.
“We’re just here to get our ladies and we’ll be on our way,” added Dominic and then met my eyes pointedly, gesturing for me to join them where they stood. “Angel?”
Aemon’s arm came out, stopping me in my tracks as Trace’s eyes snapped to where he was touching me, a thunderous growl rumbling from his chest.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” informed Dominic, almost jovially and before I could even track him, Trace was lunging through the air toward Aemon and his burly friend, knocking them both to the ground as all hell broke loose in Bad Moon Rising.