Page 18 of Of Blackened Blood (The Blackened Blade #3)
A man that looked to be in his forties or fifties was leaning against the wall. His arms were caging in a younger woman who couldn’t have been much older than I am now. The young woman presses herself further into the wall behind her, her face growing paler as the sleazy, greying man inches closer.
Her soft chocolate-brown eyes flicker to the floor as he nears, her brown wavy locks falling over her beautiful facial features, trying to hide them from his unwanted eyes.
The man towers over her, at least a foot taller as his greasy grey- and mousy-brown-streaked hair falls limply on his shoulders. His creased knock-off Gucci suit is a size too small for his larger lanky frame as he gives her a slimy crooked smile.
The poor woman shrinks in on herself, and if there had been a hole nearby, she looks like she would have jumped head-first in it to escape from the slimy prick.
His hand begins to move down the wall, brushing against her shoulder and the soft white lace of her dress strap sitting there, his smirk growing as her brown eyes widen in fear.
A stuttering breath leaves her as her gentle pink lips part.
“ P-please ...” she pleads, her voice almost a whisper as the greasy asshole’s smirk grows larger above her. “I just want to go back to my friends.”
“ We’re friends, aren’t we?” He leans his face nearer to hers, the fear in her eyes becoming palpable as his hand lands quickly on her thigh, slowly sliding upward. She lets out a small whimper as I dart forward, no longer able to control my anger.
I grab his hand, twisting it as I fling him back and away from her. A pained yelp leaves his lips as he stumbles backward and onto the floor behind us.
His brows pinch together as he clutches his reddening wrist, a look of confusion taking over his expression as he glances toward me.
“You’re not her friend. You’re a parasite ... an old one.” My lip curls up as he pulls himself from the ground. “She’s not interested in bugs. So get the fuck away from her.”
He scoffs, shaking his hand out as he stands. So some type of shifter then. Noted.
I turn my gaze toward the brown-haired girl and gesture toward the door and for her to leave. There was no point in her pretty white lace dress getting drenched in blood. Especially his .
She hesitates for a moment, worry taking over her features as she glances between me and the prick. I give her a reassuring smile before she scurries out of the dark oak doors, the loud music leaking in for a brief moment. A pretty upbeat symphony for this asshole’s end.
I turn back toward the sleazy old ass just as he straightens himself, his leery eyes now trailing down my front, a disgusting grin taking over his twisted lips.
“I was only being friendly with her.” He shrugs, a familiar dark glint working its way into his gaze as he takes a step closer. “We were just getting to know each other, that’s all. But we can be friends instead if you want.”
A dark chuckle tumbles from my lips. “Funny how you phrase it like a choice ... but you have no intention of taking ‘no’ for an answer.”
I take a step of my own. “But sure ...” I clench my hands into fists. “Let me show you how ‘ friendly’ I can be.”
His grin widens disgustingly before he reaches for me.
I take his extended hand, wiping the slimy smirk from his lips as I grab it until it’s twisted behind his back.
He thrashes and tries to struggle against my hold on him, but his strength feels like that of a child under my grip.
It feels even easier than before to manage someone of his pathetic level.
I grab his head with my free hand as he tries to catch me with his, and in one swift move, I slam his face into the wall beside the staff room door. The force of the hit surprises even me with its strength. I hadn’t even used my full power.
“She was out of your league and half your age, asshole.” I lean closer as my grip tightens on the back of his head, holding him in place against the wall.
“Stay in your own lane ... or better yet, do the world a favour and remove yourself from the road.” I add a little more strength to show him that I mean business.
The wall begins to crack as his groans become more pained and muffled under my grip.
I’ll need to train and get better control of my strength.
Another weak whimper falls from the sleazeball’s throat, and my eyes narrow as I lean in toward his ear.
“If I catch you doing this shit to another girl ...” My voice sounds low and deathly, almost a mimic of Annex’s murderous tone. “I’ll do everyone a favour and castrate you myself. Do you understand?”
I pull his head back by his long greasy hair, blood dripping down his broken nose and lips as he whimpers and nods.
“Good.” I smirk, my grip on him slightly loosening.
His shoulders slump, a slight look of relief entering his eyes. How stupid.
I slam his face back into the wall, the cracks growing as I walk away. I hear a heavy thump on the ground behind me as I make my way through the oak doors.
I’m sure they have a clean-up crew somewhere around here. Someone else can clean up the trash tonight.
I make my way through the crowd, grabbing a napkin from a server to wipe my hands before heading toward our table. But before I can make it over, someone bumps into me and wraps an arm around my waist.
I whip around, ready to knock whoever it is out, but am met with Ezra’s soft turquoise eyes.
I instantly ease in his arms, my own wrapping around his neck.
I pull back and notice a strange look in his eyes and his slightly pale complexion.
“What’s wrong?” I glance back to where he had been sitting, Jericho now gone and the space empty. “What happened?”
Ezra shakes his head. “Nothing yet. We have to confirm a couple of things and do a little test.” His eyes look wary and his expression slightly strained. The worry and caution in his gaze was making me anxious.
He must feel it from me as his expression softens. His shoulders relax, his gaze turns gentle and warm as his hands brush against my cheeks before cupping them.
“I promise, that as soon as I have answers, you’ll have them too. I’ll confirm everything tomorrow and we’ll talk then.”
A loud bang rings out around us and everyone looks toward the far wall as a large countdown appears in magical fairy lights starting from ten. All the voices begin to join in the countdown, ready to welcome the New Year.
Ezra kisses my forehead, his eyes much calmer as his lips tilt closer toward my ears.
“Tonight is about us, Micai, and the New Year we’ll all bring in together from now on.
” He brushes his lips across my cheek before leaning lower and reaching my lips.
A soft, loving kiss has us moving into our own world before an arm suddenly wraps around my shoulder with another quickly joining it and wrapping around my waist.
I turn to see Mallyn to one side, Annex to my other, and even Creed standing beside Ezra now.
A soft warmth glides through my chest as we join in on the countdown.
Five. Four. Three. Two. One ...
“Happy New Year!” The crowd shouts alongside us as magical fireworks open the ceiling above and begin jetting off into its dark space, lighting the sky up with large bursting stars.
“Happy New Year, Red.” Annex leans down placing a light kiss on my lips before quickly deepening it.
His tongue swipes out, tasting and dominating me while pushing toward me for more.
But before I can lean up and properly enjoy him, I’m pulled away and toward Mallyn who smirks at a huffing Annex.
He leans down toward me, taking my lips in his for a quick but searing kiss.
My shoulders fall, my body leaning in closer to him, wanting more, before he suddenly pulls back. His mixed grey-blue eyes glisten like the fireworks around us as a sexy grin tilts his lips.
Chuckles ring out beside me, pulling my attention back to each man surrounding me. Heat creeps into my cheeks as I gaze at the men smiling my way, each wearing warm— and heated —looks of their own on their faces.
And I couldn’t think of a more perfect night.
“Happy New Year, boys,” I tell them, my own smile stretching my cheeks.
This one and each one that follows, I’ll spend it with these men ... my family. I’ll even put up with Creed for this happiness.