Page 43 of Our Little Dove

My heart skips a beat as I move deeper into the alley, relief washing over me as I recognize the familiar figure sitting against the wall in the darkness.

Lord, you drunk idiot! Answer me when I fucking call you.

“Kieran, what the hell are you doing back here?” I call out, my voice tinged with annoyance.

But before I get closer, a figure emerges from behind the dumpster, a sharp burning sensation radiates through my ribs. My muscles tense up as a searing jolt shoots through my body, sending me sprawling to the ground in a haze of confusion and pain.

I struggle to make sense of what’s happening, the world spinning around me as I try to regain my senses. But it’s too late. I feel a weight straddle me, pinning me to the cold pavement, and dread settles like a heavy stone in the pit of my stomach.

And then I hear her voice, cold and menacing, sending a shiver down my spine but also making me rock hard. “Don’t worry, baby,” she whispers, her words dripping with malice as she recites my words back to me. “We’re going to have so much fun together.”

I try to protest, to fight against the darkness that threatens to consume me, but it’s futile. She covers my face with a chloroform rag and everything fades.

Once I know that both Kieran and Fintan are out cold, I wander around to the entrance of the club, pacing up and down until someone comes out.

Finally!

Three football-player-looking guys come through the large doors, and I plaster on my best concerned face.

“Hey, can you guys please help me?” I ask in a sweet voice, fluttering my lashes.

“What do you need help with cutie?” the one in the bright green baseball cap says with a slur. I try not to wretch at the nickname.

Asshole.

“Please, my roommate and his friend got super wasted inside and passed out while waiting for me to pick them up. Could you help me get them to my car?”

The three men hesitate for a beat, so I give them a flirty smile. “Please, I’ll give you my number if you help me,” I purr.

With that, they agree and follow me to the alley.Predictable.

“Why don’t you pull your car up, cutie, and we’ll take it from there.”

I flash them another smile and sprint toward my car, making sure all my tech and questionable goodies are in the trunk before pulling the car out of the lot and driving it to the curb right outside the club.

They help me get my prey safely inside the car and strapped in with seat belts. “Thank you, guys, so much!” I say as I get back into the driver’s seat.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” the tallest one slurs with a hungry smirk as he leans close to my window with his hand on the roof of my car.

“Oh, right!” I let out a fake giggle. “Give me your phone.”

He hands me his cell and I grimace; it is sticky with alcohol. He must have spilled something near it. It smells like bubblegum.

I quickly type in a number and save it under a fake name. As I hand the sticky device back to him, he flashes me a curious look and calls the number I entered, waiting for a ring but clearly expecting it to be a fake number.

A loud ringtone blasts in the car, and he smirks in satisfaction, letting go of the car and stepping back with his friends.

“Have yourself a great night,Heather.”

I wave them off and speed out of there, my heart pounding in my chest. I giggle as I take Kieran’s phone from my pocket and block the tall guy’s number.

As the clock strikes midnight, I pull the car into my driveway, the engine cutting off with a final sputter. My heart races with anticipation and anxiety as I glance into the rearview mirror, where Kieran and Fintan sit unconscious in the backseat. Their muscular bodies slumped against each other.

With a shaky breath, I unbuckle my seatbelt and step out of the car, the cold night air biting at my skin.

Kieran and Fintan seem larger than life in the darkness, their forms imposing and intimidating even in their unconscious state.

With no one else around to help, I know getting them inside will be no easy task. With a sense of grim determination, I approach the backseat and reach out to unbuckle Kieran’s seatbelt.