Page 67 of Stronger Than Fate

—I don’t think so —he said, smiling, and leaned in to kiss me, but at that moment the waiter returned with our drinks and Nacho had no choice but to pull back.

He handed me my glass, took his own, and made a toast.

—To meeting you —he said, and clinked his glass against mine.

I brought the glass to my lips and quickly drank everything in it.

—Dalina, slow down. Are you feeling okay?

—I’m just a liiittle diiizzy —I said, and let out a laugh. I felt like I was acting uninhibited, without the reservations that usually plagued me, and in a way I never had before.

—That’s because you drank too quickly.

—I’m going to the baaathroom and I’ll be right back —I said, making an effort to stand up without stumbling, but feeling cheerful and smiling for no reason, a sign that I was now completely drunk.

“I'll go with you,” he stated, and stood up from the couch.

“Howww are you going to accompaaany me to the ladies’ rooooom? You caaaan’t,” I said, laughing.

“I just don't think you'll make it there alone,” he affirmed, smiling. “I need to make sure you get there safely.”

“It’s not necessssaryyy,” I said, and turned around, but I couldn't take even one step because I crashed right into a man's hard chest, and if it weren't for his strong arms holding me up, I would have landed on my backside on the floor.

I looked up to see this wall of muscle who had also ended up being my savior, though I was in a fit of laughter and couldn't stop, but when my eyes focused on the person holding me, my laughter vanished. Henry was looking at me furiously, his eyes seemed to be shooting sparks.

“Let me go!” I said, and struggled a bit, but my body wasn't responding as it should.

“No,” he stated, holding me more tightly against him. “We're leaving right now. You're drunk!” he declared, and by his tone it sounded like a reproach.

“Let her go. Who are you?” asked Nacho, confronting Henry and pulling at me.

Henry looked at him with such fury that I assumed Nacho would back down.

I assumed wrong; he didn't back down one bit and continued holding onto my arm.

“Don't touch her! Take your hands off my woman!” Henry roared.

When I heard what he said, I couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. I couldn't stop laughing. Henry looked at me deadly serious.

“I…am…not…yourrr…womaaan, and stooop yelllling, you grumpy old man,” I said, still laughing and with complete abandon.

“Henry, what are you doing?” and that was Niky's voice.

“I can't believe you let her get drunk. Look at the state she's in. I'll talk to you later. I'm taking Dalina with me.”

“Who is he?” asked Nacho, completely bewildered.

“He's my brother,” Niky responded, and then looked at him and added: “Henry, Dalina came with us, and Nacho can take her back to the hotel.”

“Like hell he will! I'll take care of her.”

“Nikyyyyy, telllll him to let me gooooo and go back to his girlfrieeend.”

“I don't care if he's your brother, but Dalina doesn't want to go with him,” Nacho said to Niky, then looked seriously at Henry and added: “Let her go right now,” he threatened.

“Who the hell do you think you are, you idiot?!” Henry shouted.

At that moment, I found myself lifted up in the air by him and pressed against his chest.