Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy) - By Juliana Haygert Page 0,64
destruction. Each gas station and store was protected with gates and metal doors. It was a pain to get in, and almost as hard to get out.
The clouds grew darker and thicker as we approached the city. Morgan had contacted his friend, Brock, and arranged to meet him in the pub of a local motel. As we drove up, I noticed that despite the rest of the city being as dark as night and as dirty as a trash bin, the motel was quite nice and well illuminated, despite the security system—cameras and alarms on each corner. We parked and got out, stretching our legs. At the reception desk, a girl in a pink mini dress, who looked more like a hooker than a receptionist, batted her lashes at Micah as she gave him keys for two rooms. I didn’t know I had such rage within me—only Victor and Micah had ever awakened such feelings.
With unwelcome jealousy surging through me, I hoped my long nails scratched Micah’s hand as I took one of the keys. “This is my room. If you three don’t want to share one, then ask for another one.” I walked away, assuming the guys would follow. If I’d heard the receptionist correctly, their room was on the second floor, while mine was on the first. Very far away. I needed space.
“What did you do to her?” I heard Victor ask Micah. But if Micah answered, I didn’t hear it.
“We meet in one hour at the pub,” Morgan yelled at my back.
I waved them off and hurried to my room. Enough of the guys—I wanted to be alone.
***
The pub was small and cozy, with a bar that extended over a mirrored wall, plenty of round tables surrounding a dance floor in the center, rectangular tables along black stone walls, and a tiny stage opposite the bar where a band played soothing songs. I entered and looked around. The smoke and the scent of liquor were heady, and the dimmed illumination added to the gloomy setting.
I ignored the stares. Yes, I had pampered myself on purpose. Thank God Micah was the one who packed my bag, because he had picked up about four dressy outfits. I wasn’t much on dresses, but I knew guys liked them and, for some reason, I wanted to provoke Victor. And maybe Micah too.
A dark teal halter dress with a short hemline, wrap-up silver stilettos, and elegant but sultry makeup worked together as my makeover. I blow-dried my hair until every strand was straight as an ironing board and shining down my back.
I flipped my hair to the side, revealing my nude back, and strolled to the bar. I paid no attention to the men in the room who still stared at me. Among them were Victor, Morgan, and Micah, seated at a low rectangular table near the end of the bar.
My fingers crossed under the countertop as I asked the bartender for a shot of tequila. I sighed, relieved when he didn’t ask for my ID.
The bartender had just returned with my drink when Victor approached and sat on the barstool next to me. His fitted indigo shirt and dark jeans clung to him, accentuating his shoulders and … yeah, his butt. And I had to confess, the messy hair over his eyes was so damn sexy.
“What are you drinking?” he asked.
“As if you didn’t know what this is.” I gestured toward my drink and smiled at him, and I saw him hold his breath when I did. So, he wasn’t immune to my charm. Hmm. Just reserved and aloof.
“Would you like something, sir?” the bartender asked.
I tried my luck. “He doesn’t drink,” I said, still smiling. “For him, a Pepsi. With one slice of lemon and three ice cubes.”
The bartender nodded and walked off, and I turned toward Victor. I crossed my legs. His gaze flashed up and down, and I hid a smile.
“Again, you amaze me with your knowledge … about me.”
“Until now I’ve been lucky,” I said, before swallowing my drink. “But I’m doomed to make a mistake since you aren’t the Victor I know.” He flinched. Maybe I had been too harsh, but it was true. He wasn’t who I wanted him to be. I decided to change subjects. “Has Brock arrived yet?”
“Nope,” he answered. The bartender placed a Pepsi before him. I took advantage of that moment and asked for another tequila shot. “How many shots can you handle?”