pavement.
I walk over to the shop, careful to make sure no one is around, but the place is completely deserted. I manage to make it to the building before my head starts spinning. “Motherfuck.”
I brace my arms against the wall and hang my head, trying to make the world hold still. I thought my shifter digestion would ensure I burned off all that alcohol, but I guess I got cocky. I haven’t had more than a beer or two in a long time since we only got alcohol from Kaazu once in a blue moon when he let us indulge after a good performance. It also probably didn’t help that I haven’t really been eating anything for the last few weeks.
I’m wrecked.
If Cliff were here, he’d shake his head at me with that handsome smile of his and then take care of me, probably tucking me into bed with a bottle of water. But he’s not here, so I slump to the ground, my knees up and my head back, and look up at the stars until they go stationary. It takes...awhile.
I close my eyes and level out my breathing, downing the bottle of water that the bartender gave me before I left. I gotta flush the alcohol out of my system and sleep it off a little bit before I can attempt my break in. Once I can function again, I’ll be able to slip in and out before the store opens, and then no one will be the wiser. I just need to sleep for an hour, tops.
It’s so dark and quiet. And it’s probably the alcohol talking, but I’m really comfortable right now. It’s like this pavement is extra soft. I close my eyes and yawn so big that my jaw cracks.
This is good. I’ll recharge here and then be good as new. I just need a little shut eye, and I’ll be fine. Yep, just a small rest...
My eyes fly open at the sun that just bitch-slapped me awake. “Motherfuck!”
I glare over at the stream of sunlight like the sun betrayed me for hoisting itself over the horizon. I want to accuse the moon of switching places with it like my striped pool balls, but I’m not that drunk anymore. I am, however, hungover. And pissed.
“Why the hell do I keep doing that? I just wanted a goddamn cat nap,” I grumble to myself. I really want to give me a piece of my mind, but the bitch wouldn’t listen anyway.
With the sun dawning, this place is going to start coming back to life, which means the hardware store is going to be opening soon. I need to get in and out of there and then get the hell out of this shifter-infested town.
Ignoring the pounding headache in my temples, I force myself to my feet and look around to make sure there’s no one nearby. Satisfied, I head around to the back of the building where I scouted out a back entrance. It’s not visible from the street, and the knob looks old, the door frame sagging, so it’s my best bet.
Wiping my hands on my fishnet stockings that have seen better days, I quickly redo my ponytail to get the loose strands out of my face.
When I make it to the door, I take a breath, lift my right leg with a bend in my knee, and then kick the shit out of the door. One solidly aimed kick is all it takes, and the door flies open.
Unfortunately, a blaring alarm greets me.
Shit. I wasn’t counting on an alarm, but of course there would be one. My brain knocks against my skull painfully with every wail, causing me to wince as I cross the threshold.
I need to hurry.
I race down the aisles, my bloodshot eyes looking around wildly as I try to orient myself. It’s difficult, because the loud ass alarm is killing my head and my vision isn’t quite up to par yet. My movements are sluggish too, and at any moment, I feel like my stomach could revolt, and last night’s pizza is going to try to hit me up like sloppy seconds.
I hurriedly look around, the alarm system making me feel rushed and on edge. “Come on, come on…” Squinting in the dark, I get overwhelmed by all the different tools hanging up, kicking myself for being such an idiot and doing this at the last minute.
I see a grinder that looks like it might work, and I snatch it up.