Broken Road (Fate's Intent Book 7) (21 page)

Chapter 40

Ruby

Hours went by and so did several more drinks. Empty glasses soon stacked up on the table in little towers and it was obvious that the Great Seni Fighters were completely drunk.

They were always smiling and laughing at something or even nothing but there was something unexplainable about them that didn’t make them seem like themselves to me. It was something different that I’ve never seen before. It couldn’t be placed but I kept my eyes open for the unexpected to happen.

We sat calm for a moment and Troy moved his eyes down to the first level to the sound of commotion and saw a drunken man getting a little too close and involved with one of the waitresses trying to serve him. “Uh oh, Darius. I smell trouble.”

Darius smelt the air with one heavy breath before turning his head to see for himself. “I love that smell. I’m on it.”

He set his current glass down, I lost count of which number then he slowly started to stand.

“Sure you can walk?” Zayden laughed.

“Yeah. I’m good.” Darius smiled while standing balanced on his feet. He walked over to the stairs and hopped down without a problem just as Phil was about to approach the table. “Hey, I’ve got this one, Phil. Better find him an escort home.”

“Thanks, man.”

I watched Darius approached the table where the man was trying to get the waitress to settle in his lap and he just stood there for a moment with his arms crossed. “I don’t think she likes being touched.”

“Keep walking. This is none of your business.” The man said without even looking up.

“Maybe you didn’t hear me.” Darius unfolded his arms and leaned down. “That means stop what you’re doing or there’s going to be trouble.”

It was a little funny. When he realized who was actually speaking to him, he freed the woman and quivered in his chair. “Darius! I apologize! We’re cool.”

“Are we?” The man nodded his head and Darius stood up straight, starting to turn away. “All right. You say we’re cool then I’ll believe you.”

The man let out a quiet sigh of relief but Darius curiously stopped. I didn’t know why until I saw his eyes on the waitress. I couldn’t see hers but I bet she was just completely terrified about that man still being here; cowardly woman. I guess that’s when Darius changed his mind about not causing a problem.

“You know what? We’re not cool.” He punched him right in the face and the man flew out of his chair, drawing attention from everyone. “Oh, did you fall down? Let me help you up.” He reached down and pulled the man to his feet. “Let’s just clean you up, you’ve got some dirt on you.” Darius patted him down like he was helping and gave amusement to everyone when he acted like he cared. “You all right? Not hurt?”

“No.” The man said through a deep breath. “I’m all right. I’m good.”

“Are you? Well, can’t have that now can we?” Darius pushed him away from him this time back into his own table, knocking it over and putting him back on the floor. “That was for lying and not actually being good.” He pulled him right up to his feet by his shirt and stayed in his face. “You don’t treat women like that here. They should be respected and a few other things I can’t think of right now because I’m a little wasted. I think perhaps you’ve over stayed your welcome. You can leave on your own or would you like help?”

The man was clearly frightened and was clumsy to keep his feet. His breaths were light and quick while Darius still had his eyes on him and he hurried off to the door in an obvious fear.

“That’s what I thought.” Darius said to himself proudly. The crowd around all clapped and Darius looked around, smiling to his effortless victory. “Anyone else want to make my night a problem?” The crowd was still in smiles and started booing in response. “Good choice! Please—continue.”

He picked up the table as everyone got back to their conversations but I didn’t stop watching because that waitress approached before he could clean up any further. “I’ll happily take care of this, Darius. Thank you for the assist.”

“It was no problem. My pleasure completely.”

“I could always make it.”

My fist clenched. She was on her knees in front of him and I knew what she was offering. I wanted her dead. That would have been my instant response.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Darius walked back to us but stayed on his feet.

“That was really sweet, Darius.” Jaylyn smiled.

“Yeah, well, I have to piss like you wouldn’t believe. I better do that while I’m still on my feet.”

“Thanks for telling us that.” Adele said. “You could have just walked away.”

“Well, then wouldn’t you want a reason?”

“With everything you drank?” I laughed. “We could have figured it out.”

Darius laughed too. “I’ll be right back.”

“Wait! We should too.” Troy said as he started getting up with Zayden.

“What? Need me to hold it for you because that could get weird.”

“Just go.” Zayden smiled, following after him towards the tavern’s lavatory.

We shared in a laugh as they kept walking then there was a moment of silence that followed.

“Well—” Adele said with a quick breath. “This wasn’t so bad. What’d I tell you?”

“The night’s not over yet.” I replied.

Jaylyn nodded her head to agree and looked quickly towards the doorway they disappeared into. “Have either of you noticed—”

“Yeah.” I cut in. “They do seem a little different.”

“Oh, good. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.”

“Probably just because we’ve never seen them like this before.” Adele explained. “You know, this is probably the most fun they’ve had with us. Well, as a group. I’m not talking about private fun.”

“Yeah, I suppose that could be true.” I said. “They feel more comfortable here.”

Zayden walked back to us and sat himself on the couch with me. It was very unusual and we looked at each other oddly.

“Zayden.” Adele said, leaning forward a little.

He looked up while lighting another cigar at the same time. “What?”

“What are you doing?” I asked with a smile while leaning into him.

He looked down at his cigar quickly. “Oh, I’m sorry. Do you mind?”

“Not that.” Adele said with narrowing eyes. “Why aren’t you sitting with me?”

Zayden looked between Adele and I really quickly a few times until he figured it out for himself and got right up. “Oh, shit. Whoops! Sorry. That was the closest couch.”

“It’s all right. Feeling okay?”

“Yeah. Masterly.”

He took another hit off his cigar then a drink from a glass in front of him and Troy quickly skipped to us, speaking in a fast voice. “Anyone need a fill-up?”

Jaylyn looked around at the table. “I don’t think so. Our water looks fine.”

“Okay.”

He was about to turn but Zayden sat forward quickly and shouted to him. “Wait!”

“What?”

He downed the glass he had in front of him and instantly set it back down while looking up at Troy. “I could use one now.”

“All right. I’ll be right back.”

“Hey, where’s Darius?” I asked, stopping Troy from leaving again.

He looked up towards the lavatory and shrugged his shoulders. “Thought he was right behind me.”

He walked off before I could stall him again and I had my eyes in the direction Darius should have been coming from. “I better make sure he hasn’t passed out.”

“Okay.” Jaylyn laughed.

I walked off to find him and first found his upbeat voice. “Looks like I’ve been leaving all them to you!”

Another man laughed and I don’t know what made me eavesdrop but I did just around a corner instead of showing myself. “Shit though. You’re missing out. I heard you actually came here with someone.”

“Yeah.” Darius sighed like he was admitting it was true. “Just the chick I knocked up.”

My eyes narrowed and started turning red. I couldn’t help it. I had to close them so no one would see.

“Ah, shit. There’s always one that ruins all the fun, isn’t there? I never thought it’d happen to you though.”

“It was coming someday. Just sooner than I’d like.”

“Well, there’s still that chance that the baby won’t come to term. You’d be the lucky bastard to get a break like that.”

Whoever this man was, I hated him and it only got worse. My eyes started to water when I heard Darius laugh to what he said and had to turn away. I couldn’t listen anymore; I couldn’t stay here. I hurried back to where the others were and tried keeping in my emotions while I reached for my jacket.

“Did you find him?” Adele asked. “Is he passed out?”

“I wish.” I went straight for the doors to get away.

It started out all right but it has turned out to be the worst night ever.

Chapter 41

Jaylyn

Ruby looked upset about something and just left without explaining.

“What was that about?”

Adele and Zayden both shrugged their shoulders and I looked down towards the bar when I heard Troy talking to Phil.

“Just this for now?”

“That ought to do it.”

Phil took out a tray for the glasses and Troy quickly turned around to a woman’s excited voice shouting his name. “Troy!”

He smiled bigger when he saw a brunette woman with curly hair rush towards him, completely unaware that I was watching because he never looked up towards me. “Marina?!”

They wrapped their arms around each other and the girl had a tight grip around him. “You’re home! I was hoping I’d find you here.”

They parted still with that heavy excitement to see each other and I didn’t like it. “What are you doing here? I thought you left.”

“I did for a month but no other place is like home and no other place has you. I’ve missed you.”

Troy smiled and they hugged quickly again. I had no idea who this woman was but would certainly like to find out. “Damn, it’s good seeing you. You have to catch me up. Phil! Send up the tray to Zayden and give me two more rounds.”

“Sure thing, Troy.”

I leaned back on the couch when I watched Troy walk to a table for two on the first level with this Marina girl and I had to look away.

Adele and Zayden had their attention on each other and didn’t even notice me sitting alone. Time started to pass.

It seemed Darius has moved off to the other side of the second level, caught up in conversations with others because he never came back and Troy was still distracted by Marina through laughs and drinks down on the first level.

The night for me was now going downhill and I got up with my glass to get a refill of water. I walked down to the bar, practically passing Troy but he didn’t even notice. I acted like I didn’t notice him either and sat on a barstool. “Could I get another water please?”

Phil reached for my glass. “Sure thing. You sure I can’t get you anything else?”

“No. Just the water is fine, thank you.”

Phil watched me as he poured another glass and set it in front of me. “You came here with Troy, didn’t you?”

“Ah, yeah.” I took a glance back at him still in a happy mood while he was around Marina. “Like he would notice. I’m basically here to just watch him.”

“I see. Hence just the water.”

“Yes. Do you know who he’s talking to?”

Phil glanced back and started to smile. “Ah, that’s the lovely Marina. She and Troy have been coming here for as long as this old mind can remember.”

“You mean, they’re together?”

“Everyone would say it for them. They’ve always been seen together.”

“I see. They do make a beautiful couple.”

Phil nodded. “Troy has always favored her the most.”

I let out a quiet sigh from that news and got up from the bar. “Thanks for the water.”

“Of course.”

I left the glass full and sitting there on the counter and headed back up to the second level, getting my jacket. “I’m just going to—” I looked over at Adele and Zayden but they weren’t paying attention. Their lips were locked together and I just turned away. “Never mind.”

The night was over for me and I just wanted to go home but for now, the palace would have to do.

Chapter 42

Adele

I didn’t think this was so bad. Zayden was really into kissing while he was drunk. I almost couldn’t wait to get him back to the palace later. I didn’t think he was so drunk that he couldn’t perform but I soon got my answer to just how drunk he really was.

We parted after minutes of having our lips locked with heavy breaths, Zayden’s being heaviest and he grazed the side of my face while looking in my eyes. “I can promise you two things. One, this will be the best night of your life while being just another great one of mine and two, the chances of my remembering your name is unlikely so don’t get hopeful.”

I laughed like it had to be a joke. “Zayden, it’s me.”

He backed away like he was trying to focus his clouded eyes so he could get a better look. “I know you?”

I was getting a little angry at this point. “Ah, you better.”

“I’m sorry. Have we done this before? Then you must know the routine. I’ll let you start whenever you’d like.” He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes.

I huffed in even more anger and tossed my water in his face as I got up.

Zayden was startled by it and sat up. “Hey, bitch! You must not be drunk enough.”

“You’re right about that.” I raged, grabbing my jacket. “I’m not. Goodnight, your majesty.”

I walked off and made my way alone all the way back to the palace. No one important saw me come back and I went back up to our room, slamming the door shut.

Rift was jumped awake but when he saw that it was just me, he put his head back down like I didn’t matter. I was okay with that. I had bigger problems and let my emotions go. I threw myself on the bed fully dressed as my tears fell. Thinking that Zayden didn’t even know who I was started to terrify me and I fell asleep that night on the soaked pillow with those thoughts taking over my dreams.