Chapter Six: Alexa
There are always those times, when you feel on top of the world and then it just comes crashing down on you. It comes with any good thing. And I don’t know why I didn’t expect it. I get my dream job, coupled with mind blowing orgasms and lustful looks from a sexy Irish man that are just as good.
So, I should have seen it coming. It is just how my life goes. Good happens, and then bad comes right after. When mom finally got a new job, and we moved to a new city and I got to go to a better school, she was hit by a bus the week after. A freak accident. Dad was gone years ago, so that didn’t matter.
Anyway, I moved on from that. Sort of. Foster care didn’t leave much room for dwelling on the past. Getting this job, to me, was making it. So of course, it had to all crumble around me in just one night. My first night, and it ended like that.
“My cell is fucking blowing up. It’s ridiculous.” Joshua paces the bar in anger. I have never seen him so tense, his shoulders hunched and his jaw tight.
I sat at the edge of the bar, hugging my knees to my chest as I replayed the events. I knew his type even when he first sat down. Tough, but not really. Thought he could have whatever he wanted. I could deal with his wandering eyes, not thinking he was going to touch me or anything.
But then the bar cleared out…I could still feel his cold grip around my wrist. The sting of his slap on my ass. It made me nauseous, thinking of how it felt when he touched me. It had never happened to me before, handsy people at the bar. But it did and then…Kellan was there. The way he was on that guy so fast, protecting me. I wasn’t used to it, and I definitely didn’t expect it. It made me swell, and made the ill feeling of that man fade.
But I still heard the sound of his punches. The slap of his skin colliding. It made me flinch at every thought. I realized I was shaking. Joshua was still on the phone, evading questions. Reporters, people on Snapchat had shared the event at the snap of a finger. Now anyone who followed them, and there were thousands; knew what happened.
Bar owner beats up customer.
Nothing about the customer cursing, and assaulting me. No, of course they left that out.
“Baby, you’re shaking.” Austin appeared next to me. His strong arm encased mine, holding my shaking at bay for the moment.
“Are you okay?” He leaned in closer, crouching next to me. I inhaled his sharp scent, mixed with the smell of the kitchen. He smelled like comfort food, but in a…sexier way.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered. I turned to him, my eyes glistening.
“Oh no, don’t be sorry. Why are you sorry? That prick put his hands on you.” He spat the last part. I shook my head and looked away. But he cupped my chin and turned me to face him.
“Kellan…they arrested him. Because of me.”
That was the hardest part. I don’t even know why I called the police, I think I was afraid the guy would turn on him. He was big, and drunk, so he had no inhibitions. The cops hauled Kellan off like he was in the wrong, and that asshole demanded charges be pressed. I couldn’t even imagine what Kellan was going through.
“Don’t think about that. None of this is your fault.” He tucked hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. “I don’t want you thinking like that, none of us do.” He gripped my shoulders and held me close to him. The hug was a tight embrace, of nothing but comfort. His hard body against mine.
“Come on, this floor is filthy.” He stood me up and walked me around the bar. I wiped my eyes where a few tears escaped.
Joshua ended a call and came over to me. His strides filled the room and he was in front of me immediately.
“Are you okay?” He rubbed my shoulders and looked me over with concerned eyes.
“I’m…I’m fine. Is everything okay? I’m so sorry…” I said again.
Joshua shook his head and ticked his jaw. “It’s fine, don’t even worry about that, honey. Come here.” He took me in his arms, wrapping me up in his solidity.
I exhaled and relaxed a little more. His arms felt so good, I closed my eyes and surrendered for a moment, but then I saw the horrors of the night again. Kellan hauled off in handcuffs, people videotaping it…it was horrible. I began to shake again.
“Shh, baby.” Austin stood behind me and gripped my shoulder. With both of their hands on me it was like my body was doing something else, flying away from me and letting their comfort win.
I nodded and pulled away. Joshua’s phone went off again. Shouldn’t people be asleep? He took the call elsewhere. Austin went behind the bar and poured me a glass of water. I hadn’t realized I was so thirsty.
Joshua reappeared with a serious expression.
“That was the lawyer. Bail is a hundred Gs.”
I gasped. That was so much! Austin just shook his head and rolled his eyes.
“Fuck. I haven’t shut the kitchen down yet.”
“And I’ve got people up my ass, if I walk in there…” they shared a look and stopped to think.
Then they both looked at me.
“What?” I finally said. I hugged my arms around myself, suddenly cold.
“Alexa, can you go down to the jail and bail Kellan out? I wouldn’t ask if I had any other options, and I trust you to do it.” Joshua explained. I blinked rapidly, a bit confused.
“I…of course, I’ll do anything to help him. But where are we getting the bail money from?” I asked.
Joshua looked to Austin and nodded. He gestured for me to follow him. I walked by his side and he took my hand. He led me down a hallway and into the office. I never noticed the false wall they had, but behind it was a thick black safe, just like in the movies. He took out two pieces of paper, but they were a bit bigger than regular bills.
“Bonds. They know what to do with them.” He handed it to me, and I nodded, still shivering a bit. The shirt didn’t cover much, and not running around the bar made the cold get to me.
“Here.” He went around the desk and looked in the chest behind him. He handed me a sweat jacket, when I put it on it smelled just like Kellan. I stopped the tears from forming once again.
“Thank you…which precinct?” I asked him. He rubbed a hand through his hair as he thought.
“Uh, nineteen.”
I nodded and he followed me out. I grabbed my stuff from the bar, and said goodbye to them both as I went to the precinct. I wondered if they knew I had been with them both. I wasn’t sure if Joshua would tell Austin, or if Austin would tell him what we had done. I thought enough time had passed for them to tell, but I wasn’t sure.
The walk wasn’t long, and the buses weren’t too sketchy for me to get on it. But Joshua still insisted I take his car. It was more like a spaceship; a supped-up Jeep Renegade. I didn’t have much time to enjoy it, because my mind was racing. I couldn’t believe that asshole pressed charges, knowing that he was wrong.
Or perhaps he didn’t know, and was an idiot as well. I parked in an acceptable spot and went inside. I wasn’t new to police stations at all, so I knew exactly where to go. Joshua was right, they took the papers and clicked through the clerical shit.
I was told to wait by the door, in the waiting room. There were others around, from all walks of life. I wondered who they were bailing out. One of them was so young, I thought she was bailing out one of her parents. I watched the door impatiently, and even stood up to pace.
I don’t know how long it took, but finally Kellan appeared with two rough officers.
“Kellan!” I called out. He turned to me, and looked surprised to see me.
I ran right into his arms, not caring if it was inappropriate or not. His arms slipped around me and held me close. His body was so warm, and so solid. His scent intoxicating, mixed with his musk it invaded my senses and I nearly inhaled him all at one.
“Thank you…I’m so sorry. I didn’t want any of this to happen.” I mumbled against his chest. He held me at arm’s length and cupped my face, searching my eyes.
“Sorry? Don’t be sorry. I would do it again.”
I really looked at his face then. I didn’t even know the other guy got so many hits in. His eye would be swollen shut tomorrow, now it was an ugly purple and black. His lip was split, but not too bad. His nose had dried blood on it too.
“Let me take you home. I can help with this.” I touched his face gingerly, and he leaned into my touch.
I felt the natural pull between us, and it was overtaking me fast. He nodded and I led him out to the car. He winced as he got inside, and I felt another pang of guilt as he shifted uncomfortable in the drive. He told me where to go.
“Don’t feel guilty.” He broke the silence.
“It’s hard not to. People are blowing up Joshua’s phone. Bloggers are already writing pieces. The bar…”
“Will probably get more customers now. No such thing as bad publicity.” His accent was a deep drawl now. He must be exhausted.
“How can you be so relaxed about all this?” I asked him. He shrugged, but then winced again. How much pain is he really in? I don’t think he would tell me honestly if I asked.
“I’ve experienced worse things in life, Alexa.” He reached over and touched my knee gingerly.
I nodded. We had arrived, he lived in an old firehouse. I parked in the garage and we took the hanger up. The inside was swank, which surprised me. Modern furniture and finishing’s, and it was all open concept. The bedroom openly visible. He walked ahead of me and went into the kitchen to grab a drink, a bottle of Powerade.
“Your place is so nice.” I looked around. He had a few photos of him and the guys, but that was it for decorations.
“It isn’t much.” He shrugged, and then winced again.
“You must be hungry, I can make something.” I went over to his fridge, he didn’t have much to choose from so I just grabbed the eggs.
He sat at the counter, drinking his Gatorade as I made scrambled eggs. He ate slowly, and I pretty much just watched him. The hard lines of his face, his chiseled jaw and narrow nose. He is so aesthetically pleasing.
“Thanks.” He said.
I washed the dishes quickly. “You should take a hot shower, and I can help with the bruising a bit.” I told him, he gave me a look but agreed. He doesn’t seem to like being taken care of.
He stood up and sauntered over to his bathroom. He suddenly stopped in the doorway and turned to face me. “You could join me.”