Taken by my mate; Second Chance
Chapter 8 - Change of plans

EVADIENE

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Ambrose in the crowd and nearly dropped myself two floors because of it. I was lucky that panic set in so quickly as I clenched my legs tightly and pretended I meant to do that. Ambrose had looked more panicked than I felt but I recover quicker and finished my set out without anyone noticing my stollen glances and smiles towards him in the booth.

I kinda wanted to run out to him and jump in his lap immediately after I was done, but we had a strict no friends-no family policy, and though I wouldn’t mind being fired I didn’t want to cause a scene. As I was supposed to go on my break, that’s what I did, taking a spliff of weed and tobacco into the alley to smoke.

Big breath in, let it ride, slow breath out. I was already feeling more relaxed. My heart slowed in my chest, even as my thoughts returned Ambrose and my cheeks flushed again. I never expected him to come here, especially not so soon, and now that he was I wasn’t sure whether to be excited or terrified that this would change everything.

The back door opened and I moved over to accommodate another one of the girls on her smoke break but Sal came out.

“Sal, sweetie, you know we need this space to relax so we can give you a good show.” I tried to be full of sugar for him.

I had told him numerous times that this was staff space and to stay in the club or go out front to smoke, but he was consistent in not listening. His face turned to me, his eyes sharp and dangerous.

Before I had time to registered it, his hand came across my face. “What was that Nova, you touched my prospective partner? Em-barass me out there? I tell him he come here for a good show and then he is disrespected like that?”

My face paled. “Sal, I meant no offence. He startled me, so low on my stomach that area is sensitive.”

“You owe him an apo-logy.”

The way he emphasized the word confused me. “I don’t understand. Ididapologize, right away, he seemed flattered. I…”

He struck me again and though rage burned inside me I was terrified. I was in basically a bikini, under a large fluffy robe we all kept to go outside in. I had already dropped my smoke the first time he hit me and now I had nothing but the clothes on my back.

He was bigger, and heavier than me, and if he turned that hand around my blood would join that of his other enemies in the crevices of his rings.

“Private dance,in room four,” he instructed and if I was already pale I must have turned ghostly.

Room four was the only room we had with an actual door. It was rarely used, and usually only for the gangsters to use alone for their meetings. I must have really upset him for him to even suggest such a thing, he had never stepped out of line so far before.

“But.. but I..” I stammered.

His hand thrust out and clutched my throat, pinning me to the stone wall where the bricks caught my hair. He squeezed gently, but when I made no sound he lifted me slightly up from where I wasresting until I was gasping for air.

“I give you a chance to make it up to me and you have the nerve to refute it?” He challenged. “Nova, I made you number one here, I claimed you as my good luck charm, and I can take you down just as fast.”

I coughed and choked as I clawed at his hand around me, losing myrolein Sal’s endeavours didn’t concern me. “I’m sorry, Sparks will replace me, I…”

“You don’t get away that easily,” he barked, tightening his hold so I could no longer speak.

‘Help’, I thought.

No one would hear me outside here, and those that did would ignore it. He could do whatever he wanted here and I was nearly powerless to stop him. I kicked my feet out but a punch to my gut ended that. So maybe he was only in his early forties; his strength would definitely not lead me to believe he was as old as I previously thought.

“You will meet him in room four and do whatever he wants to make this deal go through Nova, or you’ll be joiningmein that room and I guarantee you won’t like what we do,” he sneered at me but I wanted to be sick.

I thought of this man, any man, using my body like that and the bile rose from my stomach to burn the back of my throat where he held me.

“I’m not a hooker,” I managed to gasp out but that made him more angry.

His hold tightened and I was seeing stars. My mind wandered to Ambrose, sitting in the club. I wondered if he would see them carry my passed out body up to that room and hoped he wouldn’t. It was bad enough that I was in this situation, but I didn’t want him involved with these people.

I was still clawing and kicking at him when I heard the door open again and feared for the other girls more than myself. The next moment I felt the hand pried from my neck and I slumped onto the floor coughing and wheezing on the ground. When I looked up there was Ambrose, laying into Sal beside me and snarling violently.

His fist hit the bulk of his body to wind hm but then began adjusting his face to reflect the felt anger. As stunned as I was that he had taken him down so quickly, I was glad the fight was so one sided. Sal only tried to pry away the hand that held his clothes while trying to block his face and beg for him to stop. Truthfully I didn’t want him to stop, but I could see the other man loosing consciousness and didn’t want murder on his hands for me.

“Ambrose.” The sound came out garbled and pained and he dropped Sal immediately to come to me.

“Nova, are you okay?” He asked, and for a moment I forgot I’d used the short version of my real name here and panicked at him saying it.

“We need to go,” I whispered hoarsely, before I started coughing again.

He nodded. “Let’s go.”

“I need my purse.”

He nodded again pressing keys into my hand. “Go to my car, get in and lock the doors. I’ll get your bag.” He pulled off the robe that would stand out on the street and replaced it with his long coat over me.

He quickly kissed my forehead and darted inside. I took off around the corner and through the gate that only unlocked from the inside to the street. I was barefoot, having just been standing on the rug in the undercover area we had, so the cement was painfully cold but I spotted his car near a familiar face.

“Jerry,” I wheezed to a tow truck driver we saw often checking the meters. “Take my car to impound for me?”

He walked over and looked me over as I was unlocking Ambrose’s car. “You in some trouble?”

I nodded weakly. “I will be.”

He squeezed my shoulder. “I’ll try to hide it in the back for you.” I nodded graciously and handed him the hundred from my bottoms. He chuckled. “Oh you cheeky girl. I’ll hold it for as long as you need.”

He gave me a short hug and I climbed into the car, my head still racing. Sal was drunk, I could tell that much for sure with his crooked stroke smile even more droopy then usual, but I never thought he’d proposition me.

I was still in shock when Ambrose slid in to the car handing over my bag and sneakers. He didn’t wait for me to say anything, pulling out of the parking lot and driving several blocks west first. I hadn’t wanted to turn the car on and attract any attention until we were ready to go, and now that it was on I warmed my sore feet under the vents and rubbed my bare legs before sliding my shoes on.

“Where to?” He asked.

I glanced at him and saw he was white knuckling the wheel. I could almost feel his anger welling up like a wall around him and I hated feeling like it separated us so I reached over and touched his arm gently.

“I’m okay,” I told him, thought my voice was still hoarse, and he loosened his grip tightly, moving his other hand to touch mine and then hold it.

He shifted his hands so that he could hold mind while he drove, took a deep breath and tried again. “Where to?”

“I… I don’t want to involve you in this. I’m going to need to leave town.”

With my car out of the way I could get a less conspicuous rental car after gathering some things. They wouldn’t search too hard for me, and a few towns over would be enough until I found somewhere new.

“I’m not leaving you alone,” he said firmly. “Where you go I go. Do you have somewhere in mind?” I thought briefly about staying with a friend but really didn’t want to involve anyone. “My pack is safe, no one will touch you there.”

“Pack?” The word raked from throat painfully.

“Yes Evadiene. I’m wolven, I was going to tell you when I asked you to dinner. Do you know what that means?” His words ghosted through my head and I nodded nervously. “What do you know of wolven?”

“Quite a bit.” I swallowed hard, and it hurt terribly. “My mother,” the word broke in my throat. She had taught me so much about them, but ultimately the worst memories surfaced first. “She had a wolven mate. He took her away and ended up beating her to death.”

I watched his face wince up and he squeezed my hand. “I would never hurt you.”

My eyes grew wide. “So I’m your…”

He winced again, differently this time. “I wanted to tell you all of this, gradually, but I can’t have you in danger. My pack is safe. I can promise you that.”

I didn’t say anything and he seemed to notice my panic increasing because he pulled over on the highway. Throwing the car into park he turned to me, giving me a moment to calm with my face in his hands.

“Evadiene, it is entirely up to you where we go, but I will not leave you. You are my everything and I can’t bare to lose you.” He pressed my hand to his heart. “Your happiness is mine and so is your pain. I would never, ever hurt you, and that I can promise you.”

I found myself nodding, feeling calmer in his presence and looking into his eyes. Even as tears fell from my eyes, I was feeling better. He pulled me in and kissed my forehead, but my heart had started racing looking at his lips.

Before he could pull away I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled his face to meet mine. His lips were hesitant, but as mine moved over his, his hands moved up into my hair and pulled me to him as well. I felt safe, I felt loved, and I wanted everything he could offer me.

When we finally separated our foreheads touched and we closed our eyes. “Okay, I’ll come with you, but I need to go home and get some things.”

He nodded against me. “Tell me the way.”

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