Hidden Scars

Chapter 4: familiar back

Eliana's POV

“I wish I could help,” I softly murmur, and her anger ebbs away.

“I’m afraid there’s no solution to my predicament,” she replies before quirking her eyebrow at me. “So how about we fix yours? Tell me what happened.”

My mood deflates at the reminder. I almost forgot about my dilemma. Knowing Rosa won’t let me off the hook again, I decide to confess. Although, I’m afraid I only have one option.

“I’m going to need a drink first,” I finally say.

“Pretty sure there’s plenty here.” She winks and it makes me smile.

“Vita is being a self-centered b***h, Lia.”

“Rosa!” I scold, but she peers back unflinchingly.

We’re sitting at the bar that we found easily by following the low hum of chatter and music. I’m drinking a gin martini while she’s sipping red wine. If I expected high class hookers and strippers dancing on men’s lap, I was dead wrong.

The place is all elegance and silent wealth.

I was drooling, just like Rosa warned, except I acted cool outwardly. The minute we had taken a step inside, all the men halted and stared but as soon as they recognized Rosa, the conversation eased.

The inside is so much more stunning than I imagined. The walls are painted in a navy blue that almost appears black under the lighting while the bar sits in the middle. Just past it is a casino where I could see men sitting in circles around tables, laughing and betting. Everything they could desire is waiting to appear at their command.

Power is a heady drug and all of us are its slaves.

Men all laugh and joke like old pals and yet most wouldn’t hesitate in stabbing the other in the back just to succeed. It’s the one thing I hate the most about our world.

No one is trustworthy.

“You know I’m right?” Rosa says, arching one perfect eyebrow.

“How would you feel if the situation was reversed and Jasmine told you to fend for yourself?” I ask hypothetically by mentioning her older sister, who is already married.

“God I hope so. She doesn’t possess a cheating bone in her body,” huffs Rosa, not taking me seriously.

“You know what I mean.”

She sighs and settles her free hand on mine.

“You’re too young to settle down,” she states. “Especially with a stranger you’ll probably meet twice before the wedding day.”

“I know,” I murmur.

“Hell, I’ve known Nova my entire life, yet I want to run away.”

“I would like to see you try,” taunts an arrogant voice, interrupting us.

My head whips toward Nova’s who has his dark eyes fixed on Rosa with part hate and part possessiveness. They trail down to the drink in her hand before slowly rising back to her glaring face.

Nova is a few years older than us and runs in a completely different circle. Though his circle of friends is big, it’s mostly superficial. He only has one close friend, Nathan Singhania, who also happens to be dating our friend, Iris. He must be around here somewhere.

I wonder if Iris knows.

“You’ll never catch me if I choose to,” Rosa taunts back before turning to ignore him.

I watch as he inches closer and crowds her against the bar with his hands on each side. Rosa isn’t intimidated as she meets his gaze head-on. I might as well not exist to them both as he leans down to whisper in her ear.

Whatever he says has a shutter going down Rosa’s eyes and her hand tightening around her glass.

Their marriage won’t be dull, that I’m certain of.

Mine, if I choose to, the same can’t be said.

I’m about to intersect them, when my attention is caught by someone else. My heart stutters as I blink rapidly, thinking my eyes are playing a cruel joke.

It can’t be him.

The pounding of my pulse says otherwise as I stare at that familiar broad back. I would recognize that smooth and cocky gait anywhere. Long forgotten memories assault me like a freight train.

Soft lips kissing my tears away.

Rough hands eagerly pulling each article of my clothes off.

Mouth licking and sucking my skin while fingers caress the inside of my thigh as they inch closer to my heat. The burn of his hard length, which is piercing my walls.

A deep voice whispering, “Call out my name, Eliana.”

I swallow thickly and shiver, feeling those invisible hands on my body, and search for him. Rosa and Nova are still bickering like an old married couple and don’t notice when I slip away. My feet carry me in the same direction as him…the man I swore to never run into.

The one I tried harder to forget than the one who broke my heart.

The one who shouldn’t even belong in my world, least of all this place.

The hallway he walked into is narrow and deserted with only dim lights to guide. My heartbeat thuds in my ears as I glance behind, expecting him to sneak up on me. I tell myself he hasn’t seen me and even if he did, he will never approach me.

He only ever liked to watch me from afar.

Just like I did with him, despite promising myself not to each time.

Maybe I deserved what happened to me…

No. I shut down the doubtful and accusing voice inside my head and keep moving ahead. I have to take a left until I stand before a door marked asThe Mirage and below it…private. My curiosity is piqued as I wonder what lies beyond because no noise comes from the other side.

Maybe there is a s*x dungeon, after all.

There’s a horizontal brass door handle, so I grab and give it a shove, but it doesn’t budge. I’m disappointed to find it locked and search for another way inside. Do I need a code or a card to enter? I saw him go in this direction, so he obviously didn’t just disappear.

“Ma’am.”

I jump at the voice from behind me and twist to look back. A different guard, this one dressed in black, watches me with a suspicious gaze.

“Women aren’t allowed back in here alone,” he informs me.

“I’m with someone,” I lie, and he notices the subtle hitch in my voice and takes a step forward. “I only came out to get a drink from the bar.”

“May I know their name?”

Fuck! I’m about to tell Nova’s name when I’m whipped backward as the door opens behind me. My grip slips from the brass knuckle while strong and steady hands grab my shoulders.

“Careful, beautiful,” a silky smooth voice says in my ear.

I look up into the brightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen and push away from him. He feels familiar but I can’t place from where. He’s handsome and tall but I can’t find it in me to admire him as I hear the guard’s footsteps come closer.

“Ma’am. I need you to come with me,” he orders like I’m trespassing.

I look between the two men as they keep me trapped. Suddenly, an impulsive idea that will put me in trouble forms at the tip of my tongue. I need to know if it was him I saw. So, as the guard makes a grab for me, I run past the other man into the still open door.