To Find a Queen

~ FOUR ~

I’ve heard stories about them, everyone has, but unless you’re stood in the same room as them you truly cannot appreciate the sheer power that radiates from each of them… and obviously how drop dead gorgeous they are, no pun intended.

They were the main reason for the city abandoning this side of town as each one took over a slice of the city and crushed it into submission. The four of them are indestructible as far as any of us bottom dwellers are concerned. Don’t get me wrong, many have tried, and failed, to take them down, including the law and the city officials, but I’m yet to hear of anyone in this city that is even close to their status when it comes to power, to the point that nobody even knows their real names. They are simply known as The Kings.

An eon seems to pass as 6 men in the room stare at me and I flitter my eyes to each of them, feeling like im in a spotlight. Ive never been one to enjoy attention, and for the first time since I entered the room my nerves start to appear. I fidget on the spot, my heels sticking to the old carpet. Smoker, as I have now decided to call him, blows out one last breath and flicks his cigarette onto ground in front of him. It’s a testament to this place when the carpet actually puts it out without burning anything. The movement though, seems to snap everyone out of their stupor and a weight seems to lift from my shoulders as they return their attention to Vinny.

I make eye contact with smoker and I’m pretty sure I need to change my underwear when he winks at me with a cheeky smirk that reveals a small dimple in his cheek. Dear Jesus, please let me carry this man’s babies. The intrusive thought manifests itself in my head before I realize what I’m doing and I internally scold myself. Focus Athena, this is not the time nor place. But im kind of thankful for him for breaking everyones attention. I throw him a small thank you smile and with my mind now out of the gutter, granted only marginally, I clear my throat and switch my head into work mode.

Making my way over the rooms small bar, I take note of the glasses each man has to see who needs a refill, but notice only the man in the chair has a glass. I grab a clean one from under the counter and then go to grab the whisky bottle from the side but find it empty. I turn and spot a fresh bottle on the top shelf and try to reach up for it but only my fingertips reach. I’ve told Vinny a thousand times these shelves are too high.

Someone begins talking again behind me but I’m more focused on my task and I barely register what’s going on. I learned a long time ago to shut out what’s being said when business is being discussed. I spot a plastic box near the end of the bar and quickly move it under the shelf. Just as I’m about to step up, I’m crowded in by a wide chest and 2 sculpted arms and spin round to face whoever it is.

I hold my breath as I come face to face, or rather face to chest, with Smoker. This close I can truly appreciate the sheer beauty of this man. His presence seem to make me uncharacteristically relaxed as he leans in towards me and my hand comes up, barely a millimeter from resting on his chest. He’s looking at my lips. Oh my lord he’s going to kiss me. DON’T DO IT! BAD IDEA! BAD, BAD IDEA ATHENA! I internally scold myself, yet I feel myself leaning in towards him. Then, with a wink, he stands back and produces the Whisky.

My face flames red as I realized he wasn’t leaning in for a kiss, he was reaching up and grabbing the bottle for me. d**k. I manage to bite my tongue and stop myself from hurling a load of not so nice words at him for embarrassing me. However, I don’t have the strength to clearly keep them from showing through my face, if his panty melting smirk at my expression is anything to go by. A small zap of fear runs through me when I remember who this man truly is and remind myself that I need to behave or I may not walk out of this room at the end of it. That leads my mind down the rabbit hole of thoughts about what Luke really meant when he said Lucy had had an ‘accident’ and went home early. I notice Smoker move over to where the Whisky Man is sitting, and I focused back on my task of making a fresh drink.