The Siren (9 page)

I narrowed my eyes. “I’m not that drunk.”

“That’s what all drunks say.”

I tugged on his nose. “You’re pretty cute, you know?” I said. “In a cute and scary kind of way.”

He laughed. “Cute and scary, huh?”
 

I held my thumb and index finger millimeters apart. “A little bit scary.”

Warren pointed at Nathan who was twirling Shannon around a non-existent dance floor. “How much has he had to drink? He doesn’t strike me as a dancing kind of guy.”

I laughed. “Nathan, you look ridiculous!”

Upon hearing his name, Nathan stopped dancing and came over and grabbed my hand. “Can I borrow her for a second, Warren?”

“Bring her back in one piece,” Warren said. “And watch where you put your hands. I’ve got my eye on you.”

Nathan pulled me to my feet and spun me under his arm toward the piano.
 

Shannon sat down at the table, obviously drunk because she wasn’t even mad she had been jilted for me.
 

“You think I look ridiculous, huh?” Nathan asked.

I laughed as he twirled me around. “You can’t dance.”
 

“Maybe not, but you can’t either!” He dipped me back so far that I almost toppled over, taking him down with me. He straightened up and rested his forehead against mine, laughing.
 

Warren was snapping his fingers in our direction. “Hey! Leave room for the Holy Spirit there, McNamara.”

Nathan laughed and took a step away from me. He started hopping from one foot to the other like a drunken leprechaun.

I laughed and grabbed his forearms. “Let’s go get more drinks. I’m thirsty.”

He stopped hopping. “OK. Hey, Warren! Shannon!” he called out. “Want another round?”

“Yes!” Shannon squealed.

Warren held up his half-full glass. “No thanks. I’m good.”

Arm in arm, Nathan and I supported each other as we pushed our way across the room. His eyes were still dancing, and he had sweat trickling out from under his cap. He laughed as he tried to catch his breath.

We leaned against the glossy, wooden bar, and he looked around for the bartender.
 

I bumped him with my hip. “I’m pretty mad at you, you know.”
 

He laughed. “I know.”
 

“I’m serious.”

He looked over at me and his laughter faded. “What was I supposed to do though? Not bring a date and hang out with you sitting on his lap all weekend? That’s not me.”

 
I looked back to the table where Shannon was giggling something to Warren and sitting a little closer to him than I was comfortable with. My raging hypocrisy surprised me as I realized I was still clutching Nathan’s arm. I released him. “Are you serious about her?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“So, you’re not going to move her to Charlotte if you take the job?”

He frowned and raised an eyebrow at me.
 

I laughed. “I didn’t think so. You should probably tell her though. It’s not fair. Not fair even for Shannon Green.”

He nudged me with his elbow. “I think you’re starting to like her.”

I smirked. “Hardly.”
 

The bartender stopped in front of us with an expectant stare.

Nathan leaned forward. “Two Smithwick’s and another damn cosmopolitan, please.”

I laughed when the bartender rolled his eyes.
 

We turned around as we waited. Shannon was talking to Warren with dramatic and flailing arms like she was cheating at a game of charades. He looked at us with wide, pleading eyes, begging for our quick return.

Nathan looked over at me. “What are you going to do when he leaves?”
 

My face fell. “I’ve been asking myself that since the minute he told me. Survive, I guess.”

He shook his head. “I can’t imagine the migraine that will come as a result of him leaving the country. I might as well book your hospital room now.”

Nathan had been there the first time Warren left and I developed my first hemiplegic migraine. He had actually broken through my back door and carried me to the ambulance. Then he slept in a chair all night beside me at the hospital. The second time it happened, I was with him again. That night, I puked down the front of his pants and ruined his tactical boots.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do. Especially if you’re in Charlotte and not there to let me throw up all over you.” I smiled at him.

He grimaced. “That was the most disgusting night of my life. I don’t even want to think about it.”

I laughed and felt my cheeks flush. “Well, you’ve repaid me by letting Shannon crash my vacation.”

He shook his head. “Not even remotely close.”

The bartender brought us our drinks. I picked up my beer and Nathan followed me to our table. Warren looked bewildered as I leaned down in front of him. “You OK?” I asked.

“I don’t think she has an off button.” He jerked his thumb toward her. “Getting her drunk was a very bad, bad idea.”

I laughed and kissed him. “I’m going to run to the bathroom.”

“Sloan, wait!” Shannon called as I walked toward the bathroom. I stopped and she nearly plowed into me.
 

She hooked her arm through mine, and I turned around in time to see Warren and Nathan sharing a laugh at my expense. I stuck out my tongue at both of them.

After using the restroom, I washed my hands while Shannon slathered on a new layer of lipstick like a fat-fingered kindergartner using a red crayon for the first time. To keep from laughing, I bit the insides of my lips.

The water ran cold over my hands, and a chill zinged down my spine. I shuddered. The room looked brighter. The music seemed louder. For a second, I felt lightheaded.
No more booze for me.
I shut off the water and reached for a paper towel.

“Your boyfriend is hot, Sloan.” Her speech was slurred, and she staggered as she stepped back and smacked her red lips together.

“I know he is.” I pointed at her. “You stay away from him.”

She laughed. “That was a long time ago. I was jealous of you.”

“Jealous?”
 

She waved her arm toward me and nearly fell into the sink. “Yeah. You won homecoming and you were the captain of the cheerleading squad, even though you’re uncoordinated as shit,” she confessed. “I secretly hated you.”

I smirked. “That’s good to know.”

“I am really sorry though. I was a bitch.” She was making a serious attempt at a pouty face.

I nodded. “You’ve got that right.”

She grabbed me by the shoulders. “I mean it, Sloan. I’m really sorry.”

Rolling my eyes, I took her by the wrist. “Come on, blondie.”

When I hauled her out of the bathroom and turned toward our table, I slammed face-first into the blackest soul I’d ever seen.

7.

“Oh, excuse me.” The man’s moist breath hit my face, reeking of bad scotch and stale cigarettes.

I would have screamed had I been able to breathe.
 

He ran a calloused hand over his oily black hair and brushed against my arm as he walked past. I thought my skin might peel away from the bone.
 

The room began spinning out of control. My legs crumpled under me, my knees landing with a thud on the scuffed and sticky hardwood floor.
 

“Sloan? You all right?” Shannon’s voice sounded far away.

The only response I could muster was shaking my head.

A calming wave washed over me as Warren’s strong arms closed around my waist. He hoisted me to my feet, and for the first time in almost a full minute, I inhaled. My hands were shaking, and sweat was prickling my forehead.
 

“Sloan, what is it?” He turned me around and studied my eyes.

“Men’s room” was all I could choke out.

Warren spun his head around. “Nate!” he shouted and pointed at me.

Shannon grabbed my hand when Warren stepped away, and Nathan caught me in his arms before my knees buckled again.

“Outside.” I was beginning to hyperventilate. “Take me out.”

Nathan hooked his arm around me. “Shannon, tell the waitress we’ll be right back. I’m going to take her out for some air.”

“What’s wrong?” The panic in her voice was evident to everyone who could hear. Other patrons were looking around with alarm.

“Outside,” I said again, digging my nails into his arm.

“Just go!” Nathan shouted at Shannon.
 

I put my arm around his shoulders as he helped me across the crowded room toward the front door.
 

When we were outside in the warm night air, I gasped, sucking deep into my lungs every molecule of oxygen I could. It was too much, and I puked in the planter on the sidewalk.

Once again, Nathan held back my hair.

When I was finished, he steered me away from the door to a park bench nearby. I collapsed onto it the second we were close enough.

He dropped to a knee in front of me, but he wobbled a bit and had to catch himself before falling over. “What happened?”

Shaking my head, I continued to focus on breathing. To be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure what had happened inside the bar. “There was a guy.” I was still panting, but I could finally speak. “Oh God, he’s bad. He’s done something really horrific.”

“Where?”

“He went into the bathroom,” I said.

He started to get up, but I grabbed his hand. “No. Please stay with me. Warren went to check it out.”

Nathan nodded and sat down next to me. He rubbed my back. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you freak out quite like that.”

I took another deep breath and blew it out with forced control. I held up my hand so he could see it violently shaking in the air. “Now you know why I take Xanax when I go to your office.”

He clasped his hands over mine and held them still.
 

A moment later, Shannon came outside with a glass of water. “Here.” She spilled a little as she offered it to me.

For the first time maybe ever, I was sincerely grateful for Shannon Green. “Thank you.”

She pointed toward the building, but the motion threw her off balance and she stumbled a bit. “I’m assuming the party’s over and it’s time to go home,” she said. “I’ll go in and settle our tab.”

I nodded and drank the water. I wanted to get as far away from Durty Nelly’s as humanly possible.

On her way inside, she knocked shoulders with Warren as they passed in the doorway. He didn’t even notice. His eyes were dark and dangerous. There was a quickness to his step that he hadn’t had all day.

“What
was
that?” I asked.

He shook his head. “I haven’t had that feeling since I was eight.” He flashed a loaded glance in my direction.

When Warren was eight years old, he and another girl were placed in the home of a child molester who had somehow made it into the foster system. It was the first time Warren had ever used his power to kill someone.
 

I had only seen him do it once to end Billy Stewart, and at that moment, I wanted him to do it again.

“I felt”—I swallowed hard—“I felt weird in the bathroom. I thought it was the alcohol. Then I came out and he was right there.”

Warren’s face was set like stone. The muscles in his forearms were rigid as he clenched his fists at his sides. “I felt it too. Then I saw you hit the floor.”

The door to the bar opened and the man came outside. I put my head between my knees and willed myself to not start throwing up again. Alcohol plus a panic attack was a bad combination.
 

Warren knelt down in front of me. “I’m going to follow him and see where he goes.” He looked at Nathan. “Are you sober enough to get her to the hotel?”

Nathan nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

Warren shook his head as he stood. “No. Some things need to be done in the absence of the law.” He kissed the top of my head. “Breathe. I’ll be back as soon as I can. You stay with Nathan.”

We watched until Warren disappeared out of sight down the River Walk. Beside me, Nathan was gently slapping his cheeks to sober up. I handed him what was left of my water.

“Thank you,” he said before draining the glass.

Shannon came out a few minutes later with my purse and hers. “We’re settled up. Where’s Warren?” she asked, looking around.

“He’s going to meet us at the hotel. Sloan, can you walk?” Nathan asked, offering me his hand.

I nodded and he helped me to my feet.

“What was that about?” Shannon teetered on her heels as we turned in the direction of the Hyatt.

I patted my chest over where my heart was slowly beginning to settle down. “It’s a long story.”

Nathan didn’t let go of my hand until we had crossed the bridge and I realized it was awkward. I pulled my hand away. He was still watching me like I might keel over at any second. I was a little worried it was with good reason.

When we reached the elevator inside our hotel, he pressed the number five button for their floor. I reached over and pushed the number seven.

“Just come with us,” he said. “Even Warren said for you to stick with me.”

I shook my head as the doors closed and we began to ascend. “No, thanks. I’m going to go to my room and lie down.”

He frowned. “You don’t look so good. I don’t think you being by yourself is a good idea. We’ll stay with you till Warren gets here.”

I put my hand on his arm. “I’m OK. Seriously.”

The doors opened on the fifth floor and they stepped out. Nathan blocked the doors with his arm and leaned in. His eyes were slightly bloodshot. “I’m worried about you,” he said, lowering his voice.

“Don’t be,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”

He pointed at me as the doors began to close. “Call me.”

“I will. Goodnight, guys. Shannon, we’ll pay you back,” I called to her.

“No worries. Goodnight, Sloan!” She bumped into a planter in the hallway.

The doors shut, and I leaned against the glass. I took a few more deep breaths and closed my eyes. When I got to my room, it felt much smaller than before. I tried to open the window, but it was sealed closed. I thought about taking my medicine, but I worried about it mixing with the alcohol.