Chapter 2

Chapter Song - Reptilia by The Strokes

EPOV

"This is the last fucking time, Dimitri!" Emmett admonishes, shoving the bound man out of the car toward where I'm waiting by the open door with metal fingers, hyped and ready for a fight. We're by the Pier, on a private little dock that we use as an occasional dropoff. We own the docks surrounding the one we're currently on, so if anyone sees something, we know how to control it.

As soon as Dimitri crashes into me, I'm wailing into him, hitting whatever I can, until there's a bloody outline of the man, distorted by puffy features and broken bones. It may be a little excessive, and he'll probably be in the hospital for quite a while after this, but we caught him skimming some money from the corners we asked him to manage. He only was working the corners after being demoted when we found out he was mishandling his job at one of the clubs. Fucking idiot has fucked up twice now, and he's on a tight leash with the Family, plus my Pops doesn't take too kindly to thieves. The fucker is lucky my father decided to stay home today, otherwise, he might not have made it to tomorrow. As it is, the man is unconscious, and I'm left standing there covered in his blood.

You'd think once blood was spraying into my face it might make me calm down a bit, or gross me out even. I'm not sure what kind of sick psychological thing I've got going on, but as soon as I see blood, I feel thrilled, energized, like when that first line hits you. The red triggers something in me, exciting me, a boost of adrenaline to my veins. I fucking love my job. I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day with me, but I don't think I'll ever find out.

We leave Dimitri bleeding out on the dock, figuring he'll find his own way back. We're back in the car and heading into the city. Emmett's driving and I'm sweating in the passenger seat, lighting a smoke, jonesing for a hit, or a drink, or a girl.

Bella…

It's kind of ridiculous that almost a week later I'm still thinking about that girl. I even considered going back to the Market with my mom today but had other things to do. Plus, I'm too prideful to chase after a girl at a fucking farmer's market. That's just not my scene, and I'm not about to change up now.

"You wanna hit up Reds tonight?" I ask Emmett, figuring he might be on the same train of thought as me. If I can't get that girl, I can at least fuck her out of my system.

"Fuck, yes," Emmett agrees rowdily, slamming a palm into the steering wheel. "You still got that suit I left at your place?"

"Yeah, you can clean up there."

It's not long before we've cleaned up and switched cars, showing up at my club Reds in our best suits, equipped with our best coke, ready to get into something tonight. Based on the line outside and the plethora of activity at the front door, it's a good night here, and I had a great feeling about the prospects.

Upon entering, we passed through the dance floor, forgoing the bar and heading into the VIP section, where everyone but my brother and I were thrown out. Almost immediately, one of our waitresses Irina is bringing us a bottle of expensive whiskey in a whirl of her perfume and fake tits. She winks at me as she vacates the booth, and I know she wants another ride with me in the back closet, but I'm feeling a brunette. Like I said, get the girl out of my system.

I'm enjoying a glass of whiskey, watching Emmett try to pick up the new bottle girl, Rose, for the millionth time since she started working for the club. I honestly don't see the appeal, but he's pretty hung up on the girl, so I'll let him spit game in peace. Instead of focusing on them, I turn to the floor and try to scout out my next conquest. I'm itching to grab a girl and head to the back.

First, I spy a tiny little brunette with a spiky pixie cut, but she looks too much like my sister-in-law, Alice, for me to be interested. Another girl looks like she could be from the Amazon, tan and tall and all legs, but she's not curvy like the girl I'm trying to recreate, so she's quickly ruled out. Over by the bar is a girl in a skin-tight number down to her knees, and the curves look just right, and the hair is pin straight but long and dark, just like hers. I'm waiting for my prospective fuck to turn around so I can see if she's worth getting up for, meanwhile admiring the curve of her ass in that dress, classier than any of the other girls in this club. I watch as she grabs her Old Fashioned - fuck, I love a girl who tastes like whiskey - and she turns to her friend next to her, giving me the first peek at her face. I'm so shocked that I stand suddenly, nearly losing my drink to the floor. My reflexes are fast, and I catch it quickly, setting it back on the table in front of us.

Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world...

"I'll be back," I tell Emmett, and without waiting for him to respond, I leave our booth and brave the disgusting crowd to approach the girl in the skin-tight dress, because surely it's a sign that the night that I'm looking to forget about her, she's here. Bella.

She glances up as I approach, her painted red lips moving from her natural pout to a smirk as she looks me up and down. I see her friend look back at me, trying to see what took Bella's interest, but I ignore her and hope she takes the hint and moves on. Luckily for me, she does, and I quickly occupy her spot at the bar. Now it's just me and Bella, finally.

"You're just as beautiful as I remember," I tell her, my awkward form of a greeting. She only smiles in response, large and dazed, and I realize her eyes are bloodshot like maybe she smoked before she came into my club. Suddenly, a longing swells within me to smoke a joint with her, preferably naked, and after I've come somewhere inside her. I choose a different approach.

"I've been thinking about you," I tell her, reaching out suavely to brush my fingertips lightly against her arm. Her skin is so fucking warm, and soft. "Since I saw you, I've been thinking about you."

"Is that right, Edward?" She drawls, all marijuana slow, and her pink tongue forms my name behind her teeth, and I'm done for. I'm staring at her mouth, on display with that deep red. When the bartender interrupts, clearly in a panic that I'm at the bar and he hasn't been by to serve me yet, I'm forced to tear my gaze away from Bella, dismissing him. The interaction is enough to gain her attention though, and she's pulling dark eyebrows together, her lips in a pout again.

"You must be important to have the bartender checking on you like that," she comments dryly, flickering her eyes suspiciously between me and the bartender. "I had to wait twenty minutes to get a drink, and my friend has her best push-up bra on." Of course, the mention of bras made me glance down at Bella's chest, and I realize there's no way she's wearing a bra under that dress. Damn.

"It's my club, girl," I tell her, not at all humble. "Come with me to VIP. I've got a much better bottle of whiskey open back there."

Bella shakes her head, smiling dryly. "I came with my friend. She'll miss me."

Said friend is already grinding against some blonde guy, and I watch as Bella realizes this too. Instead of taking my offer, though, she shrugs. "I need to get home anyway." I watch helplessly as she finishes her drink, then collects her purse and leans on her toes to press a kiss to my cheek. "Have a good rest of your night," She mumbles, all breathy and awkward now, and I'm fumbling through my thoughts, trying to figure out how to get her to stay. While wrapped up in my thoughts, however, she's already taken off, heading towards the exit, and I find myself rushing to catch up to her. When I do, I grab her arm to ensure the crowd doesn't separate us again.

"Are you sure I can't convince you to stay? Even for one drink? I promise I'll make it worth your while." I say this confidently, smirking at her, but she shakes her head and keeps walking. Now I'm starting to get fucking frustrated. Why the fuck this girl is so intent on running from me again?

Soon, we've both exited the building and Bella is pushing her way towards a taxi, her curvy ass attracting the attention of too many other guys for my liking. I hold in a growl as I notice the way others notice her, doubting she'll like my reaction. Not wanting to lose this opportunity, I grab her just before she can climb into the backseat of the waiting cab, spinning her around and pulling her against me. She's tiny, despite all her curves, and I have to bow my head down to look into her eyes. I give her a moment to push me away, and when she doesn't, I press my lips against her own. My mouth is frantic against hers, tongue pushing against her teeth, and I soon realize that her puffy lips are matching my fervor, devouring me almost as thoroughly as I am attacking her. Her tongue meets my own and battles for dominance, and fuck, if I'm not turned on. My entire body is alive, thrumming with anticipation, with desire, with this fucking need, but all too soon she pulls away, looking wide-eyed and alarmed. I start to wonder if I should apologize, surprised by her horrified reaction, but instead of giving me the chance, she slams the cab door shut and I'm forced to watch as she's whisked away by the sea of Chicago traffic. And once again, Bella has left me with a raging hard-on and not even a hint of her last name. Fuck.