Chapter 2

Alison

“Steal?” I said in a shocking tone. “I’m not doing that.”

“You have no choice err…” he looked at me, with those dark eyes that made my skin crawl. “What’s your name?”

“It’s Alison.” I replied. “And I’m not stealing for you. If there’s something else I could do…”

“Alison!” He called my name and I wondered why until he spoke up again. “Do you want the  bouncer  to throw you out? Because I wouldn’t hesitate to tell them that you  tried to do something shady.”

I sighed.  I couldn’t get thrown out. I needed to see Adam. He was the only one who could save me from sleeping on the streets.

“Are you going to do what I ask or should I call the bouncer?”

I was trapped. I just had to do it.

“Okay what do you want me to steal?” I said and a smirk popped up on his lips. It could be mistaken for a smile because of the way his eyes radiated.

“You see that man over there with the hat. He has a watch placed in his pocket all you have to do is swipe it off him and bring it to me.”

“What if he catches me?” I asked.

“He can’t use  your womanly charms to entice him.” He leaned closer his breathe fanning against my eyes. “It’s a good thing you got perky breast.”

My eyes widened at his words and his smirk widened. “Steal the watch and report to me. I would be in the back room over there.”

He pointed to a door close to the entrance. “Don’t think I wouldn’t be watching you.”

He walked away, leaving me standing in the midst of the crowd.

I sighed taking a step forward, the closer I got closer to the man. The more I noticed different things about him.

He had a tattoo spread across his hands, and marks on his skin were there wasn’t any ink.

He looked dangerous, at that point I knew if I got caught. I wouldn’t spare me.

I walked closer to the man, trying to keep my nerves from showing.

As I approached, him he looked at me, and I noticed his other eye was covered by a deep scar.

I was doomed.

I positioned myself across from him.

“What’s a man like you doing here all alone?” I asked.

His voice was gruff as he replied, “Great men dine alone.”

I gave him a coy smile, leaning slightly forward. “Great men need great women by their side.”

He grunted, taking a slow sip from his glass, his eye never leaving me. His hand shifted slightly, and that’s when I noticed the watch sticking out of his pocket.

“Let me treat you well,” I murmured.

He raised a brow. “Are you a whore?”

I shook my head, forcing a playful smile remembering the stranger’s words.

“I can your whore,” I said softly, pushing my chest forward just enough to hold his attention. His eye darted to my neckline.

I leaned closer, pretending to adjust my hair. My hand moved toward the edge of the table, and with a calculated nudge, I knocked his drink over.

“Damn it!” he yelled, jumping to his feet as the liquid spilled down his short.

“I’m so sorry!” I gasped, moving to his short.

My hand slipped to his pocket, fingers brushing against the cool metal of the watch.

In one quick motion, I slid it out and hid it in my pocket.

“Let me help you clean this properly,” I said.

“Just get away from me!” he barked, waving me off angrily. He turned to a nearby server. “Boy! Get me a cloth!”

As he turned his attention away, I slipped into the crowd. Instead of heading back to the stranger who’d sent me, I decided to find Adam.

I moved quickly through the crowd, scanning for Adam’s familiar frame. But before I could spot him, I heard a shout from behind me.

“There she is!”

I turned to see the man I’d stolen from pointing in my direction.

“Thief!” he roared, and the room erupted into chaos.

Bullets shattered glasses as men began firing endlessly.

Screams filled the air as servers ducked for cover. My heart raced as I shoved my way through the panicked crowd.

Suddenly, I felt a strong hand grab my arm, pulling me backward.

It was the stranger—the dark-eyed man who’d sent me on this insane mission.

“This way!” he barked, pulling me toward the back of the pub.

“Wait!” I protested, my voice barely audible over the gunfire. “I need to find my friend!”

“There’s no time! Do you want to get killed?”

Before I could argue, he dragged me outside roughly.

We stopped in front of a car which looked very expensive.

“Get in!” He ordered, and looked at him shocked. “We need to leave now.”

“I’m not doing that.” I said. “I stole your watch, now just let me go.”

“If I leave you here you are going to get killed. I’m trying to protect you.”

“You put me in this mess.” I pointed out. “I have a feeling you’re going to put me in more messes. Just take your watch and  let me go.”

“Alison, fucking get in the car.” His tone was edgy.

Before I could argue a voice rang out behind us. “Shoot her!”

I froze, fear gripping me.

“Move!” the stranger shouted, opening the door of the car.

I jumped in as he started the engine, the tires screeching against the pavement.

“Duck!” he ordered, pulling a gun from his jacket.

I barely had time to lower my head before he rolled down the window and fired several shots at our pursuers.

“What the hell did you get me into?” I shouted, my voice shaking.

He glanced at me briefly, his dark eyes colder than before. “This is just beginning.”

I wanted to ask what he meant by that, but the sound of another gunfire silenced me.