“That night everyone got drunk on the beach. I was going to make a move that night, but you never came back out. She said she thought it was because you were a virgin. That’s when Jafar said you were sick.”
God, why does it hurt knowing Jasmine was talking, and probably laughing, about me? I shouldn’t care. I should be used to it. But it still feels like a knife is being shoved deep into my heart.
“Like I said, I don’t know you very well.”
“Fucking figures.”
He’s about to say something else when the door opens and Jafar walks in looking like he’s going to murder someone. He’s wearing all black and doesn’t hide his shoulder holster with a pistol in it. Seeing him like that should scare me. Oh, my heart is racing, but it has nothing to do with fear. I swear the entire bar goes silent, as if they’re afraid to make a sound.
“Boss, didn’t expect to see you tonight,” the bartender finally calls out.
Al mutters under his breath. “Fuck, this is bad.”
His tone snaps me out of my stupor, and I look at him.
“What do you mean?”
“He, uh, told me to stay away from you. Said you didn’t need to be involved in our world.”
“Why would he say that?”
“I don’t know. All I know is he’s going to be pissed when he sees you, and he’sgoingto see you.”
I have a terrible feeling that he’s right, but I have to at least try to make a run for it.
“Is there a back door?”
“What?”
I say, “I need to leave. Now.”
Before Jafar spots me.
“There’s no way you’re going to get out of here.”
“Al,” I snap.
“The back door is down that hallway.” He says, pointing.
I notice that he doesn’t make any move to show me the way. In fact, he leans further into the shadows of the room, as if he’s hiding. Freaking coward. I grab my purse and take off before I can think about what I’m doing. I make it to the hallway without causing a scene. Hopefully, Jafar didn’t see me. Heck, maybe it’s just a coincidence that he’s here. That thought goes right out of my head when he grabs me, pulling me flush against his chest. His body is tense with anger, and I can’t help but to shiver.
“Where are you running off to, little mouse?”
“Just going to check out the bathroom and see if there’s anything I can steal,” I shoot back.
His eyes glint. “Really? Let’s go in there right now and see.”
Gripping my arm, he drags me down the dark hallway to the last room, which isn’t a bathroom. It’s an office. His office, if I were to guess. He closes the door, locking it, and somehow ends up holding my purse.
“You’ve been quite the naughty girl, Ellie. Having drinks with scum like Al. In my bar.”
I move so I’m standing behind his chair, holding onto the back of it, as if it will protect me from the wrath circling Jafar.
“I didn’t know it was your bar.”
He hums. “I run Manhattan. Everything in my territory belongs to me.”
“Not everything,” I reply, feeling bold.