Songs Unsung - Book One

Chapter Seventeen

Dedicated to SweetyMe28 - A Loyal Fan - X

He pulled me into the nearest bar and ushered me to a table. "Why are we here?" I asked, completely confused.

"Shh" he breathed, stopping me from asking another question. "Just watch".

Wondering if he had lost his mind, I looked to his eyes and followed their direction to the door of the bar. Two men wearing black leather jackets walked in, making their way to the bar, both ordering a water and moving to opposite ends of the facility. Shortly after, another man made his way inside, again, ordering only water before sitting alone at a table.

"Odd" I thought, quietly focusing on their behavior. Chase moved his face closer to mine as he whispered "Okay, now see that man over there" nodding his head toward the pool table where one of the men in the black leather jackets stood against a wall, holding his glass of water.

"Yeah" I responded, feeling puzzled and thinking the man looked oddly familiar.

"He is one of my men" said Chase

Hold on, what?

"Huh?" I questioned, even more confused.

Chase continued, without answering me. "Now, see that man over there?" he motioned his eyes toward the bar where the other man, wearing the same black leather jacket sat, looking at his water.

"Mm hmm" I nodded

"Another one of my men" he stated. "Now, more importantly, see the man over there with the blue jacket? See? Sitting alone at the table?" he partially pointed his finger in the direction of a man who again, looked very familiar.

"Yeah, who is he? I know him from somewhere!" I said, shaking my head as I tried to remember how I knew him.

"He is one of Antonio's men" Chase replied sternly.

Memories of the past two months flooded to my mind. Flashes of all three men's faces in every setting I could think of hit the front of my brain like lightning. They had been everywhere I was for months!

"I'm going to be sick" I oozed, holding my chest as I realized what Chase was showing me.

"I might not have been with you, but you were never alone." Chase whispered, looking down at me with hard eyes. "My men had strict instructions to keep a close eye on you and call me if anything happened to you - even if it was a grazed knee. That's how I knew you were in danger today. Three of my men are in hospital from what happened at your apartment. They found Antonio's men and protected Candice".

He lifted my chin with his hand and grabbed my gaze. "I will never leave you alone Annabelle" his stare made me feel naked and exposed, but not uncomfortable. He was with me the whole time, just not physically. I felt a safety I'd never felt before and as I continued to look deeply into his eyes, the men in jackets, the bartenders and the entire bar disappeared from around me. It was just us, alone - and in that moment, I never wanted to leave.

Chase moved his thumb and brushed it over my lips whilst he turned his eyes to look at them. He licked his lips as he softly pulled down on my bottom lip, letting it jump back up into place. His eyes found mine once again and I watched as they sparkled whilst he looked deep within me. He moved his hands to both cradle my face, cupping it as he leant forward to place a soft kiss on my forehead. I let out a slight moan as his lips made contact with my skin, breathing heavily in that moment whilst it felt like my heart was about to jump from my chest.

"I want you and Candice to come and stay with me for the weekend" Chase whispered, catapulting me back into the real world.

"What about Scarlett?" I asked, without a filter, instantly regretting the decision.

"Scarlett? As in Scarlett Simms?" Chase asked, his brow crooked in confusion.

"Yes" I replied with a niggling twitch of nervousness in my eye.

"What does she have to do with anything?" asked Chase in a tone of annoyance

"Aren't you dating, or getting married or something?" I asked "She probably wouldn't like you bringing two women home for the weekend"

Chase let out a deep rumble of a laugh

"What?" I snapped, feeling annoyed at his response

"Have you been reading gossip columns?" he asked, stopping for a breath between laughs.

"Well...It's true isn't it?" I muttered, feeling confused

"NO!" he scoffed, now laughing even harder than before

"You're making me feel like a fool right now Chase!" I hissed feeling more annoyed at his bout of laughter at my expense.

"Scarlett is a friend, barely even that" Chase replied, now calming from his laughter "Our managers have agreed that we should share some publicity and be seen together at events. Don't believe everything you read Annabelle!". His eyes smiled as they sparkled with happiness.

"Well, I'm happy to be the cause of your laughter Chase Thomas" I stated sarcastically

"Was that jealousy Annabelle Thompson?" chase asked, now looking devishly mischievous with a partial smile

"You're kidding aren't you?" I scoffed, as I stood from the table "I didn't want to see you get in any trouble, that's all. You really need to tone down that ego of yours! Not every woman wants to be with you Chase Thomas!" with that, I turned to make my way to the exit, only to be pulled back by Chase.

He pulled my body close to his, standing only a millimeter apart and tilted my chin up to have my eyes hit his. Moving his face down to mine, he placed his mouth on top of my lips, pausing to hover over them as if time stopped still for a moment. My body stood frozen, unable to think or move as it was filled with anticipation for his next move. Chase slowly tilted his chin up to make his bottom lip gently brush my top lip before stepping backwards and grabbing hold of my sight with his.

"But you do" he said with a Cheshire grin

"Oh my god!" I yelled as I hit him on the arm. "You're so full of yourself!"

Chase laughed hard, holding his stomach as he watched me have a meltdown in front of him.

"You're hilarious!" I yelled as I stomped on my heel past him, making my way out of the bar. I heard fits of laughter from behind me as I stormed back toward the apartment. Chase was following me, feeling very proud of himself.

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