Hearth of Heart: A Chicago Franchise Fanfiction [Mature]

Chapter 6

I tried to open my eyes. The pounding in my head felt so intense, like a head injury. When my lids finally fluttered open, I saw a low ceiling and a visor. A car. I'm in a car. Panic crept through me when I realised it's not my car. My ceiling is beige, but this is dark grey. I tried to sat up, but my body is resisting my mind.

Then a voice called out. "Relax." A man's voice. I assumed it was the man in the leather hoodie, whom I caught a glimpse of before I pass out. Though I have a hard time remembering that fact. I grunted as a response.

"Who are you?" I managed to muster.

"Don't worry. I ain't a rapist or anything. I'm a detective," he said. I felt a little calmer knowing the fact, but still suspicious. What if he's lying ? God, I'm so stupid. I've never put my life in a stranger's mercy like this before.

"And I'm a teacher. Yay we're bestfriends now," I said sarcastically.

"Okay, tone down the attitude there, señorita," he said. I finally turned my head to face him.

Boom. My senses was overwhelmed. I saw a man, definitely my type. Dark and rugged. He had black hair, brown eyes. Square jaws chiseled to perfection. Plump lips. A stubble of beard. 

"Luella," I reached out my hand. He took it in his.

"Antonio," he said.

"Gosh, I'm sorry. It was stupid of me to get this wasted," I said.

"Hey, I get it," he said, raising his hands besides his head. He did seem like a guy who's seen the worst of life.

"I would go home if I was strong enough. I apologise," I said.

"It's fine. I can take you home," he said.

"Oh no," I said, hoping to sound like I don't want to impose. But really ? The fact is I'm very, very reluctant to give my home address to a stranger.

"I insist," he said, while reaching inside his pocket. I flinched, expecting a knife or to be held at gunpoint. But he took out a small leather case and flapped it open. His badge.

I spontaneously let out a sigh or relief. "Bollocks. I'm sorry. Again," I said, knowing I seem very impolite.

"It's fine. It's normal to be cautious. It's good, even," he said. I gave him my address. He drove to my house in silence. And for a while, I was grateful for it.

"I'm really sorry," I said again.

"I know," he said jokingly.

"You didn't have to, you know ?"

"It's fine. What about your car, though ?" he said, concerned.

"That's okay. I work at The Clam. I can leave it there and get it tomorrow morning," I said.

"You work there ?" he said, surprised.

"Yeah, why ?"

"Nothing. It's just generally a bad idea to get wasted at your workplace," he stated.

"Thank you, Mr. Obvious. It's nothing like that. I sing there occasionally, and they pay me for it. My day job is teaching,'' I said.

"You're a singer and a teacher ?" he asked like it was the last thing he expected.

"Is there something wrong with that ?"

"Nope. I kinda figured the singing part. Singers usually have this voice that's easy to listen to, that makes people addicted, kind of like yours. The teacher part caught me off guard," he said. I blush instantly. He's basically saying he likes listening to my voice, right ? Or am I reading between the lines ? I curse at myself. I become super flirty when I'm drunk. And another guy in my life is the last thing I need, considering it was also a guy that got me drunk. He finally pulled up onto my driveway.