Sweet revenge that I'd relish in. I walked to the front door but stopped before opening it. I turned back him still eyeing the bag as if it was gold. "Remember this: if you want to have even more fun, get your new plaything to open it first. It'll make things more...exciting!"
His eyes snap up and narrow.
"Goodbye, Xander," I told him, opening the door. He didn't say "bye" back as I left; instead, I heard him run to the bedroom. "Baby, tonight is going to be the craziest night you'll ever have."
I waited in the hallway for a few seconds before hearing a disgusted scream, "Ewww!"
I laughed and ran for the elevators, pushing the button. Luckily, the doors opened and I got in quickly. I pushed the button for the ground level, and then repeatedly hit the one to close the doors. I heard a room door open and footsteps running out.
"Marisa!" Xander roared.
He made it to the elevator as the doors closed. I blew him a kiss and waved goodbye, "Bye, darling!"
I burst into laughter that felt so justified, my stomach began to hurt.
Oh, so this is what it feels like. Sweet revenge, I though happily as I reached the ground floor. I quickly checked my reflection, making sure I looked okay. There wasn't a hair out of place; whatever product Gustavo used for my hair, it really was magical. The doors opened and I walked out feeling happy and content for the first time since the trip started yesterday.
The party was over.
I have dealt with Mother, Gwen, and Ben.
I repaid Xander the debt I owed him for the makeover.
I was home-free and it felt great. I was free to do what I wished, however I wanted. It's liberating knowing that from here on out, I had nothing holding me back.
I walked as fast as I could through the beautiful front lobby without seeming suspicious. "Goodbye forever, Mr. Barns. It'd been a fucked up twenty-four hours." I said quietly as the doorman opened the exit doors for me. "Thank you."
A cool gust of wind enveloped me as soon as I hit the sidewalk. I opened my clutch and pulled out my phone, checking the time. I'd received no emails. And it's just after eleven-thirty.
Time had gone by fast in there. Now that I was free, I had to decide what my next move was going to be. I had a coffee date with Dad tomorrow, which should be chill and relaxed since it'll be just the two of us. I decided to return to my room at the inn and call it a night. I walked to the curb, eyeing the busy road (Saturday night in downtown Ottawa is really busy) for a taxi.
Eek, another taxi. The cost for a taxi was going to put a small dent in my savings again. Tomorrow, I'd just walk to my childhood home; and Dad could give me a ride back to the train station.
Which was free.
I was eyeing an available taxi when a sleek black SUV rolled to the curb, stopping right in front of me. The window slid down, and I couldn't help but look since it stopped right in front of me. Sitting on the other end of the backseat was a brooding, bruised, and ripped-shirted Liam.
"Get in," he ordered.
Oh my God! I stared back at him as his deep-blue eyes penetrated my brown ones.
What am I going to do?
"Why?" I croaked back. "I don't even know you; I can't get into a car with someone I don't know."
"Get in the car!" he ordered brashly. "You know who I am."
"No, I don't; I just know you're Xander's brother, and that you're very angry right now," I explained to him, holding onto the open window frame. "So as you can see, I don't know you that well, or at all; and from what I do know, you're not too happy at this time."
"Get in the car," he demanded once again. "I've got a matter that needs discussing with you."
"What matter? I paid my debt to your brother. I don't owe you anything," I hissed at him, careful not to raise my voice and attract passersbys. "I'm not going with you, so stop bothering me. I'm leaving!"
I turned around to leave, but the two security guards that had handled Irina corral me back around. One pulled me to the side as the other opened the door, motioning for me to get it.
"Please, Miss, just get in and it'll all be over with shortly," one of the guards requested nicely.
Well, he did ask me nicely. I faced Liam. "I'm just getting inside; I'm not going anywhere with you."
Liam nodded and I entered his car. The guard shuts the door, and the window rolled up, making me nervous right away.
"What's going on?" I asked, a little scared. I peeked through the corner of my eye at Liam. The car locked went down and I looked up in worry. "What's going on?"
The driver, who I couldn't see because a shield was up to separate us, pulled the car out into traffic. "I thought we agreed that we were going to stay put?"
I look at Liam in a panic. "You lied to me."
Liam faced me. "You're going to tell me what is going on with you and my brother, right now."
My eyes widened. "And if I don't?"
Something about his demeanour changed. "Trust me, you don't want to find out."
CHAPTER 22.
"Tell me, now," Liam growled. He probably used this tone with other people; you know, fakeass, weak people who'd succumbed at the first hint of hearing his annoyance. Especially from a man like Liam, who's obviously used to being in charge. There's just a little problem; I wasn't one of those types of people anymore.
Or at least I hope I wasn't. But if I was, that's changing. Right here, right now!
Liam, watch out; you've just awakened an angry tiger!
"What do you mean you want to know what's going?" I was irritated out of my mind. "Okay, you got me! Alright," I settled on the denial aspect to this deranged situation and tried the playful approach. "You made your point... now pull over."
"The car will not pull over; not until I have some answers," Liam stated.
Like a fucking man in charge. I think not! Perhaps it's best that I tell him that, no, it's not going to be like he thinks it is!
I pounded my hands frantically behind the passenger seat. "Don't you dare drive away; I forbid you. This is illegal...I have rights!"
Strong fingers clasped my hands and put a strict stop to the pounding. "Stop shouting; contain yourself!" Liam growled. "You will tell me right now. What are you and my brother up to?"
"I'm going to pretend like you didn't just use that tone with me! But for your benefit, I'll play along anyways," I informed him. "I don't have to explain myself to you; I am a Canadian citizen; and I know my rights, asshole!'
Okay, maybe "asshole" wasn't the right thing to call someone I didn't know, judging by the way his nostrils flared and his deep-blue eyes widened. But then again, I wasn't sorry. Champions never say they're sorry, and I was a champion now. Never surrender; never give in. Stand my ground till the last moment; and if the ship sinks, then I'm going to go down with it.
Liam shook his clearly-exasperated head and leaned forward, pressing a button behind the driver's seat. "Raymond, pull the car to the curb, please."
"Finally," I exhaled. The car pulled to the curb and as soon as I felt it stop, I pulled the handle, but it was still locked. "It's not opening!"
"Tell me what's going on between you and my brother. Once you do, I'll let you out," Liam said. I leaned back in my seat in a huff, blowing a long, deep breath out, hopefully showing how aggravated and violated I felt.
These Barns brothers! Who the hell do they think they are? I know what they are: psychopaths!
"It's messed up," I whispered. "I can't explain it."
"Why not? What's really going on between the two of you that is so bad, you can't discuss it?" Liam asked, sounding irritated.
"It's nothing you need to be worried about," I explained to him, hoping that would have been enough to simmer his curiosity. I snuck a peek through the corner of my eye, and he wasn't revealing any ease at the information I'd handed out. He wanted more, which left me with no option. I had to lie. "Alright, I'll tell you. It's so embarrassing."
"Go on," Liam said.
"Xander lent me a hundred dollars yesterday on the train to Ottawa. I came over tonight to pay him back; I got the money from my parents," I explained.
It's sort of true; Xander did give me a hundred dollars.
"What?" Liam cringed, sounding unconvinced. "That makes no sense. All this trouble for a hundred dollars? I know my brother, and that is not what really happened."
"Oh yeah, I'm a liar now! Well, Mr. Smarty Pants, what do you think happened, since you seem to think you know everything?" I snapped. "Go on; lay it all out what you think happened!"
"I know that you're lying. That tells me one thing: it's not nothing," Liam said, angrily. "What has my brother done this time; what has he got on you?"
My eyes widened in surprise. It seemed this was not the first time Xander had gotten himself into an unusual situation. "I was paying him back; I just walked in at a bad time. I'm not lying," I say. It's almost the truth. I am paying him back. "I don't want to explain what happened between us back at the hotel because I'm embarrassed. I don't like borrowing money from anyone. I have too much pride for that; it practically killed me taking his money yesterday. But I had no choice."
"I see," Liam murmured. After a brief pause, he leans forward and presses the driver's button behind the front seat. "Raymond, unlock."
The door-lock snapped back up; the sound was music to my ears; it represented my freedom from yet another mess I seemed to have dragged myself into.
Yeah. I do that, too. I attract trouble.
"Are we done here?" I asked, grabbing the door handle, but still staring at Liam, who slumps into his seat looking exhausted and defeated.
I'm the one who had to go through all that shit, first his brother, then him! I'm going to need therapy for six months just to get over tonight!
"Yes, you may leave," Liam responded curtly, not sparing me a glance.
I exited the car, simmering on his farewell's tone. As I turned to close the door, I thought he needed a little "tone" thrown back into his face.
"Thank you, sir! Don't forget to take the Viagra next time; it'll make for a better performance," I yelled quickly, and then shut the door on his surprised face.
Bursting into a fit of laughter, struggling to run away on the pavement, my feet were barely moving with each step, making me cringe in pain.
The shoes are beautiful, suck it up!
A car pulled up to the curb right in front of me. It was the SUV. The passenger door opened and Liam stepped out, shaking his head looking amused and disgust. As his entire body got out of the car, his hand followed lastly, pulling out a sapphire blue clutch.
My fucking clutch!
"Forgetting something, princess?" Liam grinned, holding out the clutch. I marched up to him and tried to grab it but he pulled his arms back, holding it up into the air. Around 6'3, he towered over me even in my six-inch heels.
"Give me my property!" I snapped, flailing my arms anyway, making a statement that even though he's tall, it wasn't going to stop me. "I won't stop thrashing you until you give it back!"
He smiled snidely, as if he knew something I didn't. "You think you can tire me out? Think again!"
"Not only can I tire you out, but I'll kick your ass in the process too!" I jerked my body closer to his, trying to pay no mind that his dress shirt was still ripped at the side, showcasing his sculpted stomach.
I just won't look there. It'll be hard, but I think I can...I hope I can. "You might as well give up right now; it'll be easier for the both of us."
I jumped up, but his arm extended higher. My body came dangerously close to smothering his. The potential situation was very dangerous. But I couldn't give a shit if my entire body collided into his, feeling every ripple, every obviously-hard muscle, having my entire body melt into his.
Yeah, I don't care if that happens. I had one mission on my mind, and that was to retrieve my clutch.
"Easier for you, you mean," Liam stated, amused. "I was actually just going to hand it to you, considering the foul statement you made upon leaving the car; but now that I'm thinking about it, I think a punishment would be more suitable to that horrendous lie you belted out in public about me. You're lucky I don't pursue a more suitable resolution; but after dealing with my brother, I'm feeling a little generous, and will give you this one time."
I jerked my body closer to his, feeling that if there is less distance between us, I'll have a better chance of grabbing the clutch out of his hands.
"Give me my shit back," I hissed. "Now!"
"Your shit?" Liam repeated, as if he thought it was funny. "Is that any way for a lady to speak?"
"Yeah, well, like I told that psychopath Demetria back at Xander's hotel room: I'm no lady!" I panted, on the brink of collapse. Liam was barely panting, actually, not panting at all. He stood comfortably while I did all the work.
This fucking asshole was chilling.
Tall people have it easy! There, I said it.
"You're so lucky you're tall, or else..." I panted, barely jumping a few inches. My feet were killing me now.
Liam smirked, not lowering his arm. "Or else, what?"
His smirk had me angrier. I felt a burn electrocute my legs, giving me the push I needed to get my clutch back.
"This!"
I hurled my body up with such ferocity, Liam's surprise had him stumbling back to keep the clutch out of my nearing hands. He smirked at me mid-air, knowing I'd failed again. As soon as my heels touched the ground, something went wrong. My foot slipped, and I stumbled forward into Liam's hard, muscled chest. My hands instinctively clasped onto his shoulders for stability. He grabbed my waist with the clutch still in hand.
"Whoa there," Liam murmured as I stared at him, feeling flustered. His deep-blue eyes hardened; it wasn't an angry expression, but something else, something that traveled deep inside me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, inches from his face, his hands not letting go of my waist.
Snap out of it.
The seconds that went by were making this into a bigger problem than I needed. I did not need to be feeling all hot and bothered over another Barns. They're related; the menace gene was probably in the both of them.