Cole’s POV
As soon as the curtain of night fell upon the forest, like a shadow, I ran swiftly but quietly to the dark woods. I muttered a curse because Raven must have realized he was being followed as he suddenly changed his path, dashing like wind and heading to San Rafael. He sauntered along the tall shadowed trees for a while and smirked as he reached the end of the woods, walking carefree and heading to the Wild Side, the only bar in town.
My gaze slid away from him and glanced at the old bar, thinking he would not be able to go anywhere here in the open. Raven would not risk traveling in daylight when he knew he was a wanted fugitive, but what worried me was him finding another victim tonight. I could still catch him, but the prick stopped and chatted with the locals at the main entrance, pretending to be a tourist.
In a place with less than a thousand people residing, there was no need for a bouncer at the entrance because the owner, old Thomas, knew everyone. He could kick the asses of the teenagers who wish to drink inside, but he would always welcome passersby or tourists with a hefty amount of money to pay for drinks.
Heaving a deep sigh, I padded toward the entrance. And as soon as I got inside, my eyes wandered and found Raven sitting in the dark corner, drinking, pretending to enjoy the whiskey while his eyes focused on the beautiful woman singing on the small stage in front.
I sat quietly on the barstool and followed Raven’s gaze. My eyes squinted, seeing new faces entertaining the customers for the night, but what caught my interest was their lead vocalist, smiling while singing Yesterday When I Was Young, an old song.
My eyes narrowed, wondering if Raven and I were thinking of the same thing, but I had never met anyone as beautiful as her in my lifetime. She has the face of an angel, and her amber-colored eyes sparkled as she smiled while singing, feeling every line of the song. She looked blessed with full lips, making her look sexier when she opened her mouth to sing or smile.
She was sitting on a chair, so it was hard for me to know if she was taller or not, but she could be twenty or twenty-three, maybe younger. With the metallic bobby pin she has on both sides of her wavy hair, she looked eighteen to me. She was wearing a white mini dress with a halter neckline, and with its thin fabric, I could see her floral matching underwear. I scoffed, thinking she must be trying to match her colorful sneakers.
The customers watched her quietly as they enjoyed their drinks, but who could blame them? It was not just her euphonic voice, singing her own rendition of the song from 1974, but the way she gazed at you like she was singing only for you. It never happened in Wild Side to have a beautiful and a really good singer. Just now.
I hissed, hating the fact she was distracting me. Before I could delve deeper, I turned to the man behind the bar top.
“New band? Where’s Stephen and his men?” I asked Thomas without looking at him as I didn’t want to break my gaze at her.
“Those bastards didn’t show up,” hissed the old man as he pushed the rocks glass toward me. “These fellows here said they used to sing in the bar and promised to sing for free for two or three songs in exchange for free drinks.”
My eyes narrowed. “Tourists?”
“Nah! The beautiful lad singing there and those two holding the guitars are Mrs. Writingham’s grandchildren, and the one drumming was a friend,” he said, pointing at them.
“And the one on the keyboard?” I took the glass and sipped the liquor he gave me as I pointed at the man who would constantly gaze at her, curving a gentle smile while his fingers tapped on the keys gracefully.
Thomas stopped wiping the table and gave a quick look at the man. “Not sure, a friend?” he shook his head. “Maybe a boyfriend. I saw him whispering in her ear when they came, but that’s not enough proof, right?”
My head shook, suppressing a smile. “Not enough proof, Thomas,” I glanced at him and saw him shaking his head.
He chuckled, puffing out a small air as he stared at me. It was only for a brief second, but it was enough for me to know what he had in mind.
“I remember your grandfather used to say that. How’s Nicholas?” he asked. “Too old to visit an old friend?”
One corner of my mouth lifted, and I sipped my liquor again instead of answering him, pretending to enjoy the night.
He served another drink to a customer, and when he returned, Thomas propped his elbow on the bar top and watched her.
“Will you stay here long? Or you’re here only for business? Nicolai would never stay here that long,” he said, still wanting to make a conversation with me, unsure if he was like the gorgeous woman singing trying to steal my attention.
I licked my bottom lip, sipped my drinks again, and glanced at Raven because the beautiful lad Thomas was telling me distracted me badly. He was still on his seat, now talking to a woman, one more unfamiliar face in town, perhaps another tourist.
Placing my glass on the bar top, I answered him, “Just like my father, Thomas. Only for business.” It was brief and direct, hoping he would get it that I didn’t want to be distracted anymore. As I gazed at her again, our eyes met, and I was surprised to feel an unfamiliar emotion when she smiled at me.
I swallowed hard, breaking my gaze, realizing I wanted her. Closing my eyes and breathing hard, I stood up, placing the paper bill on the table and glancing at Raven again, but the man I was tailing was not on his seat anymore. My eyes spotted him walking toward the back door with the woman he was talking with a while ago.
“Damn!” I muttered, annoyed at myself for getting distracted with a woman for the first time. I walked toward the direction he exited, hoping to catch him, but as soon as I got out of the door and had the chance to take hold of Raven, someone grabbed my arm.
“Wait,” The sweet voice stopped me, causing me to turn around.
“I’m sorry, I’m in a hurry,” I said, not breaking my gaze at her beautiful eyes. “I’m trying to catch someone.” She was like an angel; I could not help myself staring at her, although I hadn’t met one in my life.
She smiled sheepishly. “Me, too. I’m trying to catch someone,” she said. “I’m Brielle,” she said, looking adorable when her cheeks blushed.
My eyebrows raised, wishing I could read her mind, but it wasn’t one of the skills I have.
“I’m trying to catch you,” Brielle curved her lips into a seductive smile, and before I could ask her, she placed her hands at the back of my neck, raised her heels, and brushed her lips into mine.
