C18 18

The game begins and we all raise our cards. Azael looks at his and mine and smiles. But these are not normal poker cards.

The player on the right starts, and when it's our turn Azael throws my card. When it is the turn of the player to our left, he rolls an even number and leaves a thousand dollars on the table, the right amount to start betting.

-Shit- Azael whispers with an amused expression. But he seems to take it personally and leaves another two hundred dollars.

Azael looks at me, licks his lips, and leans back in his chair.

The game continues to advance and one of the players challenges another to fight the strongest man in the room. Luckily no one gets too hurt, so we keep playing. Notes and coins are piling up on the table, and I have already lost count of how much money there may be. On another occasion, Azael challenges the boy at the entrance (who keeps watching us) to leave double the money on the table above it, and he does, but because of the way he looks at us both with So much hatred, I know this doesn't end here

-Your turn, Grimm. -said the player on our right to Azael. He looks at his letter, and then mine. And curses. He takes his letter and places it on the table, finishing the round. It's a seven.

-Wow! It looks like we're going to have another test! Or do you prefer to double the money?- he asks Azael maliciously. He looks at me and I don't know what to do, a feeling of fear takes over me.

-Proof- he murmurs, clenching his fists angrily. I touch his shoulder and for a moment I notice his muscles relax, but he doesn't even look at me.

-Let's count the numbers! - exclaims the man with the mustache. The players and their pairs put the cards on the table and begin to add their numbers.

-I shit on the mother who gave birth to him. -said Azael when he sees that the highest sum of numbers is held by the same boy who was at the entrance, the one who seems to want to ruin our lives and the same one who has not stopped looking at me throughout the game.

-I dare you to shoot your partner in the leg- he says to Azael, sliding the gun across the table. I gulp. People make gasps of astonishment and murmur things.- Or you have another option, kiss her.- Now they begin to make complaints and reply, of course, for them that is an easy option.

My hands start to shake and I sure have to be pale. I want to vomit. Azael is also uncomfortable.

-What are you waiting for? -question. Then let out a laugh - Shoot or kiss her.

Azael sighs. Then he puts his hand on my thigh and pushes me off the seat of the chair to fall onto his lap, and even though I'm afraid I might hurt his injured leg, I don't say anything. We both looked into each other's eyes, expectant. I look at his lips and a wave of adrenaline runs through me from top to bottom.

I don't know if I want to.

-I'm sorry- Azael whispers, making my hair stand on end, before raising his hand to my cheek, gently caressing the back of my neck and slowly drawing me to his lips.

As soon as they make contact with theirs, all my fears disappear, leaving the two of us alone, as if there was no one else in the room. He begins to move his lips against mine gently, and I can assure you, this is the best thing I have ever felt in my entire life. I spread my legs, sitting on top of her, and I climb her arms with my hands, to tangle them in her hair and pull slightly. I hear a growl from him and the kiss intensifies, making way for our tongues. A pressure settles in my chest and I feel thousands of butterflies fluttering through my stomach. His hands press on my waist and run up and down my back, causing me to shiver. I feel a sweet adrenaline rush through my veins, a sensation of fire and heat that I have never felt before.

-Wow! - exclaims the one with the microphone. But I hardly pay attention to him, it's as if his voice is very far from us.- This is a real test! But okay, guys, you can stop kissing now, you have already shown us that you are capable of doing it very well.

But neither of us do. Suddenly we need the other, and something prevents us from separating. Azael tugs on my lip slightly, which is caught between his teeth, and I can't help but groan, which only he can hear.

-Stop! - he shouts again- The game must go on!

Azael this time, yes he seems to hear it and separates our lips, leaving our faces very close, with shaky breaths and somewhat swollen lips. We look into each other's eyes and I can assure you that I can almost immerse myself in all the lust and desire that I see in them.

But then I hear the murmurs and exclamations of the people again, and I am aware that all eyes are focused on us. I get up and sit back on the arm of the chair, without taking my eyes off the floor. I feel my cheeks flushed and my heart pumping a thousand an hour. And when I look in front of me, I see the one at the entrance looking at me with a mocking smile on his face. Fool.

The game continues, but I hardly pay attention to it. I have the feeling that I am floating and that is because I have kissed him. To the Azael.

And the worst? That I liked terribly. God, I did like it! I can't stop thinking about how good his lips felt on mine, and that terrifies me because it shouldn't have been that way. Couldn't I have been grossed out? Do not! Sure, he had to kiss damn good, of course!

-Strip- Azael whispers to me. I blink several times.

-What?

- That it's your turn to throw- He murmurs without looking at me. I put the card on the table and the player to my right rolls an eight, leaving a wad of bills on the table. The one who has thrown the least money has been Azael, who has only left two hundred dollars for having drawn a two at the end of the round. A player challenges the one at the entrance to shoot his partner in the leg, and he, without further regret, does so. The girl lets out a cry and falls to the ground, writhing in pain.

-Are you okay?- I ask alarmed, throwing myself to the ground, trying to help her. Her white jeans are getting redder and the tears are falling down his cheeks. People seem to ignore it as if this were every day. - I'll call an ambulance. -I say looking for my cell phone in my pocket.

-Do not do it- I hear the imposing voice of Azael behind me. I look at the gun on the table. Shit. If I don't obey him, one of us will end up like this girl.

People look at us expectantly, waiting to see what my reaction is.

With all my regret, I get up, leaving the girl sprawled on the floor, and sit down again. Sure, if I call an ambulance the game would stop and he could no longer win. Because that's the most important thing, winning. And that's the only thing he's ever kissed me for.

Frustration and anger take over me and I start to wonder if he liked it the same as I did. And instantly I have it clear. No. Of course not. I regret having done it and I have a tremendous urge to cry, so I just stare at the ground, trying not to hear the complaints of the girl bleeding on the pavement.

- The forty-five minutes are up! -announces through the microphone.- Who do you think is the winner? - he asks enthusiastically. People shout Azael´s name, then the one with the mustache approaches him and raises his broken arm in the air, proclaiming him the winner, making people scream like crazy.

This one barely smiles, he just takes the money from the table and puts it in a red velvet bag, taking the glances of hatred from the other players.

I get up without saying anything and head towards the exit, losing myself among the people who accumulate to be able to leave. I hear Azael yell my name from behind, but that doesn't stop me. A tear slides down my cheek.

I keep moving through the bar when I feel a hand drag me through the crowd, into a hallway with a room at the back, and slap me against the wall, holding my hands with his above my head. And when I open my eyes, I see Azael's face in front of mine, breathing hard, like he's pissed off, when the one who's angry here is me. I sob and feel the tears roll down my cheeks. I hate that they see me cry.

Azael suddenly releases his hold, as if he's freaked out, dropping mine to either side of my body. And what he does next surprises me, he wipes the tears with his thumb.

-Shit, Lailah, don't cry- he murmurs, running over my face with his pupils.

I shake my head, not knowing what to say, embarrassed that he's watching me cry.

He takes a step forward, looking down at me with a frown.

His hands run down my cheeks, wiping my tears away again. We are very close, I raise my head to look into his eyes and I discover that he is concentrated, looking at my swollen lips before licking his.

He holds my face in his hands and I stop crying, Azael each time brings his face closer to mine, before kissing me again.

I take a deep breath and follow his kiss, letting myself be carried away. This one is much faster and wilder than the previous one. His hands go down to my lower thighs and he lifts me off the floor, wrapping my legs around his waist and pressing my back to the wall. I wrap my little hands around his neck and feel my heartbeat too fast. If everything was that easy ... if we could just ignore everything bad between us and pretend we don't know each other, this would be fine. But it is not. I just had a really bad time because of him and it's not the first time. I should hate him, I should hate him with all my might, and yet here I am, my legs curled around his waist.

I jerk away from him and push his chest, putting my feet back on the ground.

-You're an idiot!- I yell at him, I feel again the tears of helplessness in my eyes, wanting to leave.

Surely you wonder what the hell is wrong with me, why I follow the kiss and then push it, but you should imagine. Because I have enough reasons.

-I know- he says hoarsely. Inside him, there also seems to be an internal struggle, and he breathes heavily, to my beat.

-How dare you to ask me for such a thing? -I say referring to the game. He rubs his eyes trying to calm himself, not saying anything- All for the fucking money! That's the only thing you care about! Do not? -the tears seem to overcome me and start to come out of my eyes, but I wipe them quickly with the cuff of my shirt.

-No, fucking! - he yells, punching the dark wooden wall. I startle and a sob escapes my lips- I care about you, Lailah -add later.

-Shit!- I scream- If you cared for someone other than yourself, you wouldn't have brought me to this shitty place, and at least you would have let me call an ambulance when that girl got shot!- I exclaim. Right now I'm sure I look like a crazy madwoman, but I don't care.- Who in their right mind thinks it normal that shooting is part of a fucking game?

-If they know that someone has been injured in this fucking place, they can close the place! Do not you understand? We can get in trouble! - he yells at me- Besides, that wasn't your fucking problem, it's her fault for getting into this shit -He spits absorbing me with his two black eyes, which beat with force.

-This is incredible- I say, wiping my tears again- Goodbye, Azael- I murmur passing in front of him and heading towards the exit. This time he doesn't even bother to call me.

When I go outside, it is already night. I take a deep breath, letting the icy air seep into my lungs, the sky is full of clouds, and various thunder echoes in the sky. I hug myself and call out to Scott.

- Lailah?

- Azael is fine, and so is your car. -My voice breaks out, and Scott notices it.

- Lailah are you okay? - he asks worriedly.

- Yes, Scott, very good- I say bitterly before hanging up.

I start walking towards my house, which luckily is nearby, but it starts to rain. I hide my cell phone in a safe place so it doesn't get wet and I keep walking, getting completely soaked.

For a moment I think Azael will pass me by with Scott's car and pick me up to take me home, but that doesn't happen. It's just me and the sound of the rain hitting the asphalt, accompanied by thunder and several lightning bolts.

What hurts me the most is not that he brought me to that stupid bar, or that he couldn't call an ambulance. What hurts me is that I felt every second of that kiss as if it was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time and he is only doing it to avoid going to jail. Because that's exactly what he told me in court. And because everyone has warned me not to go near him, and I have ignored him.

When I get home, I discover that there is no one there. Jim and Mom must have gone to dinner somewhere. The first thing I do is go take a hot shower to get rid of the cold and warm up, then I go downstairs with my pajamas on and prepare a mixed sandwich. I go up to my room and as I enter, I see that the window is wide open. How weird, I swear I left it closed.

I go over and close it and then I lie on my bed, I see that Gigi is calling me, but I stop talking to her, I'll ask her how is it with Jason tomorrow. All I want now is to sleep and stop thinking about the same subject all the time. Azael.

I'm going to turn off the nightlight when I see a black velvet box on my nightstand. At first, I frown but then I see a note:

In truth I care about, I'm sorry for being one jerk.

PS: Kisses of fucking mother.

It is slightly amorphous handwriting, but it is clear and clean. I open the box and see a small silver pendant with an A dangling from it, and I can't help but smile slightly.

Then I delete it. I shouldn't trust, I shouldn't fall so easily.

Still, I go to the mirror in my room and carefully fasten the little necklace around my neck. But I can't help but wonder if I should believe his words.