I had already lost my patience, when a stern voice echoed through the surrounding. As, the guy turned his heel, there he was standing. He kept his expression stern and his glare blazing at the shady guy. He kept his hands crossed and shoulder stretched out. I just met him a second ago yet  I could make out his personality, loud and clear. His personality screamed out leverage, dominance and authority. His features weren't clear, but his dusky tone gave out the most rugged vibes and the black leather jacket, hugging every inch of his body neatly, just added something to it.

The shady guy pointed a finger at the man and warned, "Mind your own business."

"I'll ask you the same." The man replied in a commanding tone.

Letting out a frustrated huff and stealing a glance from me, "Just get out of here and let me do my job."

"Move, before you regret it."

"Where's your problem?"

"She said a 'no'. Audible enough to be heard by everyf*ckingone in here, but you. That's where the problem lies."

The guy moved closer to the man, towering him, "I'll deal with you, later."

"If your brain has even a minimum quality of functioning, be a good boy, and move."

The man placed his hands on hips and used his fingers to shift an edge of his leathers, showing something, which wasn't visible in the dark. This immediately tensed up the shady guy. He passed a glare towards him and walked away.

As, the guy left, he shifted his gaze towards me, and within a fraction of seconds the shape of his expression changed. His stare was different from all others in the club. It was rather gentle. It was gentle blended with a hint of aggression in him. It held a different world within those blue eyes, which was no less than oceans, a darker mystery within those deep set shape of his eyes. Whatever, it was, it was intoxicating.

Giving a quick scan at my surrounding, he walked up to me, "You are lonely around here?"

I did a last scan of the dance floor but Mary was still no where to be found, "I wasn't, but maybe I am now."

"You shouldn't have stayed back, bearing this crap."

A scoff left my mouth, "Blame my guts. I hate backing off."

As I looked back at him, he raised his eyebrows clearly amused by the reply, "There is no saint in here."

I took a  look at the dance floor and mused into the two eventful days. One victim being Clare and the other being me, "I guess."

He pondered for a while maybe registering my words and reading through them along with. Then with a more relaxed expression, he looked up at me and narrowed his eyes,   "A thank you, would have been enough."

"Right, thank you, for helping me control myself before I possibly broke his nose."

 He broke out in a short laughter.That laughter wasn't really a mocking laughter, but was rather the one breaking out through an irony.

Composing himself he spoke, "Maybe it's better that you, head back home before the guy comes back."

I leaned over the counter and closer to him, "He'll regret, if he returns."

"Tsk, the either way."

"What do you mean?"

"He clearly had other motives."

Madeline pulled her eyebrows into a subtle crease and mused, "The handkerchief!.. I know."

The man turned his heel, facing the floor and leaned back over the bar, "You don't know them. I wouldn't have required them any effort to knock you unconscious and take you out of here."

There was nothing to be said from my side. His words were true. I can't deny that. But also, he said them like he was prepared for the worst. I kept  a stare locked on him, trying to decipher through his calm countenance when a small smile curved up his lips, flaunting his dimples at the same time. He turned his neck towards me and broke the silence in a gentle tone,

"May I drop you home?"

His words pulled me back to reality. Crap! I was staring at him the whole time.

"Huh!"

"Although, it's not good from my part, to ask a sober customer to leave my place, but I will be asking you anyway, may I drop you home?"

Wait! Did he mean what he said? Or he is just another man flexing. I had a feeling I heard it wrong, "Um...wait, your place?"

He sensed my confusion and turned his heel towards me, with a subtle smile, printed over his face. He nodded, "My place."

"You own this place?"

"I own this club." He replied with a smirk.

"Ow, OK! Great. I mean.. good..!!" I replied tried to act as sober as possible but internally I was cussing myself from being so idiotic. I assumed the owner to be a drunk creep, flexing.

He chuckled at her reply, "Are you really sober?"

"No, I mean.....I am. I am."

"May I?"

"Sure, let's um...head out."

The car ride held rather an awkward silence. Neither of us said a word. Why did I accept this ride from him, why did I trust him, even? He could be anyone. I was having a tornado of similar thoughts, gushing through my mind. When I looked at him, his was holding an expression which would be better explained, if I say is just the opposite of mine. Calm, composed, patient. His eyes were fixed on the road. I didn't even realize, when I started scanning through his face. A questionable peace and an inaudible voice screaming. Something, in him, draws me towards him. Every fold sculpting his face, seems to tell a tale, I shouldn't be curious of. But, surprisingly I am. I was never so lost, but why am I today?

"Taking your time to enjoy a view, miss?"

I jolted back into present.

"What?"

Letting out a short laughter, he shook his head in denial. "Where do you want me to drop you?"

I shifted my gaze on the speeding street, The two hours journey was almost over, and I did not even realize. O Well, I lost track of time.

And, then I remembered I had to meet Jake, "Take a right turn."

Silently, he nodded and complied, "What's your name? If you don't mind obviously."

I looked back at him, "Madeline. And you?"

He pulled over the car near the cream walls of the bungalow. We are here.  I got off the car and leaned over glass window, "Thank you,....Erm..!"

 "Call me Rex."

"Rex" A name can be impactful they said. It was clear."..See ya!"

As, I straightened in my place and turned my heel to leave;

"MADELINE!"

I turned to see him, leaning his head against the head rest, fixing his stare with an unknown emotion within, "Do we, by anyway, have a chance to meet again?"

There was nothing I could say. It was only a few hours, I met him. I was already swooning enough, and now that he asked for it. It was clear, he had the same thought as I did. Or, maybe.....

Without a reply I chose to pass a smile before walking away. As, I reached the door, I turned around to see that the car was gone.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"SURPRISE!"

And, Jacob jolted out in his place. I entered through the door to see him dug into the fridge and carefully bringing out a box. It was then, the funny bone in me suddenly got active. He turned his heel towards me and looked at me dead in the eye and down at the box of pizza.

He snapped his head towards me, "Will you stop scaring me to death?"

I succeeded. 

"The most craziest policeman, feared by everyone. Is scared of me. Is it because, you were stealing food?"

He rolled his eyes at me, "She is not even home."

I turned around to find myself a chair, "So you are free to steal?"

"I was not stealing! I just dropped my dinner! God!"

"Ow! Ain't you going to teach your boy, the same trick"

He rested his hands over his hips and cocked his head, "Maddie?" he warned

"Because it's cool!"

"Kill me, holy mother of god" He murmured to himself before turning his heel towards the kitchen counter. 

"Not that, I will let him do it."

Jacob looked up at the door, and grinned from cheek to cheek, as Cleo entered the door, with a huge bag hanging off her shoulder, while she very carefully held her big belly. Jacob moved forward and handled the bag, as he kissed her on her forehead.  I always found myself marveling the beautiful bond they shared. They were like two perfectly fitted puzzle of the same block. Cleo gave him a hug and as her gaze met mine, her eyes sparkled up. She walked up to me and pulled me in a warm hug. Like always.

"How are you, my little girl?" She asked in a gentle tone.

"Just as you have left me behind. I need to inform you that, he missed you so bad, that he did not even bother about the fact, that the pizza he was stealing from the fridge was a week old."

As soon as I finished my words, Cleo cracked up into a fit of cackle while I could see Jake gaping at me in disbelief.

Cleo composed her laughter, "I guess, I should go upstairs and take some rest, as you handle your big brother."

"Wait! I wasn't stealing." He snapped.

Cleo turned her heel towards Jacob and placed her hands on her hips, " Are you going to turn the same age as your son, by a few days, Baby Daddy?"

Jacob rolled his eyes. And, I failed to hold back my laughter only to receive a death glare in return.

Cleo turned back at me and passed a wink before she walked upstairs. 

I knew I couldn't say anything before Cleo. Especially, when she was holding a life within her. Her presence always had the power to lighten everywhere she walked into. As she went out of site, we were back to reality.

Here goes nothing, "Jake, I need to tell you something really important."

Jacob turned his neck towards me and cocked one of his eyebrows, "That was quick!"

"Whatever! I was in flight club today."

He silently turned his heel towards me and kept a peering stare at me. I had all his attention now.

"The same guy, from yesterday. He was there" I continued. 

"And? Being the regular creep?"
"He isn't a regular creep."

Jacob placed his hands on his chin, " What do you mean?"

"He.......... is one of them.

The relaxed stance in his posture was gone and the rapid movement of his pupils explained his thoughts.

"How did you get to know?" He asked.

"Look, I can't claim. But,....he wanted something off me, maybe to get me kidnapped. I fear,...... They are here"

Jacob ironed out his expression and a realization reflected off his face. Our thoughts are even now.