Chapter 72 - Chapter 71

@International_Pen

((( ZHIO )))

She has a glass of fruit juice which I doubted to be non-alcoholic. Strong bar alcohols usually come in the guise of fruity drinks. Thankfully enough, she seemed to not have drank any of it.

Derick was by her side, in a lively convo with his buzzed friends.

I frowned.

"You've been staring at her for a while now," a man sat in front of my table.

"Is she your type?"  

"She's my sister," I lied without looking at him.

"And I don't trust the man she's with."

The guy chuckled as he sipped his cognac.

"Everybody here can't be trusted. That guy is a regular here. Last night he'd been so furious when your sister left without his consent and caused a big scene. Shameful… "

I looked at him passively.

"Well aren't you too interested with him?"

"Let's just say he's a business rival so I'm all eyes at everything he does," he laughed.

"Since when did he start going here with my sister?"

My eyes went back to the group. Derick has been forcing Claire to drink a shot of liquor which she instantly refused to take.

"A week ago," the guy replied.

Few people lifted their heads when a glass shattered on the floor. Derick threw it in annoyance and Claire was obviously alarmed.

"Can't you even drink just a fucking glass?"

His friends snickered.  

The table was fastened on the floor, so in his fury he shoved everything off it instead.  Several more glasses shattered.

Before he could even touch Claire, my fists met his face first. I've been aching to do that for so long. I dragged her out the cabaret and ordered her to come inside the car. I pulled off my coat and wrapped it around her.

She's crying.

Derick and his men followed out and sped their cars after mine. My men did too.

Sounds of engines revving up filled the night. Car tires screeched loudly and I felt lost in sudden rush of adrenaline. I swerved at the cul-de-sac, swiftly through the alleyway, and into the labyrinth that escape has provided me until we'd finally lost them.  

I stopped the car and glanced at her.

She's still crying.

I felt strange sympathy as I heard her weep. Then suddenly, I was hugging her. She let me but her cry just grew louder and more painful to bear.  

"You're safe now Claire," I stroked her back gently. Her face was still leaned on my chest and her tears were soaking through my shirt.

Everything grew silent as an hour passed. Her heavy cry was reduced to silent tears that little by little has stopped. Her back was heaving softly and I guessed she had fallen asleep.  

I sighed.

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