Текст книги "Frozen"

Автор книги: L.A. Casey

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Once Darcy was out of the pub I would then happily follow him to his mysterious house further up the mountains, break into said house – lets see how he likes it – and get the doll back.

Everybody wins.

Well, everybody except Darcy.

Darcy didn't get to win at all.

I scanned the pub for the tenth time in the last thirty minutes since I was forced to take pictures with her. Actually, being next to Neala wasn't too bad because it meant I could keep my eye on her, but now that I couldn't see her chocolate brown-haired head anywhere it made me uneasy.

It was Neala's turn to strike, and that meant I couldn't drop my guard.

I was one hundred percent certain she knew I took the doll from her apartment. I just didn't understand why she hasn't outed me to everyone, or at the very least got me on my own to attack me over it. Christmas was in four days time and I knew she needed that doll for Charli so she couldn't afford to wait around, she had to come at me sooner rather than later for it. The when was a question, but the how was an even bigger one that played on my mind.

I had no clue how she would seek revenge on me and try to get the doll back. It was chilling to think about because Neala could be creative – very creative – with her methods of revenge. Each and every single one of her revenge plans over the years usually left me wallowing in the shreds of my crumbled pride. I was well aware that she could bring a grown man to his knees… I was living proof of it. But as apprehensive as I was, I would be lying if I said the thrill of it didn't excite me because it did.

Neala was an adrenaline rush for me, she was something I craved and feared at the same time.

I'd never admit that out loud though, it killed me just admitting it to myself.

I continued to scan the room for her, but instead of her pale face, I saw other familiar ones. One particular face I spotted was one I've come to know well over the past few years, it was Laura Stoke's pretty one.

She was tall, not as tall as my six foot three, but taller than most girls. She stood at five foot eleven. She had freckled pasty white skin, long thick strawberry blonde hair that touched the small of her back, and an arse that made my cock stand at attention with one sway. Laura was, to put it nicely, my fuck buddy. Like me, she wasn't looking to settle down with a relationship, she was simply up for fun whenever I was up for it – pun intended.

I had a long sample of Laura only a few days ago, but since I was tense, I decided she could help take the edge off tonight.

"Laura," I called out.

Her head turned in my direction, and a knowing smirk curved her red painted lips. I allowed my eyes to slowly trail over her sizzling hot body as she sashayed towards me through the small crowd, and as always, the thought of what I could do, and had done, to that body caused me to harden.

"Darcy Hart, fancy seeing you again... so soon," Laura purred as she reached me.

She leaned in and placed a chaste kiss on my lips.

"You look edible," I growled down at her, and swallowed when she snapped her teeth at me.

Laura took a step back and looked down at the hot pink pencil dress she had on.

"What? In this old thing?"

I groaned when she slowly twirled giving me a full view of just how tight that little old thing hugged her slender body in the sexiest of ways.

"Yeah, that little old thing," I hissed when she turned and fully pressed herself against me.

Laura smiled at me seductively. "I've never turned you or your cock down before Darcy... Quite frankly because you give me amazing orgasms but no orgasm, no matter how good, is worth the wrath of Neala Clarke."

I sobered, and my dick softened, at the mention of her name.

"What the hell has Neala got to do with us shagging?" I asked.

Laura smiled. "This is her brother's engagement party, and I've been around you enough to know explosive shite happens when you're both at the same function. I don't want to jump to the top of her hit list by being on your arm tonight."

I growled in annoyance, "Neala doesn't get a say in who I fuck."

"No," Laura agreed, "but when she is mad at you, she will get you back no matter who you're fucking and she is always mad at you. I don't fancy her pulling some stunt while we get down and dirty in the bathroom."

This wasn't happening.

"Don't do this to me, Laura. I need you tonight," I pleaded.

Yeah, I pleaded with a woman to have sex with me, so sue me. I wasn't the first man to do it, and I wouldn't be the last.

Laura smiled that sexy smile of hers, and gave me one more chaste kiss before she whispered on my lips, "Until next time, Wicked Mouth."

She turned and broke the pulsing heartbeat in my cock as she walked away. I looked at her arse and instantly narrowed my eyes at the tortious hump.

Did she really need to sway so much?

"Women," I grunted, and looked away from Laura's arse, and up to the ceiling of the pub.

I took a few deep breaths.

I grunted in annoyance when I thought of her.

Neala Clarke.

The evil little menace has managed to work her way into my sex life. She single handily just cock blocked me... and she didn't even fucking know about it.

"Bloody woman!" I snapped.

The noise of the punters in the pub filled my ears until a familiar voice got my attention.

"What's the matter, little brother?"

I sighed as I looked to the concerned gaze of my older brother. "Laura just turned me down because of Neala."

I spat out her name like it was poison in my mouth.

Justin's eyebrows jumped. "Why?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Something about her being worried Neala would target her for being with me."

Justin laughed and it annoyed me.

This wasn't funny.

Nothing about a male not getting pussy was funny.

Nothing.

"Care to explain why you're being a dick, and laughing at me?" I asked.

Justin chuckled, "Why does everyone make Neala out to be something she isn't? She's probably the sweetest girl I know, and just happens to have an attitude every now and then. Sounds like every woman I've ever met if I'm honest."

I gawked at my brother.

Was he having a laugh?

"Neala Clarke is the Devil in disguise, brother. You had better realise that. Sweet is the last word I would use to describe her... she is evil incarnate."

Justin cracked up laughing again, and like before, it pissed me off.

"Fuck you, man."

Justin waved his hand at me. "I'm sorry," he said as he tried to calm himself down.

He did, but only after another minute.

"I understand you both have history, but I love that she gets to you this much. You actually freak out about her."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "You find it funny that a woman pisses me off?"

"No, I find it funny that she gets under your skin and you like it and hate it at the same time."

What the hell?

"I don't like-"

"Don't lie. Don't say you don't like Neala, because you do. You hate her because you want her so much. It's obvious, to me anyway."

My brother has lost his bloody mind.

"There is something wrong with you. I don't want Neala in any way."

Justin smirked, but said nothing and it bothered me.

"What?" I snapped.

He laughed, "Nothing, bro, nothing."

I shook my head. "You're a dick."

Justin clasped his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. "I may be a dick, but I'm an honest one."

With that said he walked off, and greeted some of the other locals. I stared after him feeling utterly confused. This was the first time he has ever mentioned that he thinks I liked Neala, but he was very wrong.

I didn't like her.

I hated her.

I just enjoyed messing with her from time to time.

Sure, I sometimes felt like I needed the Neala adrenaline rush to keep me sane, but that didn't mean I liked her, it meant I liked her reaction to my bullshit. That's all. I didn't like her. Not one bit.

"You look absolutely horrified about something."

I blinked my eyes, and turned my head to the right and saw Sean standing next to me.

"Justin thinks I like Neala," I said, and shook my head.

Sean remained silent so I turned to face him.

"Don't tell me you think the same thing?" I asked, shocked.

Sean shrugged, but still remained silent.

"For fuck's sake. I don't like her. I can't stand the witch!"

Sean laughed at me, but continued to look at me as he held his tongue.

"Say something or I'm going to sock you one!" I warned.

Sean licked his lips and said, "Don't hit me... but I agree with Justin."

Oh, Christ.

"What the hell? But it's not true. I don't like her!" I stated.

Sean raised an eyebrow at me and grinned. "You're possessive of her. You never let anyone pick on her growing up. You-"

I cut Sean off. "Because she was mine to torture."

"You wouldn't go to any parties unless she was in attendance. You-"

I jumped in and cut Sean off, again. "Because they weren't any fun unless she was there so I could wind her up!

Sean lightly chortled. "You punched Kenny and Luke Spencer in the face because they said she was hot at her sixteenth birthday party. You-"

Again, I cut him off. "Because I didn't want to deal with a boyfriend when I was torturing her... How can you not see any of this?"

Sean shook his head, still not convinced.

"You admitted that seeing her makes your day."

"Because I know I drive her mad every time I see her, and that makes me happy."

Sean pinched the bridge of his nose. "You never shag brunettes even though you told my they are your preference – you only get into blondes, redheads, or black haired girls, never brunettes."

"Because the only attractive girls in this bloody village happen to have blonde, red, or black hair!"

Sean burst out laughing, "You're so deep in denial you can't see past it."

I wanted to punch Sean in the face badly in that moment, but it wasn't worth the wrath of my mother, or Sean's, if I made him bruise at his engagement party so I settled for punching him in the arm instead.

"You're being a real bastard, you know that?"

Sean rubbed his arm. "I'm aware of it, yes."

Arsehole.

I lifted my hands to my face and scrubbed, when I lowered then I looked around the pub again and grunted.

"Where is she? I know she is biding her time to get back at me, and not being able to keep my eye on her is scaring me."

Sean laughed, "You're scared of Neala?"

I growled, "You'll be scared too when it's her turn to strike you."

Sean opened his mouth to speak, but quickly closed it and nodded his head in agreement.

"What are you going to do? Stand here all night and search for her?"

I sighed and shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't know, maybe."

Sean was about to say something when my mother appeared with two glasses filled with what looked to be an alcoholic liquid.

"These were meant to be vodkas and coke, but the barman gave us whiskey instead. Do you both want them?" my mother asked.

Sean shook his head, but I took both drinks.

"Thanks, Ma," I said, and downed them both.

I scrunched my face up as the liquid burned a pathway down my throat and to my chest. I wasn't planning on drinking tonight. I needed to be on Neala alert but I needed a drink to relax me, and that is exactly what the whiskey did.

"Why don't you both go and see your father's?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Why?"

My mother huffed, "I don't really care where you go Darcy, just stop standing here and glaring at our friends. You look... odd."

Sean laughed. "He is on Neala alert."

My mother smirked, and it caused me to roll my eyes.

"Don't start, Ma."

With that said I brushed by my mother and went in search for my father. Sitting with him was probably the safest thing for me to do right now. Neala loved my father and wouldn't try to hurt me when I was in close probity to him... I hoped not anyway.

"Darcy, where are you going?" my father called out to me.

"Bathroom," I rasped.

I think I heard laughter coming from my father, but I couldn't be sure. I didn't really care though because I needed to get to a bathroom as soon as possible. My stomach was absolutely killing me, and I felt like my insides were about to spill out from my arsehole.

If it sounds disgusting, you can only imagine how I felt.

"What the hell did I eat?" I groaned in pain as I stumbled down the small hallway of the pub.

I tried to think of everything I ate early in the day that could make me feel so ill, but the only thing I ate out of the norm was the buffet of pub food that Sean and Jess had made for their party. I'm not fond of spices, and that was all the buffet consisted of. Spices and herbs.

Never ever would I touch either one again, my stomach churned just at the thought.

I reached the men's toilet and I sighed out loud, but my sigh turn to a very high pitch cry when I read the sign on the door.

Out of Order!

"This can't be bleeding happening to me!"

I made a decision in a spilt second to use the ladies room. I would apologise to every woman who came in and heard or smelt me, but I couldn't not go to the bathroom. I quickly moved to the right to go into the ladies, but like the men's room, the door wouldn't open. I looked up and punched the door when I spotted the same out of order sign hanging on the door.

"None of the toilets work?" I shouted.

Bollocks.

I had to leave.

I had to go home were I could go the toilet, and die in peace.

I would usually never leave a party, especially a family one, but I had to and I couldn't stop to say goodbye to anyone. I ignored everyone around me and made a beeline for the pub exit.

Of course I wasn't blessed with making a quick escape, the hand that clamped down on my shoulder made sure of that.

"Where the hell are you waddling off to?"

I turned to face Sean. "I need to go."

"Go where? And seriously, you're walking like a penguin. What's up with that?"

I ignored his laughter and said, "I need to leave."

"What do you mean you have to leave?" Sean asked me, his tone annoyed.

I understood his annoyance. I was part of his wedding party, and here I was bailing on the long awaited engagement party. Not only that, I was also his friend who was bailing on his engagement party. But I couldn't help it, I had to leave.

My arsehole demanded it.

"I have to, man," I said then hunched over as another horrible cramp summersaulted in my stomach.

I felt a hand on my back. "Darcy, are you okay?"

No, I really wasn't.

"No," I hissed in pain. "I think the food isn't sitting well with me. Me stomach is killing me."

Sean helped straighten me up and smiled and nodded his head at the punters of the pub who gazed at me a little too long.

"You don't think the food is bad, do you?" Sean asked, worry laced throughout his tone.

I shook my head.

"No, no, it tasted delicious. I think the spices are just affecting me the wrong way tonight."

Sean winced as he caught my meaning.

"Go on home, man. Make friends with your toilet. I'll tell everyone your arse is on fire, and you had to leave. They'll all understand, trust me."

"If I wasn't hurting so bad, I'd knock you out."

Sean laughed, and patted me on the back, hard. "Lucky me then."

"Aye," I grumbled as he wished me well and trotted over to his beautiful soon-to-be-bride. "Lucky you."

I turned, and waded through the group of familiar faces. I grew up in the village, so there wasn't a face I didn't know, or a name I didn't recognise. Right now I hated it more than anything because multiple people tried to stop me for a quick chat or a picture along my way out of the pub, but I had to turn them all down.

I heard a familiar laugh from somewhere to my left, and when my eyes caught hers I narrowed them. Neala was perched up on a stool at the bar. For a moment I found myself staring at her legs, but I shook myself out of it and growled in her direction. She was looking right at me and she was smirking.

She did this to me.

I didn't know how I knew she was responsible for my sudden pain and desperate need for a toilet, but I just knew it was all because of her.

"See you soon," she mouthed at me then winked.

I froze like a statue and widened my eyes in horror as she got up from the stool, turned away, and got lost in the crowd. I swallowed down the bile that rose in my throat, and forced myself to push on through my friends and families friends until I was outside in the freezing cold.

Did she know I took the doll or was this just her getting me back for the antics in Smyths the other day?

I didn't know, and it freaked me out.

I forced all thoughts of Neala aside as I slipped and slid down the pathway on my way to the car park. The crippling pain in my stomach was so bad that at one point I considered crawling along the path because walking only added to the pain.

What the hell was happening to me?

I was breathless and sweating like a pig by the time I got to the car park and found my Jeep. I fumbled with my car keys as I pulled them from my pocket, but I managed to open my car door and climb inside.

"Home," I whimpered. "I need to get home."

Be a man.

I sucked in a huge amount of oxygen then forced my eyes to stay open as I drove along the slippery back roads that led up to my cherished house. I loved nature, which is exactly what I had my house in the middle of it. I loved the calmness that came with nature and the space surrounding it, but right now I didn't care for any of it.

Holy Mary mother of God.

I had never felt a pain like the one that took up residence in my stomach. It was so bad I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. That's right, I wouldn't even wish this upon Neala, and she was the ultimate bitch.

"Please, God, help me!" I whimpered as another cramp crippled my abdomen.

This wasn't happening to me.

I pressed down on the gas, and prayed to God above that I wouldn't crash, get stuck, or slide dangerously along the road. I prayed for my safety, and for a toilet.

God, I needed a toilet badly.

The journey was ten minutes too long, and it was dangerous. A few times I lost control of my car on the slippery road, but I managed to regain control enough to make it up to my house in one piece. When I was in my driveway, I shut off my Jeep and opened the door. I fell out of the Jeep and dragged myself with my arms through the snow and over to my porch.

I growled deep in my throat as stabbing pains attacked my rear.

"No! Christ no!"

I fumbled with the keys in my hands and I opened my front door.

"It's coming! It's coming!" I yelped and shouldered my door open when the key finally turned in the lock.

I stumbled down my hallway, and opened the bathroom door just as it happened. I let out a whimper when the realisation, and smell hit me.

I shit myself.

I literally shit myself.

I was going to bloody kill Neala Clarke when I got my hands on her.

I couldn't believe what I had resorted to in order to follow Darcy up to his house. All to get the doll back on what had to be the coldest day in the entire history of Ireland. Freezing my arse off on my mission wasn't enough though. To make matters worse I had to pay some bratty kid fifty Euros to 'take a lend' of his mountain bike! The little shite made sure to let me know his mother knew my mother and would tell her I hit him and stole his bike unless I got it back to him in the condition he gave to me in. The stupid bike wasn’t even worth fifty Euros¸ he practically hustled me.

The little bastard!

"Bloody kid!" I growled as I peddled uphill as hard and fast as I could.

No matter how hard or fast I peddled though, the wheels of the bike just spun in the slushy snow. I wanted to scream and cry. My legs were on fire, my lungs were seconds away from collapsing, and I couldn't feel my body. No really, I couldn't feel it. I was numb all over. The below freezing temperature, and stupid snow made sure of that. I thought about nothing else but this plan over and over since I found out about the engagement party two days ago, I plotted everything out... except my stupid attire!

I was in a blue dress, black blazer, and black heels.

That was is.

There was a picture of my face next to the definition of stupid on the Internet, I was sure of it.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" I screamed in anguish.

I was tired, cold, and just wanted to get the doll back from Darcy, but I was still a good hundred meters away from his house. Thirty minutes or so ago I saw the lights of his Jeep switch off as he pulled up his driveway and stumbled out of his Jeep and all but ran through his front door.

I looked up at his house and noticed it was still in darkness, but his garden and some of the surrounding area was well lit. Darcy had surprisingly great street lighting for being up in the mountains where the back roads were usually dark and dangerous. The road up on this side of the mountain was still dangerous, but not dark which was probably the only stroke of luck I've had all evening.

Well, the second stroke if I'm being honest. The first stroke of luck was by far when Darcy drank the whiskey I spiked with the laxative. That went off without a hitch. It really was a thing of beauty watching him accept the tainted drink from his mother then watching him swallow down the very thing that would make him lose the doll to me.

The thought that I would have the doll soon comforted me somewhat. It did nothing for my freezing body, and tired limbs, but it helped put my mind at ease at least.

I tried once more to peddle the stupid bike, but when the wheels endlessly spun in the snow I gave up. I put my foot down into the snow and lifted my other the leg over the bike, but I lost my balance and fell backwards. I screamed then groaned in pain when my arse hit the hard and cold ground under the blanket of snow. The pain from the impact sent shockwaves up and down my body, and because I was ice cold it hurt that much more.

I fought back tears as I struggled to my feet. I wanted to give up, but I could do nothing except stick to my plan and walk in the direction of Darcy's house. I couldn't turn away now. I still didn't have the doll and that was my reason for being here.

Ten minutes of careful slow paced walking later, and I reached Darcy's front garden. I silently thanked God I made it, because just as I stepped foot into the garden, it started to snow again.

"Stupid bleeding weather!" I snapped then flung my hands over my mouth.

Shite.

I had to keep quite.

I carefully walked over to Darcy's porch, and tiptoed up onto the decking. I gently tested the handle of Darcy's front door and found it to be locked. My heart sank a little, but I didn't let it completely dishearten me. I knew the chances of me having to literally break into his house were high, but I was kind of hoping a door would be unlocked.

I shook away the disappointment and walked down from the porch and made my way around to the side of the house. I tested the first window I came up against and found it to be locked tight.

Crap.

I pressed on through the snow, and found myself gasping for breath as it became increasingly difficult to walk through. I was so cold that I couldn't feel anything so maybe walking through the snow was hard because my legs were starting to give out. I quickly realised why walking through the snow suddenly became harder. It was because it was snowing very heavily. Each flake was large and thick and made my task even more energy consuming.

"G-give m-me a b-break!" I said to Mother Nature in the vain hope that she was listening.

A large gust of wind hit me seconds later, and I took it as her telling me to feck off.

What a bitch.

I hiked through the snow in my five-inch heels, and just when I thought I was at the back of Darcy's house and almost safe from the snow on his back decking, I tripped and fell. I think I screamed, but I wasn't sure. I had to quickly use my hands to push my body up so I could lift my head out of the snow because I couldn't breathe.

"T-this w-was a b-bad b-bloody id-dea," I said to myself as my body began to violently shake.

I stomped my way out of the snow, and when I reached Darcy's decking I walked as carefully as I could to his back door. I closed and eyes and prayed to God that the door would be unlocked. I opened my eyes and lifted my hand to the door handle and slowly pulled it down.

Click.

"Oh, m-m-my G-god," I whispered through chattering teeth when the lock clicked and the door opened.

I was in. I successfully broke into Darcy's house all on my own.

Yes!

I tried to control my breathing because it sped up dramatically in the last twenty seconds. I was scared, and now that I was inside Darcy's house I had to find the doll and not get caught. It was mission impossible in my current state. I was shaking from the cold weather, and I couldn't feel my body.

I gently closed the kitchen door and reached down and pried my high heels off and left them by the back door. Darcy's kitchen wasn't dark, but it wasn't bright either. The light on the fan above his stove was switched on so it meant the room was somewhat lit. I looked around the kitchen and nodded in approval. A high gloss cream kitchen with black granite counter tops.

Nice choice, Darcy.

Working in construction clearly paid off for him.

I didn't know why, but I searched the entire kitchen for the doll. I had to check everywhere just in case Darcy put it somewhere that most people wouldn't think to look. I wouldn't leave his house without the bloody doll, so I'd make sure to check every cupboard, drawer and wardrobe. Luckily, all the movement I was doing caused my shaking to ease, and it even gave me some feeling back in my body. Thank God.

I glanced to the door at the end of Darcy's kitchen, it wasn't a nice door that had glass in the frame like the other door in the room, so I guessed it to be some sort of storage room. I tiptoed my way over to the door, but a hiss from my right halted my steps.

What the heck was that?

The area of the kitchen where I was looking was darker than the rest of the room, so naturally, I stepped forward to see what the hissing was. I squinted my eyes at the dark blanket that was thrown over some sort of box that sat on a stand high up in the air. Everything in me told me not to pull on the cover to see what was under it so I turned and walked to the wooden door and opened it.

I was right, it was a small storage room.

I reached inside the dark room and placed my palm flat on the cold wall and moved my hand around in search for a light switch. I couldn't find one, and just as I was about to switch my hand to the other wall of the storage room, the low hissing came from behind me again. I jumped with fright and spun around.

"What is that?" I whispered.

I stepped closer to the dark cover and carefully reached out with my hand. I hesitated when I touched the cover, but without a seconds thought I pulled it and gasped when something began hissing and flapping about in a cage.

It made a noise that instantly identified the creature as a bird.

A memory hit me then of Sean telling my mother, Darcy bought an African Grey Parrot. The parrot continued to hiss at me and it freaked me out. I didn't know birds could bloody hiss.

"Shhh," I whispered. "Be quiet."

"Shut up," the bird said then hissed again.

I froze to the spot, and stared at the bird.

Was I loosing my mind or did that bird just say what I think it did?

"What did you just say?" I asked.

"Water... You want some waterrr, baby girl?" the bird chirped.

I narrowed my eyes. "That's not what you said before."

"Nealaaaaa."

I froze to the spot, and blinked my eyes.

The bird said my name, and sounded a bit like a man.

"How do you know me name?" I asked, freaked out.

"Fuck off, Neala!"

What the hell?

"Be quiet!" I hissed and pointed my finger at the bird.

The bird hissed, "Darcy, Darcy, Darcy."

Oh, my God.

The bird was ratting me out.

"Shhh, you little bollocks!" I snapped and thumped the cage.

It was a bad idea because the bird went fucking crazy and squawked like it was being murdered.

"I'm sorry," I pleaded in a whisper, "Please be-"

I froze mid-sentence when the light in the kitchen was suddenly flicked on.

"What are you doing, Clarke?"

Oh Christ.

I screamed with fright and stumbled backwards until I tripped and fell on my arse again. I groaned as I looked up and widened my eyes when Darcy's half naked body came into view.

"You know I heard you coming up the driveway, right? I unlocked the back door so you wouldn't freeze to death."

I couldn't believe it.

He knew I was here all along?

Darcy grinned. "Don't look so surprised, you weren't exactly quiet, Neala."

I shook my head and opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

Darcy chuckled, "Cat got your tongue? I'm sure an hour or two in here will change your mind."

What?

"What are you– Darcy!"

He closed the door of the storage room and turned the lock.

"Use this time to think about what you've done."

"Darcy!" I screamed. "Let me out or I'll fucking kill you!"

"Goodnight, Neala," Darcy laughed.

He left. The bastard left me locked in his kitchen storage room.

I was going to kick his arse when I got out of here.