Chapter 1

Thea could hear the nearing of footsteps despite the low drum of the music trailing from Bourbon Street. She picked up her pace walking through the dimly lit alley ways. She heard the echo of footsteps quicken behind her.

Her heart raced as she resisted the urge to look back.

She increased her pace again before she broke out into a full sprint. Footsteps pounded off of the asphalt and swallowed her in their echoes. She panted as she neared closer and closer to the main streets, the safety of the bright lights beckoned her.

She burst out from the shadows, sweaty and panting. She leaned against a store window, trying to catch her breathe. She dared herself to look down the alley way to see who was following her. Thea slowly leaned round the corner only to see nothing but an empty alleyway.

She laughed internally “It’s just your mind playing tricks on you,” she told herself. “You’ve not spoken to anyone, no one has any reason to follow you.” She repeated this in her head, like a chant.

Thea’s breathing finally returned to normal and her heart had stopped beating out of her chest. She looked at her reflection in the store window and tried to tame her now messy blonde hair. She ran her fingers through the lengths trying to comb any tangles out and pushed it over to the side. She sighed and shrugged as she continued on her way.

As she rounded the corner to Frenchman Street, she was greeted by the pulsing jazz music that was emanating from all of the various bars, to anyone else, the sound would be chaotic but, to Thea it felt homely, safe, the music sang to her soul.

Thea came to a halt when she reached the ‘Three Muses’ and she stepped inside letting the warm glow of the various chandeliers bask over her. Thanks to her mini marathon earlier, she was early for her shift so, she decided to take a seat and enjoy a moment of bliss. She took a deep breath as she listened to the seductive songs from the live singer. She relaxed into the chair and became at ease.

Thea liked bar work, she never had to speak to anyone really. Most communication could be done via a nod or a smile. It was safer that way.

After a moment, Thea stood and made her way through the back to the staff area. She took off her coat and hung it up with her bag in a locker, she took out her apron and tied it around herself.

Looking in the little mirror, she pulled her long blonde hair up into a high ponytail leaving a few stands to fall down and frame her face. “It’s just another shift, you’ve done this hundreds of times before, you don’t need to speak to anyone,” Thea told herself.

After a last glance over her appearance, she turned to leave the staff area.

As she entered the bar, a young man walked into her and knocked her straight onto her ass. “Shit, sorry,” he gasped. He extended a hand to help her up, Thea shook her head to refuse his help and stood up, a blush creeping across her cheeks. “Hey, I’m really sorry, let me buy you a drink,” he offered.

Thea shook her head and smiled at him, she motioned to move past him but he grabbed her arm to hold her back. “Look, I’m sorry I knocked you over, just let me buy you a drink to apologise,” his insistence became quite aggressive. Thea stayed silent as she tried to free her arm from his grip. His hold on her tightened as his eyes darkened. “What’s your damn problem?” He shouted at Thea.

“Hey, take your hands off of her right now!” Abbi, the shift manager shouted, she barged her way through the crowd of people towards the man that was harassing Thea. The man wouldn’t relinquish his grip on Thea nor did he take his gaze off of her. Thea knew what was happening, it had happened countless times before. She didn’t want to have to open her mouth but, she knew if he wouldn’t relent, the situation was only going to escalate.

The sudden outburst attracted the attention of the crowd as well as the security guards. It was only a moment before David, the head security guard, pushed his way through the crowd and grabbed the young man by the collar of his shirt and almost lifted him completely off of the ground.

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to put your hands on a woman,” he growled in his usual husky voice. The young man didn’t answer him, he didn’t take his eyes off of Thea, even for a second.

Thea could see it in his eyes, he was under her spell. Her heart raced as the man was dragged out by David, his eyes continued to bore into her the whole time. She knew this would only mean bad news. It only ever meant bad news.

“Are you okay Thea?” Abbi asked her tentatively. Thea quickly wiped the tears that had begun to form in her eyes and smiled at Abbi. “I’m fine, thanks for dealing with it,” Thea replied.

“What was that guys damn problem?” Abbi shouted over the music that had started back up. Thea just shrugged her shoulders and made her way towards the bar. All the watching eyes had forgotten about the incident already and resumed nursing their drinks and watching the singer.

Abbi had always been under the assumption that Thea’s reluctance to speak to men was just shyness. She could never understand Thea’s perceived lack of confidence though, she was damn near perfect.

She had gorgeously long dirty blonde hair and the brightest emerald green eyes she had ever seen. Pair that with her pouty lips and slender yet curvaceous body, Abbi questioned her own sexuality every time she saw her!

When Thea reached the bar, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to her roommate.

“Hey Penny, had a little situation here, would you be able to meet me after my shift?”

She hadn’t even put her phone back in her pocket before her phone buzzed in reply.

“No can do sister, I have a date😉 Have David or Abbi walk you home.”

She sighed as she read the response. Sure a ‘date’. She rolled her eyes and pocketed her phone.

“Alright, Alright, you can’t take your drinks with you! Come on Henry, you know the rules!” Abbi shouted at the group of regulars who were reluctant to leave.

“Awh come on Abbi, just let us stay for 1 more drink!” Henry pleaded with her, he tried to give her a puppy dog look but, it just made him look even more wasted than he was.

“Henry, you know I won’t hesitate to put you on your ass,” Abbi said with a grin, “you’ve gone through half our stores of whisky tonight so I know it won’t be hard,” she said with a wink.

Henry chuckled and held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay, I’m going, no need to go all karate kid on me,” he chuckled at her as he left.

Thea continued busying around the bar, collecting any stray glasses and wiping tables as she went. After locking the doors, Abbi joined to help her and before long, the bar was put back to normal ready for the cleaners to come in in the morning.

“Hey Abbi,” Thea whispered, “that guy before really spooked me, would you ask David if he wouldn’t mind walking me home?” she asked sheepishly.

“You know Thea, David won’t bite if you ask him yourself but, yes I’ll ask him, I’m sure he won’t mind. Go and get your coat, we’ll wait for you out back,” Abbi said with a smile.

Thea went to collect her stuff and, as promised, Abbi and David we’re waiting at the door. “I won’t be long babe, don’t wait up for me though, you must be exhausted,” David leant down to give Abbi a kiss, Abbi blushed in response. “See you at home, goodnight Thea, I’ll see you tomorrow,” Abbi gave a wave and crossed the street to her apartment.

“Right then Thea, lets get you home,” David said with a gentle smile. He knew the drill by now, he knew no matter what, Thea wouldn’t talk to him so, they walked the short journey in a comfortable silence.

Thea was on edge the whole time, not because of David’s presence but, she knew there were eyes lurking, watching her.

As usual, David walked her right up to her front door, “Goodnight Thea, see you tomorrow,” he said cheerfully. Thea smiled in response and buzzed into her apartment. David waited until he saw she was safe and had entered her front door before turning to leave.