Trigger - Part 1

CHAPTER 27 - Hooks In You

"It's been only four weeks. I scoff and follow Emma towards the bar area. She grabs something and turns around handing a cocktail to me.

"Thank you for coming to my housewarming - now drink up and I'll introduce you to a friend." She winks and grabs a cocktail for herself too.

"Ah, I don't drink anymore and nope on the friend's part," I say, handing the cocktail back to her. A look of disgust pops up and she pushes the drink back towards me.

"Say-linn. You gotta be kidding. If this is regarding that night with James, I told you I am on your side. We spoke about this hun and plus you need to let loose. You have been so tense." Her voice softens with concern.

Maybe she is right...

"He is not here is he?"

"Who? James!? - absolutely not!" She raises her voice as if I asked a really stupid question. I smile and take a small sip. The pineapple flavor is pungent and no doubt I know exactly what cocktail Emma gave.

She just knows me too well.

"Oh! I love this song! You want to join?"

I shake my head side to side.

"Let me have a couple more of these." I hold my glass up and point towards it with a sheepish smile."

"Fine!" She scoffs and rushes towards the makeshift dance floor in the lounge. It still surprises me how many people Emma knows.

There must be at least over eighty people here tonight.

I walk past a crowd, through the big open glass doors onto a covered veranda with a pool in front. Hundreds of fairy lights are strung up everywhere and the pool's light helps set the mood. I scan the area and see there are people everywhere chatting while some are moving towards the rhythm.

"Shit, excuse me!" A soft voice booms towards me as I fling forward and spill my drink.

"Oh it's okay." I say wiping the drink from my arm. I look around and see a woman almost identical to Ashley. I stand frozen.

"I am a real cluts tonight."

"Ah." Unable to put together a proper sentence.

"Are you okay? Did I bump you that hard?" Her hand wraps around my arm and a look of concern shows.

"Ah, no. You just remind me of someone."

She instantly smiles. "Hopefully a good someone. I am Jess."

"Say-linn."

"Nice to meet you, Say-linn. Are you here with someone in particular?"

"No. I just owe Emma." I say rolling my eyes.

"Oh I see. Don't we all!" Her laugh becomes infectious.

"Please come join us. It's just a few of us."

I take her stretched out hand and nod.

She leads me through a small crowd past the pool towards the back garden. A couple of tables are spread out and most of them are occupied.

"Hey guys! This is Say-linn. Say-linn this is everyone, guys feel free to introduce yourselfs." I look at a group seated around a table. Mixed with a few girls and guys of all walks of life. I lift my hand and give a small smile. Simultaneously they greet me and carry on with their conversations.

"Here take a seat." A husky voice sounds from the table and I see a guy stand up and slide over the plastic chair.

"Thanks." I say while taking my seat and Jess follows and takes a seat on top of the guy that offered me a chair.

"This is Graham. My man." He stretches his hand out with Jess's words as if they have done it many times before.

I repay the gesture.
"Say-linn."

"So where are you from, Say-linn?" He asks.

"Uhm, the city." I take a sip and feel the warmed-up liquid struggling to go down my throat.

"Be a doll and get us another round." Graham requests and gives Jess a peck on the cheek.

"What are you having?" He looks at me and then down at my glass.

"Ag no! You definitely need something stronger. Make it the usual." Jess nods and hurries towards the house.

"The usual?" I ask quietly.

"Vodka." He digs in his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. He opens the box and points it toward me. I shake my head and he continues to place one in his mouth and light it up.

"Of course she will invite them." He says as his voice sounds strained as he pulls in a huge puff of smoke. I turn around and feel my stomach knot.

"Shit!" I blurt out.

"You know them?" I look back at Graham waiting for me to respond.

"Sort of." I say while looking back.

"If I can give you advice. Stay far, far away. They are bad news. And a pretty little thing like you will not survive."

My eyes glued towards Liam, Graham's words barely bothers me.

"What do you mean?" I ask Graham as I look back at him. He takes another big drag of his cigarette and a huge puff of smoke follows.

"Rumor has it they are busy with some underground drug smuggling ring. Would explain all the expensive cars and bikes. They don't let anyone in their little circle and sometimes disappear for weeks on end."

I look back and see them stand around another group of guys busy exchanging conversation while Liam takes a sip of his beer.

"Well, looks like they allowed those other guys in their circle." I mock.

Graham chukkels. "That is still the circle."

"Well I've never seen those other guys with them before?"

With a confused look Graham leans forward and instantly his eyes light up like a lightbulb.

"Oh yes, the Moretti brothers are always at Casey's. No, the other guys don't go into the South. They run the North."

"Run the North? What is this like gangs now?" I ask.

"Well... This whole town has groups. Or territories. We normal people see or say nothing and we get left in peace. I don't necessarily like it but don't have much of a choice. Mm... But seems like you will have to make a choice soon." I see Graham's eyes grow bigger while he arches his eyebrows indicating for me to turn around.

Oh! He is looking right at me!

"Fuck!" I quickly spin around and see a look of confusion on Graham's face.

"And now?"

"Nothing..."

His eyebrows arched again.

"Mmm. Looks like the alpha already has his hooks in you."