Don't sound so surprised

I'm going to get a drink. Do you want one?

"No," she shouted before pointing with a waggle of her eyebrows at the huge man behind her.

I rolled my eyes and blew her a kiss. "I'll be back in a bit."

Elbowing my way off the dance floor, I made my way to the bar. I hopped onto an empty stool and ordered a Long Island Iced Tea. I took a long sip and enjoyed the sour taste it left on my tongue. Despite the promises of getting drunk with Mery tonight, I hadn't actually had that much to drink. I'd had just enough to feel the alcohol high, but not so much that I was staggering all over the place. I was definitely in that carefree stage where anything was possible and life was wonderful. If only I didn't think too much about today.

"Is this seat free?"

I turned to the right and saw a man pointing to the stool next to me. "Uh, no."

He was handsome, with a preppy air. Brown hair slicked back, neatly combed, a light blue sweater with navy blue pants and chocolate eyes. But he had a tight mouth and a frown curving his perfectly plucked eyebrows. "Thank you. It'll just take a minute. I..."

"It's okay. Sit down."

He eyed the stool for a moment before scanning the crowd with his eyes. Maybe he was just waiting for someone. After a long moment, he finally sat down and poured himself a drink. Not that he drank it. He simply ran the lines of condensation on the glass.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"What?" His eyes met mine and they were wide.

I asked if you were okay. You seemed nervous.

"I'm fine " he said with a forced smile. "I'm just waiting for someone."

"First date?", I asked, leaning against the bar. That would explain the nerves.

He let out a laugh. "No."

"Ah, so breaking up with someone."

"Something like that. " She bit her lower lip for a minute as she went back to scanning the crowd.

"Well, why don't I help you get a little distracted? God knows I could use a distraction."

"Sure," he replied with a half smile.

"Tell me about yourself."

"Sure. I'm Bladimir and I work in finance. I guess."

"You guess?"

"Yes "he said, frowning and pursing his lips.

Well, Baldimir , nice to meet you. I'm Hanna and I'm a doctor.

"A doctor?"

I snorted. "Don't sound so surprised."

I'm sorry. You look too young to be a doctor.

"Well, I was finishing my residency so I could become an emergency medicine specialist, but some asshole surgeon got me fired because I wouldn't sleep with him."

"Sorry, that sucks."

"Yeah. So now I'm here, drinking to forget my troubles."

He smiled, and two dimples formed at the corner of his mouth. He was kind of cute when he wasn't fidgeting and frowning. "How's it going?"

I shrugged. "I decided that getting drunk probably wasn't the best decision. But I enjoy dancing. do you like to dance?"

"Not really. I was born with two left feet. Besides..."

Her face paled as she looked across the sea of dancers. I guessed the moment I had been waiting for had arrived. I had to admit, he seemed very nervous about this breakup - my God, maybe it was a divorce.

I stared across the dance floor to follow his gaze and saw two guys walking toward us. They were both tall, a head taller than the rest of the crowd. One was dark, with a grimace, and the other was blond and muscular.Damn, how burly he was! No wonder Bladimir was nervous about breaking up with one of them.

A sense of recognition coursed through my body as my gaze connected with the brunet's. Déjà vu, perhaps?

Icy eyes.

A blood-stained shirt.

Hands grabbed my face and Bladimir looked at me with fear lurking in his eyes.

"This isn't a breakup, is it?"

"No "he said shaking his head." I'm sorry. I thought I had more time."

"More time for what?"

"To come up with a plan. I didn't think they'd find me so soon."

"I don't understand." I totally regretted letting the boy sit next to me.

Have you ever regretted doing something? Something you wanted to fix but didn't know how? His fingers dug deeper into the side of my face, and I could feel those two men getting closer.

Wow. That was a tough conversation with a stranger in a bar. "Yeah, I guess."

"I'm sorry about this, but I don't have a choice."

Then he kissed me. He pressed his lips firmly against mine, and I was too shocked to do anything.

Bladimir Fox . You have to come with us.

That voice. I knew that voice.

I looked to my left and saw the guy with pitch-black hair, staring at me. He took a step closer and I could feel his gaze on the contours of my face as if it were physical.

"Have we met before?" I asked.

"No."

Something buzzed in my skull. Something familiar.

Before I knew it, my hand reached out, snuck under his jacket and touched his waist. He winced and grabbed my wrist.

He was wearing black leather gloves. I'd seen them before.

I'd seen it before. But where?

"Shit " he muttered. "The boss isn't going to be amused"

As if a light bulb had gone off, the lost afternoon flashed through my mind. The walk home, the guy who bumped into me. The gunshot. Everything.