There, armed with darts and cheap alcohol, it was even easier to let go. So easy, that Anna nearly missed when the door swung open and the group of professors walked into the bar.
She wanted to groan. 'He needs to stop being everywhere I am,' she thought, tempted to storm out in frustration. She eyed the way his shoulders were relaxed and he was quick to respond. But the group of professors only included three other people apart from Ladislas.
Thoroughly frustrated, she allowed Lewis to 'teach' her how to play darts. She felt his arm curling around her waist for a few minutes.
Only twice did Anna think about if Ladislas was watching them.
By the time they were done playing, she headed to the bar to buy another drink. She rested on the counter and waited for the bartender to come her way. Idly, she decided to look around the room.
She allowed herself to look at Ladislas for a moment before turning to stare at others. Only then did she see someone else across the room: two men, sitting alone and irritated at one table in the corner. They cast glances at Professor Forrester.
One of them was the suspicious man she had seen in the restaurant.
Slowly… too slowly, she thought about if she should inform him.
The bartender asked for her order and she gave it absentmindedly. Then, she pulled out her cellphone.
[Careful of 3'oclock.]
She didn't need to tell him how she had his number. Of course, she did. She didn't check the device until she was back at her seat, gingerly putting down her drink.
[I know.] Was his reply.
What did that mean? Was Ladislas going to do something about it? Or was he just having fun leading these people around? She could imagine they were dangerous because with his history… what else could it be?
Anna tried to focus on the conversation around her again, but she felt jumpy. She had seen many people in this situation… She had been the one to follow them too. And in this case, she only felt that Ladislas was in danger.
His group began to thin, as did hers. Lewis bid farewell, clutching his phone as he went out. Obviously, his mother had called to make him come back home. But Ladislas seemed to stay put, gravitating to the bar to sit alone when everyone left him.
She wanted to scream.
She didn't know if she could take down hitmen, but he didn't seem worried about it. What did he have up his sleeve? He didn't even have security!
"Anna, when are we going home? Do you want to stay or we can take a ride!" Marie prompted.
In a split second, Anna made a decision. Ten minutes later, she had ushered the last of her classmates into cabs. She even sent Marie her way, saying that she wanted to walk home and get her buzz off. She waved Marie off before stalking back into the bar to sit opposite to Ladislas.
He rolled his eyes at her in exasperation but he didn't look surprised.
Her phone buzzed.
[Don't follow me.]
She was just about to type something back when another message came in.
[You know what happened to the curious cat.]
She didn't respond or even nod at him. She fiddled with her phone, pretending as though she had not seen his text.
Subtle glances towards the corner told her that the men were staring directly at Ladislas. They had abandoned their mission of hiding their hatred for him.
Eventually, Ladislas finished his drink and paid. Then, he stumbled out of the pub, looking like every other person walking out, drunk off his ass.
The two men swiftly followed.
Anna told herself that she wasn't following them. She was leaving for the night, too. She opened the cab app and booked herself a cab. She had fourteen minutes until it arrived. Enough time.
She was practiced in her steps and she watched as Ladislas' steps grew soberer. Like he had been faking being drunk. But when he turned the corner into an alley and out of her sight, her heart thudded in her chest. She felt the remnant of her high leave her as she raced to the alley.
And then, she came to a screeching halt.
One man on the ground. Two men holding guns aimed at Ladislas Forrester's head.
None of them had seen her, so she did what she did best. She pulled out her gun-shaped lighter and played the cop she would never be.
"Come on boys, put your guns down, now," she spoke menacingly. The confidence in her voice made the men jerk to look in her direction. Ladislas looked up, staring at her in horror for a moment before leaping into action. He knocked the gun out of the assailant's hand before throwing them far away from him.
She didn't stand around and stare. Instead, she lunged forward and smacked the heel of her fake gun into the other attacker's head, pleased when he crumbled immediately. This move didn't reveal her skill but still did the job beautifully. She looked up just in time to see Professor Forrester's broad back facing her, arms locked around the other man.
There was a loud crack and then he crumpled to the ground in pain.
Silence fell between them as Ladislas panted, staring down at the bodies, his chest rising and falling, his hair disheveled and not in a beautiful way.
Only when he had calmed down did he turn to stare at her. Anna began to inspect the damage and moved the bodies slowly, setting them up in a pile on the ground. She crouched down beside them to rifle through their pockets. She was not sure what she would find, but the symbol of the cult in their wallet was a dead-ass giveaway as to whom Ladislas had pissed off. She turned to Ladislas to show him her find. But he kept staring.
"Mr. Forrester?" she asked. He didn't respond. "Mr. Forrester!" she said louder.
Ladislas just gaped at it. "How did you… what is wrong with you?" he whisper-yelled. He looked at her in concern.