badwolf-in-the-impala

[badwolf-in-the-impala]

This is the money Marge. Reblog for good fortune

[badwolf-in-the-impala]

[badwolf-in-the-impala]

[badwolf-in-the-impala]

The Price Chapter 3

Moodboard made by @badwolf-in-the-impala, none of the pictures are mine

~

Warnings: Mentions of abuse

~

After closing down the bar, Taddie began to get anxious as Ash linked their arms to walk back to their locker together. She didn’t know how to tell her best friend about what Thatcher had offered, she was at even more of a loss at how to tell her she was strongly considering it and would be taking her car over once they got home. She took a deep breath and changed shoes, shrugging on her jacket as Ash chattered at her, though it went through one ear and out the other for Taddie. Her mind was a buzz with what she was going to do, what she was going to say, what was going to happen, too much so for her to focus on much else and she was extremely glad that Ash was driving home.

Taddie disassociated the whole ride, both women too exhausted for conversation, and Taddie was thankful. She’d managed to figure out that she was going to tell Ash she was going to be out for the night, but not much past that. She knew Ash would ask why and where she was going, but Taddie didn’t have a good enough excuse. As they got closer and closer to home, it was looking more and more like Taddie was just going to have to either tell Ash outright or sneak out once Ash went to her room.

Ash pulled into the driveway and put the car in park with a soft huff, the sudden sound making Taddie jump and blink, looking around and realizing they were home. Taking a deep breath, Taddie grabbed her bag as they both got out and trudged up their path, Taddie quickly unlocking the door and the pair blowing in. Taddie slammed the door shut behind them and they both shivered out of their jackets, Ash going to the thermostat and turning the heat up, quickly.

“Ohhhh, why did I move home?” Ash groaned out, ending it with a laugh as she glanced back at Taddie, who’s face held a blank look as she slipped out of her boots, put them by the door, hung her jacket, and put her keys in the bowl-Like a goddamn robot. “Uh, Tads? You alright?”

“Huh? What? Y-Ye-Yeah, I’m-I’m fine. I’m, um, I’m gonna turn in. I’m fucking beat.” Taddie said, shoving a hand into her curls, scratching at her scalp as she crossed the floor, going to her room. Ash raised a brow and nodded, watching her friend avoid all eye contact with her and make a beeline, quickly closing her door. Ash furrowed her brows together, but shook her head with a sigh and went to the kitchen to fill a Starbuck reusable cup up with ice and water, then went to her room as well.

Once she heard Ash’s bedroom door shut, Taddie tugged out the keychain and her phone, looking over the charm and sliding her finger over the initial, then flipped it, seeing a number etched into the back of it. Taking a deep breath, Taddie began dialing as she muttered to herself, “I am out of my fucking mind…”

Pressing the green phone button, Taddie sighed as she pressed the phone to her ear and laid back against her pillows as she listened to the ringing drone on. Part of her thought he would have already passed out, waiting up for her so long. She wouldn’t have been surprised, seeing as it was nearly 3 AM. But her hope quickly drained as the line picked up as she heard a soft groan, the sound shooting through her and making her eyes snap shut as she muttered to herself before she heard Thatcher’s rough and tired sounding voice answer with, “Hello?”

“Surprised you didn’t answer with my name since you know so much.” Taddie said, not realizing she’d said it until she heard his low chuckle of amusement before he said, “I have some sense of boundaries. I don’t know where you live, though I’d assume in Roanoke? Is that fair?”

“Yes. I do.” Taddie said, a spontaneous smile jumping across her face. She shoved a thumbnail between her teeth to try and stop it from growing.

“Alright--I still don’t know your address. I don’t know your phone number, at least not until now. I don’t know your social, your previous addresses…Could I easily find out? Yes. But where’s the fun in that?” He said with a soft snicker. She rolled her eyes as she said, “So, I’m just something to play with for fun? This isn’t all that serious then?”

“Oh, it’s plenty serious…But yes, I like to play with my food-Is that so wrong? I do it with consent and honesty. I laid it all out for you, didn’t I?” Thatcher asked, his voice daring her to challenge him. A challenge she more than took him up on.

“I don’t know-Did you? You only want me for appearances? There’s no ulterior motives, no sick and twisted sexual desires you’re achieving from this?” She asked, casually, trying to shock him into faltering. Instead, she was met with another chuckle before he said, “Oh, trust me, kitten, I have plenty. Ones I’m more than excited to play out--But, force isn’t my thing.  I’m all about safe and proper sexual play…But, like I said-We can talk about all that when you get here. Which would be when, by the way? My man said you went straight home?”

Taddie bolted up and her head whipped toward the window as her heart began to pound. She hadn’t realized she’d gasped until Thatcher said, “He’s not still there. I’ve told them once they see you go into your home, safely, they’re to go home and report back to me. I told you, it’s about protection, Taddie. Not stalking. I might do some questionable things, but I consider it somewhat living up to the family name. At least I’m not a complete disappointment.”

She’d heard the switch in his tone, going from playful and teasing to almost sad and depressed. Taddie chewed her lip then let out a soft sigh as she scooted back on her bed, crossing her legs beneath her as she said, “Thatcher, I’m still not sure about this…It all seems very…”

“Risky? Enticing? Sensual? Romantic?” Thatcher offered, the flirtatious lilt returning to his voice. Taddie’s lips skewed in a smirk as she said, “Very close to prostitution…Without the sex.”

“Mm-Well, the only reason it would be without sex would be up to you. I’m more than agreeable, but on your terms-Should that be something you wanted from this…Taddie, at least spend tonight with me and tomorrow before you go to work. Let me show you what I can offer you.” Thatcher said.

“It’s 3 in the morning. I’ve got a shift tomorrow, I can’t be up until dawn-”

“Did you forget my brother owns the bar and keeps your schedule? I say you need a paid day off and you’ve got it, Taddie. All you need to do is say the word… Let  me show you what I can offer you.” Thatcher said, firmly. Taddie chewed her lip and took a deep breath as her mind worked. She heard Thatcher’s breathing on the other end, then heard the sound of sheets rustling. Taddie closed her eyes and let out a sigh as she fell back onto her bed.

“Fine…But what am I supposed to tell Ash? We live together, she’s going to ask questions.” Taddie said, quietly, biting her lip as she glanced at their shared wall, listening for Ash’s movements. She heard the toilet, then the sink, then her TV turn on.

“Tell her you’re spending time with your new boyfriend. Might as well keep up appearances on both ends, no?”

“No. Not when she’s my best friend and I tell her literally everything…I-I can’t keep this from her, Thatcher. I can’t.”

“Well, you’re going to have to. No one can know this isn’t real, Taddie. Not until the end at least, if you succeed. If you do, I’ll come clean to my family, to Ashlen…And the only time you’ll ever even see my name again is on the checks that get delivered to pay for the studio.” Thatcher said, almost disappointed already that she wouldn’t, in fact, fall for him. Taddie closed her eyes and internalized a groan before she said, “You’d better have an amazing cover story as to why I’ve never told her about any dates, why I never said anything to her, and why we’re suddenly spending time together. Ash is a nosy bitch, especially when it comes to me. She’s gonna have questions.”

“Then you’d better get your ass over here, hadn’t you?” Thatcher said, his playful tone returning. It made her cheeks heat as she smirked and bit her lip. “I’ll send the address, kitten.”

Arousal shot through her and she fought it as her eyes fluttered closed and she took a deep breath to conain herself as he added, “I’ll see you soon…Which it had better be?”

“Well, you’ll just have stay awake and wait, won’t you?” Taddie said, quickly ending the call and pressing her phone to her chest as it pounded. A coy smirk spread across her face as she let out a chuckle then got up, quickly packing a small duffel bag’s worth of overnight things and listened at Ash’s wall to see just how occupied she was and if Taddie had a shot to sneak out. She heard the TV still going and also videos as she scrolled on TikTok, so she knew she was safe. Leaving her door cracked for Juniper, Taddie crept to the door and carefully grabbed her keys before slipping out of the house and locking the door behind her before she hustled to her car and jumped in.

~

Taddie took a deep breath as she rode the elevator to the penthouse floor, her anxiety bouncing around inside her like a caged and feral animal, desperately waiting to be let out. She pushed the feeling down as the doors opened and she took another deep breath. Stepping out, she fingered the keychain in her hands, rubbing her fingers over the P  on the front then went up to the door, unsure whether to knock or just unlock the door. She stood there for a moment, contemplating, before she let out a sigh and stuck the key in the lock, turning it and the knob, pushing the door open. After all, he gave her a key for a reason. She looked around and raised her brows, seeing a very nicely furnished foyer; Two matching armchairs to the left with a round table between them, a finely made mahogany table rested under an ornate mirror that faced her. She chewed her lip and looked herself over before walking further into the apartment and closing the door behind her, locking it.

Walking even further, Taddie was breathtaken by the openness of the space, large glass windows went from ceiling to floor, not many walls in the apartment save for two that she assumed made up his office and one for the bathroom, of which there was a single glass block wall that seemed to shield the toilet and the shower. As she looked and wandered around, she suddenly stopped with a gasp, when she saw Thatcher standing on the edge of an indoor pool, because of course he had his own indoor pool. But what had made her gasp, was the candlelit table with two plates of food waiting for her. At the sound, Thatcher turned and gave her a smirk. He wore a pair of black joggers and a simple white tank top, clearly displaying the single arm, full sleeve tattoo, which made Taddie’s brow raise in surprise.

“Glad you made it…Though you could have left your things at the door?” Thatcher teased as he went to her. Taddie nodded and said, “I know. I, um, I wasn’t sure…Where you were--This-This is amazing. You have a nice apartment.”

“We have a nice apartment. This is yours now, for the next month at least. This is where you’ll come back to after work, this is where you’ll sleep, shower, eat. I told you I was serious about this. It might be for appearances, but it’s still a test. Got to have the right environment for tests, no?” Thatcher said, reaching out to slip her duffel bag off her shoulder and set it down before moving around her, helping her slip off her jacket. Taddie bit her lip and nodded, lightly, looking around the room before her. She felt his hand slide around her neck, pushing his fingers under her chin, lifting and turning her to face him. She let out a gasp, then cut it off quickly when she realized how close their faces were. “You’re still in your uniform…Too anxious to change?”

“Well, you-you said you wanted me here…”

“And you told me I’d have to wait…And I did. Thought you’d get a little more dressed up…But I don’t mind. You’re cute in your uniform.” He purred down at her before letting his hand drop and moving around her, to the table. Taddie took a slow, shuddered inhale as she watched him walk away, then stop and turn to her, beckoning her to follow him. She gave a light gasp and quickly took several steps forward to catch up to him as he led her to the table. As she got closer she saw steaks on both plates, as well as mashed potatoes and a side of charred corn that gave off whiffs of garlic, all of it making Taddie’s mouth water. “Are you hungry? I didn’t see you eat anything today, so I wanted to have something for you.”

“I, um, I’m starving actually, but I-I will have no self control and eat like the heathen I am.” Taddie said with a soft chuckle, dragging her gaze from the food, looking up at Thatcher with a soft chuckle. Thatcher smirked and laughed, shaking his head as he moved around her, going to her chair and pulling it back for her.

“Go for it. You don’t need to hide anything when you’re here, Taddie. I want you to be yourself here. This is a safe space and I’ll never judge you.” Thatcher said, bracing his hands on the back of her chair, waiting for her to sit down. Taddie looked him over with a slightly skeptical look before she quickly shook it away and slid into the chair, Thatcher tucking it under her as she sat down. She closed her eyes and took a slow breath before opening them, seeing him walking around the table to sit down across from her. “Are you alright? You look like you’re about to jump through the window…”

“I’m, um…I’m fine, just…Just a little on edge?” Taddie said, watching as he picked up a bottle of what she assumed was champagne, and pour it into two glasses. “Oh, I don’t drink this…Late?”

As he poured the drink, she saw it was much more yellow with bubbles than being more cream/tan colored like normal champagne. She raised a brow and looked at him in a silent question, then Thatcher chuckled and turned to bottle to show that it was apple cider. Her cheeks turned pink and she let out a soft chuckle, biting her lip, lightly.

“Martinelli’s. I do like to drink, but this is a real good brand of apple cider. Splash of vodka or whiskey and it’s perfect. But, no, I don’t drink this late either.” Thatcher said as he set the bottle down and picked up his glass to take a sip. Taddie slid her hand across the table, sliding her fingers over the base of the glass and turning it a few times before she pulled her hand back and straightened a little more in her seat. Thatcher raised a brow at her as he set the glass back down and said, “Taddie. What is it?”

“Oh, my God, I can’t fucking do this-I-I’m…Thatcher, I’m sorry. I-I don’t think I can do this--I-I showed up, right? That’s-That’s what you asked. So, I-I’m sorry…I-I can’t do this.” Taddie said, quickly pushing back from the table and standing. Thatcher stood with her, a little too fast for her taste, and Taddie nearly toppled the chair over, falling back with it, flinching so hard when he took a few quick steps toward her. Seeing this, he quickly backed off and held up his hands, raising his brows in shock. Taddie panted, softly, gripping the back and arm of the chair as she caught herself and squeezing her eyes shut.

“Thaden…”

“Don’t ever call me that.” She hissed at him, shooting him a fierce glare before she blinked and the look vanished, a look of guilt and regret taking its place. “I-I-I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be…” Thatcher said, gently, approaching her slowly, this time, and holding out his hands toward her, showing her he meant no harm. She shifted on her feet, watching him closely as he came to stop before her and lowered his hands. “What happened to you?”

Taddie sighed and looked away, shaking her head with a light scoff of a chuckle. Thatcher slid his hands into his pockets, waiting patiently for her to gather herself and her thoughts before she looked at him again, drawing her brows together a little more. He gave her a soft, sympathetic smile, trying to reassure her. With a deep breath, Taddie turned and slowly lowered herself back into her chair. Thatcher slowly bent his knees, sinking into a squat beside her.

“Alright…O-Okay…Um-” Taddie started, her voice shaking slightly. Thatcher gently laid his hand on her knee and she turned to him as she said, “I-I…I’ve been in an 8 year abusive relationship since I-I was 21. It’s over--I’m-I’m 31 now-I spent the last two years moving around trying to get away from him, until Ash said I could move in with her, here in Roanoke. It-Its such a small town, I figured he’d never look for me here.”

“What did he do?” Thatcher asked, his voice hard and angry, though he tried to control it. Taddie winced and quickly tugged her knee from beneath his hand with a deep sigh. He pulled his hand back and waited, trying to quell his anger before it rose too quickly.

“He, um…Lot-Lots of, uh, lots of emotional abuse? Um, v-verbal, mental, physical, s--” Taddie stopped suddenly, her vision tunneled and she was briefly thrown back to a series of flashbacks that left her silent. Thatcher flinched at the last syllable, and took a deep breath, ducking his head down briefly before he said, “Did he ever force you?”

“No.” Taddie said, quickly, jolting out her her trance like state with a sniffle, and she turned to look at him again. Blinking her tears away, she cleared her throat, lightly before she continued, “No, he-he never…But, I-I saw the look in his eyes a few times…He would’ve.”

“Taddie, I’m sorry for what happened to you and what you went through. But you need to know-You need to understand-I am never going to touch you like that. If I ever talk to you in a way that isn’t respectful, you have full right to put it back on me and put me in my place. This isn’t something I’m holding you prisoner to. Anytime you want this to end, it’ll end. You’re going to have full reign over my household and when we visit my family. For all intents and purposes, save the titles, you’re the queen of this apartment and the princess in the family, and you’re going to be treated as such.” Thatcher said, softly, slowly reaching a hand up to lay on her shoulder. Taddie nodded, softly, and sniffled as she took another deep breath, calming herself down silently. He pushed his hand over her shoulder and up her neck, under her curls. She shifted her gaze to him and she gave him a soft smile, though it didn’t stay, fading slowly. With a light sigh, Thatcher stood, slowly, not wanting to startle her again, and said, “Why don’t you just crash for the night? Maybe I was wrong-I don’t want to make anything worse for you, Taddie. I’m sorry.”

She tilted her head up to him, blinking in confusion. He caressed his thumb over her jaw, then pulled his hand away as he turned, going to her things in the doorway. Taddie closed her eyes and muttered to herself before she said, “Thatcher, if you ever even so much as raise a hand to me--”

“That will never happen, Taddie. I can control my anger. I might yell and get loud, but I’ve never hit a woman.” Thatcher said, turning back and pushing his hand into his pockets again, staring at her as she opened her eyes to look at him again, her brows drawn tightly as her eyes shone with tears.

“I don’t even want you to get loud, Thatcher. I-I don’t want to be with anything that’s even close to him. I-I’m not going to put myself in that position again. Ever.” Taddie said, shaking her head with a sigh as she glanced away. Thatcher came back over to her, waiting until she looked up at him to gently slide his fingers under her chin.

“I told you I have my men following you for your protection and I’m serious about that. I can honestly say, you are 100% safe when you’re with me, Taddie. I’ll do anything to keep you safe and so will my men. You’re dating in the mob, now, kitten. This is the safest you’ll ever be in your life.” Thatcher said, giving her chin a light squeeze before letting it go. He took a deep breath, then said, “But I’m not going to be jerked around either. If you want to do this, then we’re going to do this. You need to tell me now if you’re in or out. You can still end it whenever you feel it gets too much, but I’m not going to stand for you not being sure and yo-yoing between what you want to do. Make a choice and make it now.”

“I’m in. I-I, um, I’ll-I’ll try? I--”

“Yes. Or. No?” Thatcher held her gaze as Taddie took a deep breath and said, “Yes.”

Thatcher’s smile jumped to his face before her went back to his chair, sitting down and scooting in. Taddie let out a slow exhale and scooted closer to the table as she said, “So, um…What-What’s all going to happen? You said this was for appearances? So…Why do you need to a show girlfriend?”

“Thomas has been married for 15 years and has two kids, boy and a girl. Theo got married a few years ago and Tristan and his girl have been going strong for a good 2 years now. We all think he’s going to propose at Christmas. Me, being the true black sheep that I am, I’ve never brought anyone home to meet the family, never had the long term thing…O-Once, but it-Well, it didn’t work out.” Thatcher started, clearing his throat, awkwardly and quickly taking a swig of the cider. Taddie raised a brow at the reaction, but she simply tucked it away and decided to touch on it later. “We have family dinner every Sunday. When you meet my Mother, smile, say ‘It’s nice you meet you, Ma’am’-Those exact words, not even joking-She expects something more formal, so a curtsy, but even a quick dip down, she’s happy. She’ll be very judgemental at first, but…I was supposed to be her last baby boy, so she has a special place in her heart for me over the twins.”

Taddie let out a giggle and leaned her arms on the table, slightly, as she said, “Surprise pregnancy?”

“Double surprise. Twins. Tom was not happy at first, he was already 10 and didn’t like me being around to begin with.” Thatcher said with a snicker, picking up his fork and knife, cutting into his steak. Taddie smirked, then let her gaze roam around the setting in front of her before she finally reached for her glass for a quick sip. Thatcher watched her with a growing smile as he slid a piece of steak into his mouth, chewing slowly. Taddie cleared her throat as she set the glass down and picked up her fork, raking it through the mashed potatoes before taking a large scoop and eating it. She gave a small wiggle of happiness, feeling the hunger taking over her, but she tried to keep it at bay, at least for the first night.

“Mm-So…Your brother’s women? Did they get the whole explanations and introductions before meeting the family too?” Taddie asked as she picked up her knife, quicky cutting her steak up. Thatcher chuckled and shook his head as he took another bite.

“No. Usually, their women don’t know anything other than their man until they meet the family. Kind of an ambush thing--Mafia. You know.” Thatcher said with a smirk and a chuckle. Taddie glanced up at him and nodded, her smile growing a little more genuinely. He stared at her with a smile of his own, watching her eat steadily, despite saying she’d act like a heathen, she was so hungry. He chuckled to himself, leaning his mouth into the back of his hand as his gaze bounced around, from her face to her hands, her fingers to her mouth, watching her lips.

Taddie glanced up at him in the silence, then did a double take as she stopped chewing and her cheeks heated. Her lips curved into a small smirk before she quickly finished chewing and swallowed before she said, “What? Y-You’re staring…”

“I’m sorry. I tend to stare at beautiful things.” He said with a coy, teasing smirk before he looked down to gather another bite and take it. She bit her lip as her blush deepened, her smile lifting a little more as she looked down to do the same and keep eating.

“Um…So, Christmas is next week? Does this factor in at all?” Taddie asked. Thatcher nodded and sat back, setting his fork down as he said, “It does. We do portraits every year and my Mother is nagging me about when I’m bringing someone home for them. I’m 35 myself, about to turn 36…She at least wants to see me happy with someone. So, it kind of works as a gift for her, gets the family off my back…”

“But, you’re doing this and banking on me falling for you…I can’t say I feel either direction on the spectrum right now…What happens if I don’t fall for you and the month ends? You’re just going to lie to everyone and say we broke up?” Taddie asked, reaching for her glass and taking a drink.

“No, I said I’ll come clean and I will. If that happens, maybe my family will finally back off. If I had to pay for it…” Thatcher started, quickly stopping himself and shaking his head as he cleared his throat. “But, we have a month. You’re going to be getting a few more days off, little bump in your pay to compensate for it. I…Kind of want to give this a real shot. I know it might not be a conventional start, but it’s not entirely easy for me to have and keep something serious with a woman. Once shit goes down once, they freak out and leave, so-”

“So, you thought you’d do a little light stalking to try and get on my good side then half kidnap me?” Taddie said, in a matter-of-fact tone, though there was a teasing undertone to it. Thatcher looked up at her then smirked as she lifted her gaze to him, raising her brows in an innocent expression as she slipped a piece of steak into her mouth.

“I’ll settle for a voluntary kidnapping, thank you-You drove yourself here. And I wasn’t stalking-”

“You were protecting. Yes, yes, I know.” Taddie said with a soft giggle. She glanced at him through her lashes, seeing him smirk and sit back with his glass, taking a deep swig. She cast her gaze down as she pushed the last few pieces of steak around, then laid her fork down as she sat back and lifted her head to him. “So…Is this a first date then? If you’re trying to be a little more serious?”

“If you want to take it as that. I actually had a breakfast planned for us tomorrow as a first date.” Thatcher said, with a small smirk. Taddie nodded as she tongued the strings of meat that were stuck in her teeth.

“What is this then?” She asked, softly. Thatcher sat forward, moving his glass to the middle of the table and prompting Taddie to quickly do the same, clinking her glass to the side of his as he said, “Smoothing everything over before the relationship begins. I told you I operate on consent and honesty. I’m going to lay everything out for you. If you have questions, you can ask me whenever you think of them.”

“You’re not expecting sex.” She asked, bluntly, lifting her glass to her lips. Thatcher had already taken a sip and choked on it, lightly, not expecting her to be so direct. Her lips curved in a sly smirk, covering it by taking a drink and setting her glass down again. Thatcher coughed a few times, pounding his fist to his chest, then cleared his throat as he looked at her with an arched brow. “I’m asking my questions.”

“That wasn’t a question…But no. I’m not. Not unless you make that move first. Not saying I don’t want it, that I haven’t thought about it. I’m a man after all.” He said with a soft laugh and a smirk. Taddie nodded and smirked back as she leaned forward to pick up her fork again. Thatcher leaned forward and slid his hand over hers, prompting her to look up at him as she took another bite and he said, “But, I want you to be in control of that. When we’re in front of family, obviously, I’m going to touch you and hold you, grab you into my lap…We need to put on the appearances for them. But when we’re here, we can be more like roommates, if that makes you more comfortable. It’s like any relationship, Taddie-We need to spend time together and get to know each other to know our true feelings. That’s really all I’m asking is for that shot. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. But we gave it a shot.”

“Touching, holding, grabbing…What about kissing? How…Much…Of that do I need to expect?” Taddie asked, lowering her gaze as she swirled the tips of her fork in her mashed potatoes. Thatcher gave her hand a squeeze and he saw her eyes flicker up to him, though her head remained bent.

“None, if you don’t want me to. A peck on your cheek, affectionate seeming one to your temple, your forehead…I can do the little things. I don’t want to push you with something you don’t want, but there needs to be some kind of affection between us.” Thatcher said, softly. Taddie took a breath as she lifted her head.

“When-When am I supposed to meet the family for the first time? Like everyone? Sunday?” Taddie asked. When Thatcher nodded, she sighed and gave him one herself, before she lowered her gaze to her plate and said, “Well…Then, we-we can work on that I guess…Um, I d-I don’t want to be rude, but it-it’s late--”

“Are you done eating?” Thatcher asked, quickly wiping his mouth with his napkin before he stood. Taddie looked up at him and nodded, letting her smile lift a little more as he rounded the table, offering his hand to her. She took it as she pushed away from the table and stood. He led her to her things, scooping up her bag and jacket before he led her to the king sized four-poster bed that sat against the back wall, in its own little nook. Thatcher set her bag on the bed and let go of her hand as he said, “I’m gonna put your jacket in the closet. Um, feel free to change, get comfortable. The bathroom is behind the wall over there.”

Thatcher pointed to the glass block wall then gave her a smile, leaning closer to kiss her cheek, lightly, before he took a step away and turned to round the corner. Taddie bit her lip and let out a slow exhale through her nose before she turned to her bag, trying to change as quick as possible before he came back. She tore off her shirt and tugged on a tank top before she pulled her bra off underneath it, stuffing it into her bag. As she wiggled out of her jeans, she cast a glance over her shoulder to look for him as she unfolded her sleep pants, that had a Van Gogh’s Starry Night pattern on them. She let out a relieved sigh as she zipped up her bag and dropped it on the floor, then spun around to sit on the edge of the bed, pushing her hands into her hair as she closed her eyes.

“Are you decent? Can I come back now?” Thatcher’s voice came after a while. Taddie let out a soft gasp and pulled her hands down as she looked up. She didn’t see him anywhere so she took a breath and called out, “Yeah. I’m-I’m changed…Thank you.”

“Of course.” Thatcher said, coming around the corner with a soft smile, his hands in his pockets. Taddie stood and gave him a small, sweet smile as he approached, then stopped a foot or two from her. “Well…Um, if you need anything at night, there’s extra pillows and blankets in that cupboard. You’re welcome to anything in the kitchen. We can go over where everything is tomorrow, the tour and all, if you’d like. I’ll just be down the stairs there on the couch.”

Thatcher gestured around, but when he turned and pointed all the way across the apartment, she felt a twinge of guilt and glanced back to the giant bed she was going to have to herself. Turning back to him as he turned to her, Taddie took a step closer, reaching out a hand to touch his arm as she said, “Wait--Well…I-I don’t feel right about kicking you out of your own bed-”

“You’re not sleeping on the couch and I’m not letting you. Nor am I going to force you to sleep with me--”

“What if I want to? I-I just…If you don’t want me sleeping on the couch and I don’t want you sleeping on the couch…We’re-We’re sleeping together, not having sex…” Taddie said, letting her hand fall from his arm.

“I’ll do anything you’re comfortable with, Taddie. Your comfort is my only concern.” Thatcher said, closing the space between them and lifting a hand, slowly, brushing the backs of his fingers over her cheek, then pushing them into her hair. Taddie nodded as she stared up at him, slowly pushing her hands over his abdomen, that she found was rather long, considering he was so tall. Her lower lip was sucked between her teeth as she slid her hands up his chest for a brief moment, then let her lip pop back out as they parted. Thatcher shifted as he pulled his other hand from his pocket and slid it over her waist as he tugged her closer. “Are you going to let me kiss you, Taddie?”

“I--I might…Why don’t you try and find out?” She whispered back before she lifted on her toes, slightly, as he ducked down to ease his lips over hers in a deep kiss. She inhaled, deeply, as she kissed him back, leaning against him as he lightly gripped the back of her neck and walked her back a few steps, until the backs of her legs hit the bed and she broke the kiss with a soft gasp. “I-I-I, um-”

“We should go to bed…Do you want me to get the extra pillows? Make a barrier between us while we sleep?” Thatcher asked, softly. Taddie shook her head and wrapped her fingers around his wrist as he pulled his hand back to her cheek.

“You-You don’t need to do that…You’re not going to molest me in my sleep, right?” She teased, making his lips curve in a smirk as he slid a finger under her chin, tipping it back more as he chuckled and shook his head.

“It would be without your consent, kitten. So, no. I won’t. You have my word…Though I have no control over my hands and I reach out for anything in the middle of the night. Are you okay with that?” He asked, sliding the backs of his fingers down her throat. A shuddered breath escaped her lips before she swallowed hard and nodded as she whispered, “Yes.”

“Good…Now, let’s go to sleep. I’m exhausted from waiting for you all day.” He teased, chuckling as she tsk’d at him and gave him a quick shove back. He laughed and caught her hand, tugging her back against him and making her emit a squeal, then a giggle as she gripped his arms, glancing back at him. He chuckled and pressed a kiss to her cheek before letting her go and rounding the bed. Taddie bit her lip and reached out for one of the posters, lightly leaning against it as she watched him go around to one of the nightstands that sat on either side, taking off his watch and setting it down. He slipped off his rings, placing them beside it, then sat on the edge with a light sigh as he pushed his feet out of his slippers, pushing them against the nightstand.

As Thatcher turned, Taddie pushed herself off the poster and went to the head of the bed, pulling back the blankets and slipping in, quickly grabbing her phone and sliding it onto the nightstand before she climbed in. Thatcher got under the covers as well, eyeing her sleep pants as she tucked her feet in and covered herself up. He chuckled to himself and reached over to press a button on a solid black plastic appliance, the soft sounds of waves crashing beginning to sound from it. Taddie turned and raised a brow as she stuffed her curls up, tying them back with a silk scrunchie as she said, “You sleep with a sound machine?”

“White noise. We, uhm…Me and Tommy grew up on the ocean in Sweden. Just before our Mother got pregnant with the twins, we moved here…It’s not the same.” Thatcher said, not looking at her as he shifted and settled himself. She realized his tone wasn’t one of a fond storytelling, but one that was simply telling her why and not to mention it again. Taddie bit her lip, suddenly feeling bad and wondering if she sounded a little too teasing, then shifted as she turned to him, scooting a little more toward the center, and him. He glanced at her, watching her closely as she started to reach out to him, then stopped.

“I-I’m sorry…I wasn’t trying to make it seem--I was just surprised. I-I have an app that plays rain and thunderstorm sounds to help me sleep…” She said, trying to put him at ease. Turning to her a little more, he raised a brow at her as she shuffled closer, curling her legs beneath her. “I-I can’t sleep in complete silence. I-I tried for the first six months…I couldn’t sleep because I picked up on every single noise and it kept my anxiety up because I thought…I thought he’d found me.”

“I can’t sleep without sound because…Well, being the sons of a mob boss isn’t always peaceful. Let’s just leave it at that.” Thatcher said, turning to the nightstand and reaching for a remote. He pressed several buttons and slowly the lights went out in the flat, then fire jumped to life along the wall, making Taddie gasp, softly. Setting the remote back on the nightstand, Thatcher shifted down to lay his head on the pillows while Taddie bit her lip and watched him. She took a deep breath, contemplating what she wanted to do, then moved closer and pushed her hand over his shoulder.

“Thatcher, I told you about my abusive relationship…Ash doesn’t even know how bad it was, just that I needed to get away. If we’re going to do this and do the whole get to know each other thing…You need to open up to me as much as I open up to you. Relationships are a two way street, honey.” Taddie said, softly. She pushed her hand higher, then lifted it, sliding her fingers in his hair along the side of his head. Thatcher reached up a hand, wrapping his fingers around her wrist and tugging her hand down.

“Not that. Not now. Go to sleep, Taddie.” Thatcher said, his voice holding no real emotion other than tired. Taddie bit her lip then nodded, starting to pull her hand back and turn away, but he kept a hold of her hand, lifting it to kiss her fingertips before he let it go. She blinked, letting her hand fall to his chest, where it laid for a moment, before she pulled it back and shifted further away to turn over and slide lower under the blankets. Thatcher turned to her, watching her shoulders slowly relax as she let out a few deep sighs. He desperately wanted to reach out and hold her close while they fell asleep, but he’d thrown enough at her for one night. He only hoped things would go smoother tomorrow and the rest of the week, as well as the month.

~

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#what’s that sound? #**my WIPs slowly dying in my Docs**

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[badwolf-in-the-impala]

~The Price~Chapter 1~

Patrons in The Drunken Wench were loud and rowdy as a fight broke out and the bouncers had to not only break up the fight, but call the cops once it got too out of hand for them to control. The red and blues flashed outside and the guilty parties tried to scatter, but they were all soon taken down and to jail for trying to incite a riot. Once everything calmed down and the bar was more or less back to how it was, one of the barmaids slipped around and began sweeping through the establishment, fixing chairs, cleaning up glass and clearing off tables.

Thatcher eased past the straggling bar fighters as the cops dragged them out, patting the bouncers on the back with a light smirk. He chuckled as he and his bodyguards shuffled in, then the men behind him dispersed to different corners of the room, while Thatcher went straight to the bar and slid onto a stool. He swept his gaze over the talent they had behind the bar for the night, noting one new face as she slipped back, tossing the broken glass in her dustpan and putting it, along with the broom, away before washing her hands and jumping back in line to take orders. 

He kept an eye on her as she inched her way down, not giving any of the other barmaids any attention as they attempted to take his drink order. He watched her curls bounce around, long enough to just spill over her shoulders in a deep, rich chocolate brown color that glinted red when she walked under the lights. Her green eyes sparkled as she smiled at the patrons she mixed drinks for and her laugh floated down to him; Loud, light, and hearty.

As she approached him, wiping down the bar and quickly mixing drinks, Thatcher’s piercing green gaze poured into her as she finally slid in front of him and she lifted her head from wiping, flashing him a bright, sweet smile. Thatcher returned it as she said, “Hi. Welcome to The Drunken Wench. What can I get you?”

“Whiskey double. Shaken. Neat.” Thatcher said, watching her face as it remained neutral, but her sweet smile stuck. She gave a nod, then gestured to the wall behind her as she said, “Do you have a preference? We have Crowne, Jameson, or Rye?”

Thatcher nodded and briefly held up three fingers before he pulled out a gold plated, rectangular container, flipping it open to pull out a cigarette from a line. The woman arched a brow at him, then turned to grab a bottle of rye whiskey and glass. She turned back to set the glass on the bar, then poured about two shots worth into a metal cup, then scooped ice into it before she capped the cup and began to shake it. As Thatcher sparked up his lighter, watching her, he was impressed that she didn’t ask any extra questions about his order and got it right, to boot.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, he watched her take the cap off then slide a filter over the top before turning it upside down over the glass. She dunked both instruments into soapy water before setting them on a rubber mat to dry. As Thatcher reached for the glass, she slid back over as she asked, “Did you want to open a tab, sir?”

“No, just the double, darlin’. Thank you. Keep the change.” Thatcher said, producing a $100 bill from the inside breast pocket of his jacket and handing it to her, between two fingers. She blinked as she reached for it, freezing when the last part registered. His smirk lifted, slightly, and tilted his fingers toward her more for her to take it.

“Th-Thank you.” She said, stunned, taking the money. She stared at him for a moment, then cleared her throat as she turned away to put the ticket into the register and close him out. Thatcher took another drag then a sip of his whiskey, watching her as she broke the $100, taking 4 $20’s as change then pulled out a blue rubber bag, unzipping it. Thatcher saw the name ‘Taddie’ scrawled across it and she tucked a $20 into it, then pulled out three more, all with the names of the other barmaids on them, tucking the remaining $20’s into their bags, zipping them all and putting them back under the register when she was done. She took the remaining 5 of his change and stuffed it into the communal tip jar. Giving a nod, Thatcher downed half the glass of whiskey before taking another drag and sitting back as he cast a glance back to one of his bodyguards and giving him a nod. The man nodded back and zeroed in on the woman as he moved from his position in the corner, to the bar to grab her attention for a drink.

Thatcher wathed his man give her a polite smile and strike up a conversation with her as she made his drink. An excited, happy smile spread across her face as she happily responded to whatever it was he had said, pausing in the mixing of his drink as they locked in a quick, deep conversation, then she immediately picked up her pace again, finishing the drink and setting it on the bar for him. He handed her a card that she quickly ran, coming back with his card, the receipt and a pen for him to sign. They continued to talk as the man signed and handed the pen and receipt back, giving her a wide, flirtatious smile, to which she responded with a less than matching, polite smile, quickly moving on. Thatcher chuckled and nodded at his bodyguard as he went back to his spot, sipping on the drink.

The woman slowly made her way back down to Thatcher and he downed the rest of his drink, stamping out his cigarette in the ashtray beside him. She moved in front of him and spotted his empty glass, then reached for the bottle again as she said, “Another double for you?”

“I’m good, darlin’. Thank you.” Thatcher said, giving her a once over as her back was turned and he smirked to himself. She turned back and raised a brow, slightly, than nodded, giving him a sweet smile, moving on as she said, “Have a good night, sir.”

Thatcher smirked and pulled another $20 from his pocket, slipping it under his glass before he turned from the counter and slipped out of his chair, nodding at his men. They all abandoned their spots, converging at the front door, two walking out as their heads whipped around, while the other two stood by the door with the bouncers, waiting for Thatcher. They walked out and Taddie lifted her gaze from the drink she was mixing, watching the men file out. She shook her head with a soft sigh and pasted on a smile as she handed two drinks off, then began wiping down the bar where it was empty. She made her way back up to Thatcher’s empty seat and grabbed the glass, then stopped as she stared at the $20 he’d left as her tip.

Taddie picked it up and blinked, utterly confused. The man handed her a $100 bill for a $15 shot, telling her to keep the rest of the $85 as her tip, then left her another $20 tip on the same drink. Whether it was some weird, new flirting tactic she wasn’t aware of or the man was ridiculously rich and just wanted to throw it around, she wasn’t about to turn it down as she desperately needed the cash, which was the whole reason she took the bartending job in the first place. She would take the flirty, drunken men and the half ass passes they tried to make at her if it meant close to $300 nights in tips. Stuffing the bill into her bra, she dunked the glass into the disinfectant water, then set it on the rubber mat to dry.

As she went to the register to run a few cards, one of the other girls slunk up to her, gripping her arm with a wide eyed stare. Taddie glanced at her then snickered as she shook her head and said, “What’s the look for, Ash? Who’s the hottie you’re after now?”

“Not me-You, bitch! You have no idea who that even was you were serving, do you?” Ash asked, leaning one hand on the counter, planting the other on her hip. Taddie chuckled and gave a shrug, glancing up at the perky blonde as her blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

“No? Just some guy? Loaded, by the way he’s throwing around hundred’s like they’re ones…Why? Who is he? Some hotshot Wall Street banker or something?” Taddie asked as she closed out tabs and waited for receipts. Ash tsk’d at her and sighed, shaking her head as she said, “You’ve heard of the Price family? The Swedish Mafia family?”

“Oh, please. I’ve heard those rumors. If this bar was owned by the mob, I think they’d do better--They don’t want cops crawling all over the place.” Taddie said with a soft, disbelieving laugh. Ash gave her a look and said, “Alright, you’re new to Virginia, especially Roanoke. The mob is very present here, but the Swedes do a very good job of hiding themselves.”

“I thought you hated the mob in Roanoke?” Taddie asked, giving her a look. Ash gave a shrug and said, “I’m not gonna lie and say they aren’t attractive. They’re good to look at. ‘Bout it.”

“Okay, so who is he? The head honcho? The son? The cousin? The best friend? What, Ash?” Taddie asked, going along with her friend, though she very much did not believe her.

“He’s Thatcher Price. The youngest. He has like 6 brothers that are all in the business. Thatcher is the rebel, likes to bullshit around town, plays in a band-”

“He plays in a band? Mr. All Black, Fancy Cuff Links and Silver Chain? Yeah, I caught that, by the way.” Taddie said, shooting her friend a look and raising her brow. Ash smirked and let out a soft, swoon sounding sigh.

“Yeah, they all look real good when they clean up…Um, no-Really, he’s in a heavy metal band and his father hates it. Loathes when he goes on gigs and shit. He zeroed in on you, Tads. I’d keep an eye out. The Price brothers are a little rough with their women. I dunno about Thatcher? But he might not be completely the black sheep he’s made himself out to be…Just be careful, okay?” Ash said, giving her a firm look as Taddie grabbed her receipts and a few pens, nodding along.

“Ash, you’ve seen me handle myself. I don’t think a spoiled, little rich boy is gonna be able to shake me.” Taddie said with a soft laugh, giving Ash a bubbly smile and wrinkled her nose at her before flitting away to hand back cards.

~

Over the next several months, Thatcher made frequent stops to The Drunken Wench when Taddie was working. With one of his brothers taking it over from their father 4 years prior, Thatcher was able to get a hold of her schedule, even tweaked it once or twice to give her a few days off when he found she needed it, other times to coincide with when he’d come back into town after being dragged on a business trip. While he wanted to talk to Taddie himself, he was more interested in how she interacted with his bodyguards and his other friends he sent over to her, watching her closely as she spoke with the men.

Thatcher was the middle of 4 brothers and rebellious as any middle child. He held no interest in his father’s ‘business’ dealings, in complete contrast to his three brothers, who gladly took over where ever their father had felt they were ready to. His oldest brother, Thomas, was his father’s heir and there was no disputing that; He was by his father’s side on a daily basis, learning how to run the business to one day take it over. Thomas was 6’3 with a constant brooding expression boring out through his near jet black eyes, they were such a deep shade of dark brown. His hair matched, dark and hanging past his ears that glittered with a single diamond earring in each ear.

Tristan and Theo were the youngest, and twins; Tristan running the bar and Theo running the strip club down the street. Fraternal twins, Tristan was the oldest and taller of the two, with dark brown hair and bright blue eyes, making him swoonable toward any woman he looked at, Theo having dirty blonde hair and green eyes that matched Thatcher’s. Though both had their own much softer, more angelic features than Thomas or Thatcher.

While the three were quite happy and content taking their place in the family business, Thatcher was always somewhat repulsed by the idea behind the mob, but seeing the advantage of being the son of a mob boss is what made him stick around to use and abuse it to his benefit. He joined a local band in Richmond, he dedicated most of his time toward it and soon fell in love with music, though he’d never tell his father that. Thatcher was far more interested in the arts and music than he was in shaking down local businesses that were already struggling to begin with. He was glad his family was able to provide protection from other mob families that constantly tried to take over the small town, but not at the cost his father made them pay.

Luckily, Tristan told his older brother he could always come to The Drunken Wench and do what he pleased and their father would never know. Thatcher was often there to find a semi drunk, but still consenting woman to bring home and have a wild night with, or hustle a few drunken assholes out of a few hundred bucks, only once having gotten into an all out brawl, from which Tristan dragged Thatcher away from it and shoved him in the back room to keep him out of any police reports that would travel back to their father. Now, however, he had a new interest that brought him to the bar and kept him out of trouble, for once…For now.

Taddie noticed Thatcher frequenting the bar more often, but always got the same order and left her with a whole extra $100 tip from a $15 drink. She questioned his motives, but never said anything as she’d amassed quite the savings in the last several months, her piggy bank overflowing with $20’s and $50’s. Around the same time, she also noticed a slew of men had begun to order about 2-3 drinks from her, leaving her rather generous tips. What was suspect about it, was they all had something new they asked about her. 

The first was what she did outside of bartending, to which she responded that she was an aspiring painter and saving to get a small studio space to work and display her pieces. Another asked if she ever did anything outdoors or like being outdoors. There was a brief and passionate conversation about camping, something Taddie had been dying to start up again since she moved from California to Virginia, moving in with Ash to start over. A few asked about her perfume, though she wasn’t wearing any, and they started guessing her favorite scents. She gently corrected them, not wanting to really engage with a few of them, but otherwise let it go. As it neared Christmas and the snowfall got heavier, Thatcher began plotting and making moves of his own.

~

It was a busy Friday night when Thatcher stopped by, brushing the snow from his jacket before he slipped it off and one of his bodyguards took it from him before he went to the bar and his usual seat. Taddie had seen him walk in this time, finding it odd that he handed off his jacket, then watched as the posse he walked in with split up as he headed toward her. Taddie took a deep breath as she finished the slew of drink orders she’d been given, then quickly handed them off to the other girls to deliver them to their tables. Wiping down her section of the bar then her hands, she went over to Thatcher and grabbed the bottle of rye whiskey that they were now running low on, again.

As she shook up and poured out his drink, she said, “You’re back again. Not surprising…At any point were you going to tell me you’re name?”

“Why would I do that? We’ve never spoken more than a few words to each other.” Thatcher said with a teasing smirk as she set the glass on the counter and he quickly produced a $100 bill. Taddie narrowed her gaze at him, snatching it from him and waving it back in his face as she said, “That’s why…If you’re gonna be handing over hundreds, I think I should at least know your name?”

“Thatcher.”

“Thank you…Uh-Um, th-thank you.” Taddie snapped, quickly changing her tone when she realized. Thatcher raised a brow at her then chuckled as he lifted his glass to his lips, taking a slow sip. She bit her lip and let out a soft huff, holding up the bill again as she added, “Why though? I’m-Not that I’m complaining…I just-I don’t understand. You get a double whiskey then leave…Why?”

Thatcher gave a shrug as he set the glass down and folded his arms over the bar with a small smirk as he said, “Because I can? I felt like it? If you don’t want it, give it back.”

“Never said I didn’t want it--Just said I was curious…I-I…I kind of need the money, so-so thank you.” Taddie said, chewing her lip before she gave her head a shake and turned to make the change, then split it between the girls that were working, as she did every so often. Thatcher watched her with a smirk and took another sip, waiting for her to come back.

“So, you split the tip instead of taking the whole thing, because you kind of need the money…Why?” Thatcher asked, dragging his gaze up to her with a knowing smirk. Taddie pursed her lips, slightly, trying not to smirk in embarrassment of being caught. He chuckled and pulled his gold cigarette case from his breast pocket, taking out a cigarette and his lighter, glancing up at her, waiting for an answer. Taddie tapped her manicured nails on the bar a few times before she pushed off it.

“Because some of the other girls need it more than me. They’ve got kids, medical shit, bills upon bills upon bills…Money is the only reason most of us are working here. At least in my case, this isn’t what I want to do and the last job I would take…Which…Is why I’m here.” Taddie said, looking away as she began to squirm under his intense gaze. Thatcher lit the end of his cigarette then quickly tucked the lighter in his pocket as he said, “Why are you here? What do you want to do?”

As if he didn’t already know.

“I, um…Well, I’m-I’m actually saving for a studio that’s still for rent downtown. I’m an aspiring painter, I need space.” Taddie said, a genuine smile slowly creeping across her face. Thatcher’s smile lifted as he nodded and he lifted his cigarette for another drag.

“Painter? Mmm--Might need to talk to my boys, have you commission something for us.” He said, closing his lips around the filter and taking a deep drag, one he ghosted before blowing out, away from Taddie’s face. She raised a brow, laughing in her head at the thought of being invited to the family mansion and painting a portrait of the secret Swedish Mafia family of Roanoke.

“Commission? For who? You and your brothers or something?” Taddie asked.

“How do you know I have brothers?” Thatcher asked, smirking at her as he lifted his glass for another sip.

“You give younger brother energy-Rebel child…Do you have brothers?” Taddie questioned, raising a brow at him as she spread her arms across the bar as she planted her hands on it. Thatcher chuckled and nodded, setting his glass down.

“Three-Older brother, me, then the twins. Middle child syndrome, is what you’re getting.” Thatcher said, taking a quick drag. Taddie nodded and slowly leaned back from the bar, twisting the rag in her hand, pretending to dry them off.

“Alright, then.”

“So,  you’d do a commission for me and my brothers too? I was actually talking about my band.” Thatcher said, ashing his cigarette in the ashtray before bringing it to his lips again. Taddie raised her brows as an amused smirk crossed her face, chuckling softly. Thatcher raised his brows as well, surprised by the reaction. He blew his smoke just past her head as he rumbled at her, “Something funny?”

“I ju-I’m sorry…I can’t see you in a band. Everytime you come in here, it’s all black, all fancy, all suit. I-I can’t picture anything else?” Taddie said with a soft chuckle. Thatcher arched a brow as he took a deep swig of his drink.

“So, we picture me in something other than a suit?” He teased, making her jaw drop a little more, caught off guard by the question. She stammered a little and swallowed, hard, before she cleared her throat and glanced away as he snickered to himself. “Yes, I’m in a band. Metal band, in fact. Can you picture me in that?”

Taddie bit her lip as she felt her cheeks heat and she darted her eyes away. Thatcher slid his tongue over his lower lip, lightly, letting his gaze drag over her, then back up as she looked at him again, opening her mouth to respond, when someone called her name, soon followed by glass shattering from across the bar. Her head snapped over and he glanced over his shoulder. Turning back to her, he blinked when he saw she was gone, then looked around, seeing her flying down the bar and around it, shooting over to a booth where two men sat, grappling with a third that had stepped in on behalf of the waitress they were harassing. Thatcher abandoned his cigarette in the ashtray and his drink on the bar, following her as he made eye contact with two of his men, who quickly made a beeline to the altercation.

“-You want her? You can fuckin’ have the whore!” One of the problem men hollared at the third man, who stood between the table and the waitress, who cowered behind him. The third man shouted at him, then sent a cross hook to his jaw that started an brawl between the three, a fourth man jumping in to aid the third.

“Hey! Hey! Knock it off! Break it up, asshole! Hey!” Taddie shrieked at them, managing to pull one of the problem men off and shoving him into a table.

“You want to go, bitch!? Fuck off! This isn’t your fight, cunt!” He shouted at her. Taddie grabbed his shoulders and shot her knee into his groin, making him double over as the breath whooshed out of him and he collapsed.

“That’s for me. Your boy will get it for my girl.” Taddie spat at him, planting her foot on his side and giving him a shove, pushing him onto his side. One of the men she’d seen walk in with Thatcher grabbed the man, another accompanying him and dragging him to the door, shoving him at the bouncers before they headed back to break up the rest of the fight. Taddie quickly turned and grabbed the waitress, tucking her away from the brawl as she screamed at the men to stop fighting. Thatcher’s bodyguards hurried back and tore the men apart, the two that came to the rescue immediately backing off once the other man was subdued and dragged away by the bouncers.

“-And make sure you get their licenses and put them on the list, Charlie! Fuck-Natasha, are you alright, babe?” Taddie shouted to the bouncers, lowering and softening her voice as she turned to the brunette waitress, Natasha, and consoled her as she shook like a leaf.

“Ye-Yeah-Yeah, yeah, I’m-I’m fine. Ju-Just a little, um…Shaken. Can-Can I take ten or-or something?” She asked, looking at Taddie as she let out a shaky breath. Taddie shook her head and said, “No. You’re going home. It’s Friday, we’ve got the bar, it’ll die down soon anyway-Go be with your kids, Tash. Don’t forget your tip bag.”

“Are you sure? Okay-Thank you so much, Taddie.” Natasha said, giving Taddie a tight hug before taking off to the back, ripping off her apron. Taddie sighed and thanked the two men that had jumped in to save and defend Natasha, offering them drinks on the house for their heroics. They agreed, happily, and headed off to the bar to claim them, while Taddie sighed and turned to the table, clearing it off. As she muttered to herself, she’d completely forgotten about Thatcher until she turned and gasped, seeing him standing behind her.

“That was quite the jewel destroyer you gave that guy. Not as innocent as you look, are you?” He asked with a charming smirk. Taddie let out a huff of a sigh and moved around him as she said, “Never said I was innocent. He called me a cunt so I tried to make him one of his own, he loved the word so much.”

Thatcher raised a brow with a soft snicker and followed her at a slower pace, returning to his seat, his drink and his cigarette. Sliding onto the barstool, he watched her plunge the dishes into the disinfectant water, scrubbing them with a sponge before setting them on the rubber mat, then beginning to move around the place, cleaning up. Thatcher took another drag before he stamped out his cigarette and downed the rest of his drink, slipping a $100 under the glass this time. He cast another glance down the bar as Taddie returned, then turned and signaled to his bodyguards that he was ready to go.

Taddie glanced at him as he walked out, watching the four men converge on him at the door, one handing him his jacket that he slipped on before they walked out into the cold Virginia air. She ducked to the back room for a breather, dropping into the armchair with a sighed and closing her eyes. She let out a deep groan as she stretched, then sighed as she curled up and pulled out her phone, scrolling for a few minutes. She shifted in the chair, with another sigh, then closed her eyes as she cradled her phone against her stomach, letting herself drift off for a while.

~

Well, shit, here we go. DX XD

Let me know what you guys think! If you want to be added to a taglist for future chapters, send me a message or drop a comment!

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I love when you’re reading multiple fics by the same author and you start to spot all the phrases and adjectives they like to use

[badwolf-in-the-impala]

I NEED MORE IMMEDIATELY!!!

I've got almost 120 pages and I'm not even a third of the way through the plot...Should I start dropping chapters? <.< >.>

Patrons in The Drunken Wench were loud and rowdy as a fight broke out and the bouncers had to not only break up the fight, but call the cops once it got too out of hand for them to control. The red and blues flashed outside and the guilty parties tried to scatter, but they were all soon taken down and to jail for trying to incite a riot. Once everything calmed down and the bar was more or less back to how it was, one of the barmaids slipped around and began sweeping through the establishment, fixing chairs, cleaning up glass and clearing off tables.

Thatcher eased past the straggling bar fighters as the cops dragged them out, patting the bouncers on the back with a light smirk. He chuckled as he and his bodyguards shuffled in, then the men behind him dispersed to different corners of the room, while Thatcher went straight to the bar and slid onto a stool. He swept his gaze over the talent they had behind the bar for the night, noting one new face as she slipped back, tossing the broken glass in her dustpan and putting it, along with the broom, away before washing her hands and jumping back in line to take orders. 

He kept an eye on her as she inched her way down, not giving any of the other barmaids any attention as they attempted to take his drink order. He watched her curls bounce around, long enough to just spill over her shoulders in a deep, rich chocolate brown color that glinted red when she walked under the lights. Her green eyes sparkled as she smiled at the patrons she mixed drinks for and her laugh floated down to him; Loud, light, and hearty.

As she approached him, wiping down the bar and quickly mixing drinks, Thatcher’s piercing green gaze poured into her as she finally slid in front of him and she lifted her head from wiping, flashing him a bright, sweet smile. Thatcher returned it as she said, “Hi. Welcome to The Drunken Wench. What can I get you?”

“Whiskey double. Shaken. Neat.” Thatcher said, watching her face as it remained neutral, but her sweet smile stuck. She gave a nod, then gestured to the wall behind her as she said, “Do you have a preference? We have Crowne, Jameson, or Rye?”

Thatcher nodded and briefly held up three fingers before he pulled out a gold plated, rectangular container, flipping it open to pull out a cigarette from a line. The woman arched a brow at him, then turned to grab a bottle of rye whiskey and glass. She turned back to set the glass on the bar, then poured about two shots worth into a metal cup, then scooped ice into it before she capped the cup and began to shake it. As Thatcher sparked up his lighter, watching her, he was impressed that she didn’t ask any extra questions about his order and got it right, to boot.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, he watched her take the cap off then slide a filter over the top before turning it upside down over the glass. She dunked both instruments into soapy water before setting them on a rubber mat to dry. As Thatcher reached for the glass, she slid back over as she asked, “Did you want to open a tab, sir?”

“No, just the double, darlin’. Thank you. Keep the change.” Thatcher said, producing a $100 bill from the inside breast pocket of his jacket and handing it to her, between two fingers. She blinked as she reached for it, freezing when the last part registered. His smirk lifted, slightly, and tilted his fingers toward her more for her to take it.

“Th-Thank you.” She said, stunned, taking the money. She stared at him for a moment, then cleared her throat as she turned away to put the ticket into the register and close him out. Thatcher took another drag then a sip of his whiskey, watching her as she broke the $100, taking 4 $20’s as change then pulled out a blue rubber bag, unzipping it. Thatcher saw the name ‘Taddie’ scrawled across it and she tucked a $20 into it, then pulled out three more, all with the names of the other barmaids on them, tucking the remaining $ 20s into their bags, zipping them all and putting them back under the register when she was done. She took the remaining 5 of his change and stuffed it into the communal tip jar. Giving a nod, Thatcher downed half the glass of whiskey before taking another drag and sitting back as he cast a glance back to one of his bodyguards and gave him a nod. The man nodded back and zeroed in on the woman as he moved from his position in the corner, to the bar to grab her attention for a drink.

Thatcher wathed his man give her a polite smile and strike up a conversation with her as she made his drink. An excited, happy smile spread across her face as she happily responded to whatever it was he had said, pausing in the mixing of his drink as they locked in a quick, deep conversation, then she immediately picked up her pace again, finishing the drink and setting it on the bar for him. He handed her a card that she quickly ran, coming back with his card, the receipt and a pen for him to sign. They continued to talk as the man signed and handed the pen and receipt back, giving her a wide, flirtatious smile, to which she responded with a less than matching, polite smile, quickly moving on. Thatcher chuckled and nodded at his bodyguard as he went back to his spot, sipping on the drink.

The woman slowly made her way back down to Thatcher and he downed the rest of his drink, stamping out his cigarette in the ashtray beside him. She moved in front of him and spotted his empty glass, then reached for the bottle again as she said, “Another double for you?”

“I’m good, darlin’. Thank you.” Thatcher said, giving her a once over as her back was turned and he smirked to himself. She turned back and raised a brow, slightly, than nodded, giving him a sweet smile, moving on as she said, “Have a good night, sir.”

Thatcher smirked and pulled another $20 from his pocket, slipping it under his glass before he turned from the counter and slipped out of his chair, nodding at his men. They all abandoned their spots, converging at the front door, two walking out as their heads whipped around, while the other two stood by the door with the bouncers, waiting for Thatcher. They walked out and Taddie lifted her gaze from the drink she was mixing, watching the men file out. She shook her head with a soft sigh and pasted on a smile as she handed two drinks off, then began wiping down the bar where it was empty. She made her way back up to Thatcher’s empty seat and grabbed the glass, then stopped as she stared at the $20 he’d left as her tip.

Taddie picked it up and blinked, utterly confused. The man handed her a $100 bill for a $15 shot, telling her to keep the rest of the $85 as her tip, then left her another $20 tip on the same drink. Whether it was some weird, new flirting tactic she wasn’t aware of or the man was ridiculously rich and just wanted to throw it around, she wasn’t about to turn it down as she desperately needed the cash, which was the whole reason she took the bartending job in the first place. She would take the flirty, drunken men and the half ass passes they tried to make at her if it meant close to $300 nights in tips. Stuffing the bill into her bra, she dunked the glass into the disinfectant water, then set it on the rubber mat to dry.

As she went to the register to run a few cards, one of the other girls slunk up to her, gripping her arm with a wide eyed stare. Taddie glanced at her then snickered as she shook her head and said, “What’s the look for, Ash? Who’s the hottie you’re after now?”

“Not me-You, bitch! You have no idea who that even was you were serving, do you?” Ash asked, leaning one hand on the counter, planting the other on her hip. Taddie chuckled and gave a shrug, glancing up at the perky blonde as her blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

“No? Just some guy? Loaded, by the way he’s throwing around hundred’s like they’re ones…Why? Who is he? Some hotshot Wall Street banker or something?” Taddie asked as she closed out tabs and waited for receipts. Ash tsk’d at her and sighed, shaking her head as she said, “You’ve heard of the Price family? The Swedish Mafia family?”

“Oh, please. I’ve heard those rumors. If this bar was owned by the mob, I think they’d do better--They don’t want cops crawling all over the place.” Taddie said with a soft, disbelieving laugh. Ash gave her a look and said, “Alright, you’re new to Virginia, especially Roanoke. The mob is very present here, but the Swedes do a very good job of hiding themselves.”

“I thought you hated the mob in Roanoke?” Taddie asked, giving her a look. Ash gave a shrug and said, “I’m not gonna lie and say they aren’t attractive. They’re good to look at. ‘Bout it.”

“Okay, so who is he? The head honcho? The son? The cousin? The best friend? What, Ash?” Taddie asked, going along with her friend, though she very much did not believe her.

“He’s Thatcher Price. The youngest. He has like 6 brothers that are all in the business. Thatcher is the rebel, likes to bullshit around town, plays in a band-”

“He plays in a band? Mr. All Black, Fancy Cuff Links and Silver Chain? Yeah, I caught that, by the way.” Taddie said, shooting her friend a look and raising her brow. Ash smirked and let out a soft, swoon sounding sigh.

“Yeah, they all look real good when they clean up…Um, no-Really, he’s in a heavy metal band and his father hates it. Loathes when he goes on gigs and shit. He zeroed in on you, Tads. I’d keep an eye out. The Price brothers are a little rough with their women. I dunno about Thatcher? But he might not be completely the black sheep he’s made himself out to be…Just be careful, okay?” Ash said, giving her a firm look as Taddie grabbed her receipts and a few pens, nodding along.

“Ash, you’ve seen me handle myself. I don’t think a spoiled, little rich boy is gonna be able to shake me.” Taddie said with a soft laugh, giving Ash a bubbly smile and wrinkled her nose at her before flitting away to hand back cards.

~

So, this is a Jolly AU from Bad Omens, Moodboard is currently in the works. What do y'all think? Should I come back swingin' with this one? XD

[badwolf-in-the-impala]

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love me some hand content

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girl help i’m having creation ideas above my skill level

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not writing, not not writing, but a secret third thing