Drunk off hate.

"Me tí gustaron!"

Aaron glances at me and raises a brow.

"That didn't sound right, Rapunzel."

I nod, satisfied.

"Yup. That means she's worst for wear. Grab her!"

My shout startles the staggering Alicia and she stares at me wide-eyed.

"Demasiado alto."

Aaron grabs her arm and pulls her after him, meeting no resistance.

She molds her body to his and bats her lashes.

"Well, what'd you know, Aaron? She is so drunk, she finds you attractive." I quip with a chuckle.

"She reeks, Rapunzel. Why am I the one who has to hold her?"

"Because, I don't particularly enjoy the stench of vomit." I say, as we make it to his car.

"I'm a little worried that no one stopped us. What if someone drugged and dragged me out this way? We need to tighten security."

Aaron's look tells me he has no interest in the subject.

"Stop it with the face, Aaron. It was your idea to help me out."

He tosses me his keys with a grunt and I take my sweet time opening the door.

"I swear, Rapun-"

"Alicia! Hey, have you seen Alicia? I was with her not long ago."

The car door is open in a millisecond and Alicia is shoved in, seconds before Amina comes into view.

"Hey! Tequila and her boy toy. Have you seen Alicia?"

"I seriously hate that name." Aaron grumbles.

"She was just in the backroom. She seemed really drunk." I say and make my way to the passenger's door.

"I swear, I'll hit a bitch if she tries to run with my money." She starts to turn but stops. "Why are you even here? You don't work Sundays. What, you thought just because you got a nice tip last time you'd come grovel for more?"

I throw her a scathing look and flip her the bird.

"I don't have 'desperate' written on my forehead, unlike some people. Your entire existence reeks of desperation, Amina."

I get into the car and hear her scoff.

"Yeah well, at least I don't reek of vomit and pathetic, like your walking dildo here!"

"Grow up and get a better comeback, bitch!" I snarl.

She huffs and puffs away while Aaron starts the car.

"She's right though, you stink!" I start, sticking my head out the window so I don't suffocate.

"The person who's stinking up my car is groaning nonsense in my backseat! My car will stink for weeks!"

"Have you heard of a car wash? You can even just spritz an air freshener and the problem is solved. Besides, it's not all that bad."

"Pull your head back into the car and say that again!"

I chuckle but don't comply.

We arive at a creepy uncompleted building and Aaron leaves the car on.

"It's official, I hate Alicia!" He snaps, inhaling deeply.

"The feeling is mutual."

We both stop and stare at the owner of the voice.

Alicia alights from the car and glares at me.

"What the fuck was I doing in the car? And why are we here, Tequila?"

"Oh, she mad."

And not half as drunk as I thought she was.

"Shut it, Aaron." I turn to Alicia who is sniffing at her clothes.

"You were drunk out of your mind. You asked us to bring you here."

"Do you think I'm stupid, Tequila? I asked you to bring me to a dilapidated building in the middle of nowhere?"

She glances at Aaron. "Your father. He ordered you to kill me, didn't he? Joshua told him she is recovering her memory and he's scared."

"The fuck are you talking about? What has my father got to do with you and Joshua?"

She looks taken aback by his tone, but glances at me and recovers slightly.

"Oh?"

Slightly.

"I'm confused, Aaron. Are you on your father's side, or are you against him?"

Aaron takes a large step towards her and she cowers.

"What the fuck are you talking about?! What is your business with my father? What is his role in all this?"

He grabs her arm and shakes her, raging mad all of a sudden.

Whimpering, she glances at me.

"Aaron, stop!" His raised fist stills and he takes a deep breath. He looks like someone else, someone different.

"Don't touch her that way. Don't you dare hit her, you bastard!"

He staggers back at my choice of words and seizing the opportunity, I dive in and drag Alicia away from him.

Far away.

"Rapunzel, what are you doing?" His tired voice calls.

"Keeping her away from you. I know we are here to interrogate her, but that was not you. That was not you, Aaron." My voice falters at his name, the fear seeping into it.

"Rapunzel..."

"Let's get her inside, Aaron. Clear the way so we'll pass. Once she's calm, I'll call you in."

I say, not planning on keeping my promise.

Once we get in, I'll search for a way to escape with her.

He complies and lets me walk past with a shivering and sobbing Alicia.

"Don't lose your guard, Tequila. I know people like her."

The moment I close the door to keep him out, Alicia speaks.

"Thanks, honey." Her mocking tone doesn't stun me as much as her elbow does.

I double over with the pain it inflicts on my midriff and before I can call out, she sends her fist flying towards my face.

I manage to dodge that, but not her knee, which digs into my stomach and knocks the breath out of me.

Trying to straighten my hunched form, her elbow brings me right back down and I drop to the floor.

I gasp and cradle my midriff as she walks to the door and locks it shut.

"You really fell for my act, did you not? I actually thought you were smarter than that, Tequila."

"You bitch!"

"Oh shut the fuck up! What? You thought we all grew up in castles and live in bubbles of naïveté? Wake up, princess!"

Her boots catch me at the same point it did before but I bite my cry, refusing to give her the satisfaction of hearing my pain.

"Look at how pathetic you are. Too trusting, too gullible, too weak!" She punctuates each word with a kick, and I can only protect my face with my arms.

Grabbing me by my collar, she sneers.

"I live in a building much like this one, you know? I eat from hand to mouth even with all the money I realize from working because people depend on me for my money and it is never enough!

Oh how I hate rich people, Tequila. I especially hate people like you. People who have everything and act like they have nothing. Working in places like we do, just so they'll feel good about earning money they don't need!"

The stench of her breath hits me like a cudgel and I cough.

"You sent your guardian angel away, and now, I will make you squeal."

Her fist draws back, but just before it is released, another fist strikes.

I slump to the floor and watch in morbid fascination as Aaron drives her to the wall with his fists.

She puts up a dang good fight and manages to throw him to the floor.

Just as she jumps out the window Aaron must have come in through, I hear a grunt and a thud.

"Mr Fletcher, she's down. Should I take her to the basement?" I startle at the voice.

Aaron walks over to me, grabs my chin and moves my head this way and that.

Seeming satisfied with his findings, he lets me go and walks to the window, the moonlight illuminating his vengeful face.

"Yes, Jonah. I'll deal with her myself."

I scramble to my feet, trying to reach the window to assuage my suspicions, but the person outside moves away before I do.

Aaron catches me by the arm and drags me to a lone chair.

Forcing me to sit, he squats.

"Next time, don't try to stop me when I am working. You don't know shit about this world, never mind that you live in it. We hit girls like Alicia in this world, because if we don't we'd be face down a swamp with a knife in our back."

I gulp and whimper, feeling confused and disjointed.

Aaron sighs and his eyes grow soft.

"I'm sorry she hit you, Tequila. I'm sorry I couldn't get to you on time. I should've warned you before this. I don't abuse people, Rapunzel. Never did, never would. But listen, in this world"

He pauses.

"In our world Tequila, women like Alicia are trained to kill. She was soft on you for some reason, probably because you work together, but she would've taken you to an inch of your life for fun."

My tears fall uncontrollably and he clenches his fists.

"I swear I'll kill that girl." This statement causes my sniffles to cease.

"No, Aaron."

"No?" He asks incredulously.

"Let's just get the information we need and let her be."

"Okay. I'll take you home. We need to stop by a pharmacy though."

I let him pick me up bridal style and snuggle in his hold. He struggles with the door but we soon step out into the cool night.

"Aaron..." I begin, afraid to ask and afraid of the answer I might get.

"Yes, Tequila. That was Jonah, your ex boyfriend."

I sigh and bury my face in his clothes, grateful he did not let me suffer through asking him.

"Thank you."

"My fists did a number on him for what he did to you, darling."

I hum and close my eyes.

Thank you, Aaron.