Chapter Three: Neon Nights; Love, Lust, and Barroom Battles

Driving past the pulsating neon lights of Hawk's Cove, Mila and Aria couldn't ignore the electrifying energy emanating from the packed bar. Inside, the disco lights flashed, people stumbled in a drunken haze, and a bouncer with a gaze as sharp as a switchblade guarded the entrance.

Determined to find Liam, Mila and Aria had combed the streets for hours, their relentless pursuit leading them to this haven of debauchery. And then, like a glimmer of hope, a flash of silver caught Mila's eye.

"Look! His Porsche is in the parking lot. He must be here!" Mila exclaimed, her heart racing with anticipation.

Securing a parking spot proved to be a daunting task, forcing Mila to park her station wagon farther up the street. With determination fueling their steps, they emerged from the car, transformed for the night. Mila donned sparkly slippers and a shimmering silver dress that hugged her curves, while Aria exuded a fierce energy in her jeans, a bold red blouse, and oversized dazzling earrings.

Glancing at her phone, Aria's doubts crept in. "Eri doesn't think we stand a chance of getting in. After all, Liam has a fake ID."

Mila brushed off the skepticism, her confidence radiating like a beacon. "We're getting in, my friend. Just trust me."

The night air was cool, an undercurrent of anticipation tingling their skin. Passing strangers bathed in the glow of passing streetlights, they followed a small group that seemed to be heading towards the entrance. Mila hoped to blend seamlessly into their midst, slipping through the bouncer's grasp. But fate had a different plan.

The group veered off in another direction, leaving Mila exposed and face-to-face with the imposing figure guarding her path to love.

Maintaining a low profile, Mila attempted to bulldoze her way past the bouncer, but his hand, capable of cradling her entire head, firmly halted her progress. She met his stern gaze, undeterred.

"How old are you?" he demanded, his voice laced with authority.

"Old enough to party," Mila quipped, her words dripping with sass, and the bouncer's face hardened in response. "Alright, I'm going to need to see some ID."

Feeling Aria's poke in her back, Mila brushed her off dismissively and reached for her wallet. With a dramatic sigh, she expertly played up her frustration, making it clear that this was an inconvenient obstacle. "Fine. Here's my license," she reluctantly offered.

The bouncer's eyes widened in disbelief as he examined the learner's permit. His head cocked, mouth agape in astonishment. "This is a learner's permit!" he gasped, flinging it back to her.

Mila, undeterred, rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "So?" she groaned, her voice laced with impatience.

"You're only eighteen! You have to be twenty-one to get in!" the bouncer explained matter-of-factly, flipping the permit back at her.

The urgency in Mila's voice intensified as she pleaded, getting right in the bouncer's face. "You don't understand. I have to get in there." Her hand gently rested on his arm, a desperate plea for understanding.

But the bouncer remained unmoved, his resolve unwavering. He nonchalantly waved in a few older-looking individuals, dismissing Mila's impassioned pleas.

"The law's the law," he shrugged, his tone final.

Aria, resigned to the seemingly insurmountable challenge, joined in, her voice tinged with defeat. "Come on, Mila. Just give it up. There's no way we'll be able to get in there."

Mila's head drooped, her hand now pressed against her forehead in frustration. She needed to think fast, to find a way to crack this impenetrable barrier.

"I'll tell you what," she declared, her gaze locking onto the bouncer's eyes with unwavering determination. "If you let me in, I'll allow you to take my friend Aria here into the back alley for five minutes."

A glimmer of mischief sparked in the bouncer's eyes as Mila's audacious proposition registered. His gaze began to linger over Aria, his sights settling on her exposed cleavage. A sly grin spread across his face, revealing sparkling white teeth. The bulge in his pants hinted at the intensity of his interest, resembling a force capable of toppling even the sturdiest of structures.

Aria, wide-eyed and stunned, finally looked up from her phone. "You've got to be fucking kidding me, Mila! This isn't right. This is child abuse." Aria wailed, but Mila was already striding confidently into the dimly lit and crowded bar.

Glancing over her shoulder, she caught a glimpse of a sturdy arm wrapping around Aria's waist, lifting her effortlessly off the ground even as she screamed, and Mila lifted up her shoulders in a shrug. "This is life or death." She whispered to herself.

Maneuvering through the pulsating crowd, Mila's eyes darted from one face to another in search of the familiar sharp jawline and tanned skin of her beloved Liam. Amidst the cacophony of blaring music, dazzling lights, and ceaseless commotion, it felt like trying to find a needle in a chaotic haystack. Despite her confident facade, a sense of vulnerability washed over Mila, leaving her feeling small and isolated in the midst of the swirling crowd.

In an attempt to regain her composure, Mila decided a drink was in order. The bar seemed obscured by a throng of people, but with a determined elbow here and a forceful squeeze there, she managed to carve a path through the patrons. Accidentally shoving a man aside, Mila tensed, fearing she had unwittingly invited a confrontation.

"You wanna have a little fun tonight?" the man grinned, extending a handful of pills towards her.

"No, thanks. I don't take any drugs I don't make myself," she retorted, her sharp wit cutting through the air.

Scanning the length of the crowded counter for a glimpse of the bartenders, she waved her arm and shouted, but her words were swallowed by the deafening noise.

Finally, a bartender appeared, and Mila seized his arm, giving it an assertive tug. "Give me a jack and coke, light on the coke."

As the bartender set about preparing her drink, Mila leaned against the edge of the bar, her eyes scouring each end in search of Liam's familiar presence. With his car parked outside, he had to be somewhere within these walls.

As the glass of dark liquid was placed before her, Mila downed it in a single gulp, relishing the fiery burn that coursed down her throat. It was time to focus on her mission.

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