The Divine Pact

01

« And there's the kick! Goal! »

A cheer went up, and Thea smiled, cheering with them in her mind as the soccer ball entered the net. Tonight was the Quarterfinals of the World Cup, and the little pub of Saint Arlington was packed to the brim.

The energy in the air was electric, a kind of collective pulse that seemed to vibrate through the walls of the pub. It wasn't just the excitement of the game-it was the excitement of the community coming together, something that happened every time the national team played. The pub was a mix of local regulars, tourists who had wandered in, and some unexpected faces, all drawn together by the magnet of football.

On any other night, Thea would have been sitting by the bar, a drink in hand, cheering along with the rest of them, her laughter mixing with the shouts and clinks of glasses. But tonight, she wasn't just a patron; she was working. Matt, the pub's owner, had been desperate for a waitress and Thea couldn't say no to him. He'd helped her out too many times to count, and besides, he didn't like to ask for favors. So here she was, weaving her way through the crowded tables, dodging elbows and outstretched arms, collecting empty glasses and plates, before heading back to the bar.

Matt was working in overdrive, his usual laid-back demeanor replaced by the kind of urgency that came with a packed house. He flashed her a quick smile as he poured another round of drinks for a table in the back.

« How you going out there, Thea? » Matt asked, handing her a tray of drinks. He was a tall man with a rough-around-the-edges charm and an easy smile, one that had always made her feel welcome here, even on the hardest days.

« Not too bad. No one's copped a feel tonight, so I can't complain. » Thea stuffed her tips into the apron pocket, trying to ignore the occasional lecherous glances she got from some of the more inebriated patrons. It was part of the job-one of the unspoken parts, really-but it didn't make it any easier to endure.

Matt chuckled and gave her a knowing look. « They wouldn't want to either, » he said, his eyes flicking toward the largest table in the pub. « Half the department's here tonight; they wouldn't be game to. »

Thea followed his gaze. The table in question was surrounded by off-duty cops from the Saint Arlington Police Department. They'd become regulars on game nights, and honestly, it made Soccer Nights the safest nights she had ever worked. Every so often, someone would get a bit too rowdy, but the cops always kept things in check, without a second thought.

It also didn't hurt that Josh Cooper, the detective she'd been crushing on for the last two months, was off-duty tonight and sitting just in her line of sight. He was leaning back in his chair, a beer in hand, looking effortlessly handsome. His blond hair was styled back from his forehead, but a few stray strands kept falling into his eyes. Every time it happened, Thea's hands itched with the urge to brush them away, a simple, natural gesture that could turn into something much more if she let herself imagine it.

Josh had that smile-wide, genuine, and somehow both innocent and wicked at the same time-that made her weak in the knees. The way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed made her heart do this little flip. She had caught him staring at her more than once, but she was too shy to do anything about it. The thought of him looking at her like that made her cheeks burn.

Matt pushed a few more drinks toward her, pulling her out of her thoughts. « Here, take these. » He was trying to be efficient, but it seemed like he was going out of his way to make sure Thea didn't have any chance to let her mind wander back to Josh.

« Hey! » Thea protested, crossing her arms. « I can carry my own drinks. »

« It's okay, I got this, » Shae, the other waitress working tonight, said, stepping in to help. She winked at Thea as she grabbed the tray. « Cutie detective has been sneaking glances at you all night, so you should take their drinks. »

« Really? » Thea raised an eyebrow, her heart rate quickening a little. She tried to turn around casually, but Shae hissed a warning.

« Don't look! » Shae warned in a whisper, pulling Thea's attention back to her. « He'll know we're talking about him! »

Thea rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. « You're impossible. »

Shae shrugged, clearly amused. « Besides, » she added with a sly grin, « he's not the only one who's been giving you the eye. »

Thea frowned, confused. « What? Who else is staring at me? »

Shae gave a small nod over her shoulder, her voice lowering as though it was a secret. « Check out the hottie in the corner. The one with the black hair and the smouldering gaze. He's been watching you all night. »

Thea's heart skipped a beat. She glanced casually in the direction Shae had indicated, trying not to seem too obvious. At a corner table, near the front of the pub, was a man with dark, tousled hair and sharp features. His eyes were dark and intense, as though he was studying her every movement, every shift of her body, like a predator sizing up its prey. There was something in the way he looked at her-calculated, almost-something that made her spine tingle.

Her eyes quickly flicked away, but not before she felt the weight of his gaze settle on her. He wasn't smiling, but there was something magnetic about his expression.

« Seriously? » Thea breathed, feeling slightly flustered. « I've never seen him before. »

« Oh, trust me, he's new. He's been here a few times in the past couple of weeks, but he usually keeps to himself. Quiet type. But tonight? Tonight, he's definitely been paying attention to you. »

Thea swallowed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks. She wasn't used to this kind of attention, especially not from someone who looked like him. The man had an aura of danger about him, but at the same time, something about the way he watched her felt strangely... familiar.

« Maybe he's just staring because I look like a deer caught in headlights, » Thea joked, but even she didn't believe the words as soon as they left her mouth.

Shae laughed. « Yeah, sure. But don't let that fool you. He's not the only one who's noticed you. Josh has been looking at you like he wants to take you home for the past hour. I'd say he's definitely trying to get your attention. »

Thea's stomach did another flip. The idea of Josh noticing her was one thing, but the thought of this mysterious man doing the same thing was another level entirely. Was it her imagination, or was there an underlying challenge in the way he looked at her? It made her feel exposed, like he could see things about her that no one else could.

« Whatever, » she muttered, trying to brush it off. « I'm just here to work, remember? »

Shae just smirked knowingly as she adjusted the drinks on the tray. « Sure, sure. You keep telling yourself that. But when Josh finally grows a pair and asks you out, don't say I didn't warn you. »

Thea shot her a playful glare before heading back to the tables. The night wore on, and despite the swirling chaos of the game and the constant stream of orders, her mind kept drifting back to the corner where the stranger sat, his eyes locked on her like she was the only person in the room.

Every so often, she'd glance in his direction, trying to gauge his intentions, but each time she did, he was already looking at her. Every time their eyes met, she couldn't tell whether he was intrigued or just waiting for something. Was he planning to approach her? Or was he content to just observe from a distance?

One thing was certain-he was definitely not like anyone else in the pub. And that made her want to know more.

Chapter 2

Trying not to appear too obvious, Thea glanced over Shae's shoulder and saw who she was talking about. He seemed to be a few years older than her, a five o'clock shadow around his jawline adding to his appeal. He wore a black leather jacket with a white shirt visible underneath, and Thea could see the outline of hard muscle beneath the fabric, the subtle flex of his arms as he adjusted his position at the bar. He had dark and broody written all over him, as though he'd just stepped out of some action movie.

His eyes flickered, and then those striking blue orbs were staring intently into her own, locking with hers across the bar. The brief, unexpected moment made Thea flush, warmth creeping up her neck. But before she could compose herself, a sharp pain shot through her skull, sudden and blinding. She winced, her hand shooting to her forehead instinctively.

"He's alright," she muttered under her breath, trying to brush off the wave of dizziness.

Shae snorted, clearly unbothered by Thea's discomfort. "Of course you would say that. Your mind's too filled with cute Detective Cooper to notice any of the other hotties in this place." Shae took a sip from her own drink, eyes still glued to the man at the bar, who had now shifted his focus back to his drink, oblivious to their conversation.

Thea rubbed her temples in an attempt to stave off the headache. She glanced over at Shae. "I'm serious," she said, a slight irritation in her voice. "He's just... not my type." Even though she couldn't help but notice the way the man's presence seemed to command attention in the room.

Shae's eyes narrowed in concern, and she leaned in, her voice dropping. "Are you getting another headache again?" she asked, her tone softening as she studied Thea's face, the lines of discomfort clear in her features.

Thea sighed heavily, fighting the familiar wave of pain that had become a constant companion over the past couple of months. "I don't know. I hope not." She closed her eyes for a second, trying to breathe through the lingering sensation that threatened to overwhelm her.

"Tell me if you are," Shae said, her voice kind and reassuring. "I'll cover for you. You don't have to push yourself."

Thea smiled faintly at her friend's concern. "Thanks, Shae, but I think I should be alright." She opened her eyes again, the headache already starting to fade as the tension in her body eased. For a moment, she wondered if it was a good idea to mention the strange coincidences that had been happening ever since that fateful day in Crete-the headaches, the vivid dreams, and the odd pull she felt toward certain people. But she didn't want to burden Shae with her confusion. She wasn't even sure she understood it herself.

Shae, ever the perceptive one, didn't press the issue. Instead, she shifted her attention back to the man at the bar. "Tell me that guy doesn't make you think some bad boy fantasy," she said with a grin, her voice teasing.

Thea tried to suppress a smile, her eyes drifting back to the stranger in question. "He's just another guy," she said dismissively, though her heart wasn't entirely in it.

Shae wasn't fooled. "Yeah, right. You don't fool me, Thea." She grinned mischievously. "But, hey, don't worry. You've got Detective Cooper to keep you occupied. No one could compete with that."

The mention of Detective Cooper made Thea's heart flutter slightly in her chest. She couldn't deny the attraction, but the truth was, there was so much more to it. The first time she met Josh, something inside her had shifted. Something she couldn't quite explain. It was more than just his good looks or the way he carried himself-there was a connection that went deeper, a spark that she hadn't felt in years. She was still trying to figure out what it meant.

"I suppose he's not hard on the eyes," Thea said, her voice quiet.

Shae snorted again. "Not hard on the eyes? The guy's a walking fantasy! I swear, if you don't make a move soon, I might have to do it for you." She gave Thea a playful shove, making her laugh, but Thea quickly tried to push the thought of Detective Cooper out of her mind. She wasn't sure she was ready for whatever this thing was.

The conversation shifted again as Shae eyed the man in the black leather jacket one more time, clearly still intrigued. Thea let herself be distracted by the lighthearted banter and her own thoughts. She wasn't sure what was happening with her body lately-what the dreams meant or why the headaches had become worse. All she knew was that they had started the day of the tsunami, when the news flashed across her screen and the pain had been so sharp and overwhelming she thought she might pass out. And then there was the oddest thing of all-Detective Josh Cooper, who had appeared out of nowhere, catching her just before she collapsed.

It was impossible to forget the way he had held her, his strong arms enveloping her in a protective embrace as if he'd been there for a lifetime. And in that brief moment, everything changed.

Shae's voice broke through Thea's thoughts. "I wish someone would send a smolder like that my way," she said, almost wistful.

Thea shook her head, a grin pulling at her lips despite herself. "Just you wait, a hottie will walk in here and save you one day." She gave Shae a playful wink, though she couldn't help but wonder if she'd ever be able to move on from the moment her life had changed so drastically. From the moment she had locked eyes with Detective Cooper.

Shae rolled her eyes. "Save me? Girl, I don't need anyone to save me, but I'll take a smolder any day." She took another sip of her drink and nodded toward the back of the bar. "Speaking of which, better get your cute police officer his drink before he forgets what you look like." She grinned. "And make sure you don't lose any of those drinks, or we'll never hear the end of it from Jackson."

Thea chuckled softly, the familiar teasing lightening her mood. She grabbed the tray of drinks, trying to focus on the task at hand. As she approached the table of detectives, she caught Detective Cooper's gaze again, and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat. He gave her a small, almost imperceptible smile, and her stomach did a little flip. She quickly looked away, trying to ignore the sensation that had become all too familiar.

"Alright, guys," Thea said, trying to sound casual as she walked toward the table, "make way for the girl with the drinks." She was greeted with a chorus of chuckles and good-natured teasing.

As she set the drinks down on the table, Detective Jackson picked up his beer, grinning. "Ah, thanks, Thea. Have you caught any of the match yet?" he asked, twisting off the cap.

Thea shook her head. "Only bits and pieces, but it looks like a nail-biter," she replied, her gaze flicking back to the screen where the game was still underway.

Jackson leaned back in his chair. "You can say that for sure. Brazil's definitely going to win though."

"I hope so," Thea said with a laugh. "I've got fifty bucks riding on them!"

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Oh, a gambler, huh? A woman after my own heart!"

Thea shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all about a little risk."

"And what about you, Josh?" Jackson asked, his eyes turning toward Detective Cooper, who had been unusually quiet. "What's your take on the match?"

Thea's heart skipped again as Josh's eyes shifted toward her. She felt a flush creep up her neck, but she managed to keep her cool. "It's good to have a little risk in your life," he said, his voice smooth and low.

Thea swallowed hard, trying not to look too obvious as she met his gaze once more. There it was again-the unspoken connection that made her feel like there was something bigger at play here. But what?

"Well," Jackson said, raising his beer in the air, "here's to Brazil, then."

Thea clinked her glass against his, but her mind was far away, tangled in a web of questions she didn't yet have the answers to. What was happening to her? Why had things changed so suddenly? And why couldn't she stop thinking about Detective Cooper?

The men all catcalled and Thea quickly moved away. She'd been waiting for Josh to ask her out for the last few weeks. She thought he liked her but she couldn't be too sure. Thea was too afraid to ask him either in case he said no. Better to have a one-sided love than to be rejected.

She liked the idea of a slow-burn romance, of waiting until the moment was right. But every time she was near him, the butterflies in her stomach fluttered, and every time he smiled at her, her heart did a little flip. Still, the uncertainty gnawed at her, and she couldn't bring herself to take that leap.

Walking back to the bar, the front door opened, and two men walked in. They appeared to be in their early thirties and could only be brothers. She guessed they were European, dark brown hair hanging to their shoulders, their brown eyes scanning the room. Their skin had a slight olive tinge. They were striking, commanding attention even in a place as lively as this.

Shae grabbed Thea's arm. "I claim them. Don't even think about smiling at them."

Thea raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at Shae, who wore an eager smirk. "I wasn't."

She could feel the strange sensation bubbling in her chest as she continued to observe the men. There was something unsettling about them-something she couldn't quite place. It wasn't just their looks, which were undeniably handsome, but something deeper. A dark energy that seemed to cling to them.

"I think you should stay away from them, Shae," Thea warned, her voice quieter than usual. "I don't like them."

Shae scoffed, rolling her eyes as she leaned closer to Thea. "Just because you don't like them doesn't mean I have to. Go ahead, hate them," she teased, "More hunky men for me."

Thea's gaze lingered on the two brothers as they settled at the bar, their eyes sweeping across the room before locking onto Shae with intense curiosity. The sensation in her chest tightened, but she forced herself to look away. "Please be careful then," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Shae pouted dramatically, clearly unimpressed. "You're no fun."

Thea chuckled, trying to brush off the strange feeling. "Maybe not, but I'm still looking out for you."

The night passed by in a blur of drinks and friendly conversation. The usual hum of chatter mixed with the occasional laughter, creating an atmosphere of relaxed joy. Everyone was in a celebratory mood since Brazil had passed through to the semi-finals, and Thea found herself joining in the cheers with the rest of the bar-goers. Matt, who had been eagerly talking to customers about the game all night, finally handed Thea her winnings from their bet, but not without a small amount of reluctance.

"Do you really have to rub it in, Thea?" Matt grumbled, though his smile gave away the fact he was more amused than annoyed.

"I won, didn't I?" she teased, slipping the cash into her pocket. "And no one told you to bet against Brazil. That's on you, my friend."

Josh, the charming bartender who made Thea's heart race with every interaction, gave her a smile before heading toward the door. The last few customers, drunk on the excitement of Brazil's victory, stumbled out after him, still cheering and laughing. Thea caught Josh's eye, and he smiled at her once more, a lingering look that made her pulse skip.

He said his goodbyes to the rest of the group and was shoved out the door by two of the rowdy men who were still in high spirits. The smile he had given her was enough to make Thea's heart flutter, but the disappointment in her chest was palpable when no date offer followed. She had been waiting for weeks, but it seemed she would have to wait a little longer.

Shae closed the door on the final customers and twisted the lock. "Never mind, Thea. There's always tomorrow to try and get in his pants."

Thea rolled her eyes and gave her friend a pointed look. "Shut up, Shae."

Shae shrugged casually, trying to look innocent. "What? I mean, in a normal situation, it's the guy trying to get into our pants, but I guess we are living in modern times. You have to be more aggressive if you want to succeed."

Thea's face flushed at Shae's bluntness. "Shae!"

Shae giggled, poking her tongue out. "Lighten up! You know I'm cheering for you."

"I know, in your own weird way."

As the girls finished up their closing duties, Matt walked over, jingling his keys in his hand. "Do you girls mind closing up tonight? I have to pick up Sharon from work."

"Sure, say hi for us," Thea replied with a smile, holding out her hand for the keys.

Matt tossed them to her. "Will do. Good night. Be safe."

"Yeah, yeah, 'dad,'" both girls called out in unison, teasing their boss.

Matt chuckled as he waved over his shoulder, walking out the door and locking it behind him. The girls quickly collected the stray bottles and wiped down the chairs and tables, preparing to leave the bar.

The night had been long, and though they had earned their tips, Thea's mind was still preoccupied with Josh, the men who had arrived earlier, and the odd feeling that had settled in her stomach. She wasn't sure what it was, but she had an instinct that something wasn't right about those brothers. There was a darkness lurking just beneath their handsome exteriors that made her uneasy.

"Did you have any luck with the two guys who came in?" Thea asked Shae, watching her friend as she stacked the last of the chairs. The unease she felt about the men only grew as she thought about them.

"No," Shae sighed, not even noticing Thea's relief. "They seemed more interested in you than me. Just my luck."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, girl. It's not your fault the hotties are all attracted to you," Shae replied with a dramatic shrug, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. "Just lend me some of what you're throwing out and I'll forgive you."

Thea laughed, shaking her head. "When I figure out what it is, I'll give you all of it."

"Deal."

Shae tilted her head, giving Thea a mischievous look. "Smouldering hottie left early, not long after those guys arrived." Her grin widened. "Maybe he was threatened by the competition?"

Thea shook her head in amusement. "Or perhaps he had other plans and had to leave?"

"Your reason sounds more logical," Shae conceded, but she remained unconvinced. "But mine sounds more fun. I'm going to stick with mine."

Once all the tables were cleared and cleaned, the girls set the alarms, and with a final glance around the bar, walked out the back door, putting on their jackets. The night was cold, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bar. The sky was clear, but the streets felt eerily quiet as they stepped outside, the sounds of the city muffled by the chill.

"See you tomorrow, Thea," Shae said with a yawn, pulling her collar up against the wind.

Thea nodded, pulling her own jacket tighter around her. "Yeah, tomorrow," she murmured, her thoughts still swirling with the strange feeling that something was off. She couldn't quite shake the unease about those men, but she knew one thing for sure: tomorrow would bring new challenges-and perhaps new answers.