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“Mr. Alexander, thank you so much for hosting us,” the short man says as they approach us.
Before turning to them, Gavin plasters on a huge smile. “Johnny Rusk. You made it.”
They shake hands in that way that equals do, or perhaps rivals. With strength and confidence.
Even though Gavin towers over Johnny’s rotund form, he still manages to maintain an air of arrogance about him. Their gazes lock for a moment, then almost as if in slow motion, Johnny shifts his attention to me.
I want to melt into the floor and disappear. Or at the very least, hide behind Gavin. But I can’t breathe, much less move, as his eyes make contact with mine.
His lips pull up in that same salacious grin I recall too well, the one that haunted me for years. I had finally managed to suppress the memory of him enough to pretend I’d erased it. I could only hear his laughter and see his face when I let my guard down.
Now, he’s here in front of me, and there’s nothing I can do but stare at my nightmare come to life.
He hasn’t changed one bit. I haven’t much either.
Does he recognize me? It’s been over ten years.
“And this is..?” Johnny asks, his gaze trailing over me, touching me too intimately.
Gavin’s hand tenses around mine as he looks from him to me. “My girlfriend, Anderson.”
I barely register what Gavin’s said. All I’m aware of is the evil amusement in Johnny’s eyes. If there was any doubt in my mind that he recognized me before, it’s gone now. He definitely knows who I am.
“So nice to meet you, Andie.” He extends his hand to me, and I stare at it. When he brings it closer, I let out an almost inaudible yelp.
Gavin wraps his arm around my shoulder and brings me into his side tighter. “I’m so sorry, my friend, but no one is allowed to touch what belongs to me. It’s a rule of mine.”
“It was just a greeting.” Johnny snatches his hand back when Gavin takes a small step toward him. “Ah, so sorry about that.”
“You’re not a regular here and would have no way of knowing. But now you do.” The last is said in a low tone, one that carries a hefty load of warning. One that says, touch her, and die.
They go into a casual conversation about business, the casino he wants to buy and the club. They’re nothing more than meaningless words to me, not because I can’t understand, but because the drumming of my heart is so loud in my ears, I can barely hear them.
It doesn’t matter that we haven’t moved, that the space between us remains the same. I can feel Johnny getting closer somehow, his presence looming. He towers over me, until his face is all that fills my vision and his sour scent invades my nostrils, making me sick to my stomach.
My legs weaken and the dim lights are suddenly too bright. I lean against Gavin and take deep breaths.
He peers down at me. “What’s wrong?”
I smile up at him. “Yeah, um… The wine… I don’t drink often. I’m going to splash some water on my face.”
His brows pinch together as he takes in my features, but before he can say anything, I tear myself from his grasp and head to the ladies’ restroom.
It takes every ounce of self-control not to sprint when I can sense Johnny’s gaze on my back. It wouldn’t help if I did. Regardless of how fast I could move, he’ll always be there, in front of me.
There are certain monsters you can’t outrun.
15
GAVIN
I watch Andie flee my side as if she’s seen a ghost, my hand still outstretched from when she tore hers from it.
“Women. Always gotta tinkle.” Johnny laughs. “Even the fucking hot ones.”
My head swivels toward the short prick. “Do you know her?”
“What?”
