Page 22 of Rafe

“Kiss of death. One and done. But hey, when one door closes, another one opens. After this, I’m headed back home to New Orleans.” Skylar reached for her glass, avoiding eye contact with the strange bartender. She held the glass up to the air. “But for the next eight weeks, viva Las Vegas!”

“Long live diner waitresses!” Their glasses clinked.

As Skylar brought the rim to her lips, she heard Scott’s voice behind her. She set down her glass without drinking and turned to him.

“Darling, Sky! You look fabulous. What is this dress? Chanel?” He reached for her, giving her a hug.

“As do you. Great to see you again.” They exchanged air kisses on each cheek, which left Skylar feeling as though a bit of L.A. had worn off on her. “Thanks so much for inviting me to work on the production. I love the character. Great writing.”

“Thank you, thank you. I saw your work in Die Cabin Twenty-Five, and I just knew you’d be perfect. I have a good feeling about you.”

“Oh my gosh, you saw that? It was ages ago. But thanks so much for having me. I’m so grateful to be working on such a fun project.” Skylar smiled, uneasy as his hand lingered on her shoulder a few seconds too long.

A seed of doubt about the millionaire producer’s motives planted in her mind. Though he was debonair and fashionable, there was a devilish flash in his eyes that led her to believe he was far more cunning than he revealed.

“Let’s toast,” He held up his drink into the air. “To our success. We’re gonna kill it.”

Skylar brought her glass to her lips, and within seconds she’d descended into darkness.

Skylar’s eyes flashed open and she gasped for breath. “I can’t…I can’t breathe. Help.” Her pulse raced as she tugged on her wrists, the leather digging into her skin. Light peeked from underneath a loosely tied blindfold. Where the fuck am I?

“Help.” A mere whisper escaped her lips. She winced as a throbbing pain drummed a beat in her head. She thanked God for her thin wrists as she wriggled one hand free and tugged off the blindfold.

With her vision blurry, she attempted to assess her surroundings. What is this place? A tent?

She glanced at the dusty dirt floor; lights flickered through the small, clear paneled flaps to the outdoors. The dry air coated her tongue and she coughed. Am I in the desert? How did I get out here?

Her mind remained fuzzy. She concentrated, a neon bat flashing in her mind’s eye. I went to a party. I was in a bar. I was in a hotel. With Scott.

A moan stirred her attention, and her head whipped around to its source. Tina lay motionless, outstretched on a black cot, her wrists bound to its side rails.

“Hey,” Skylar whispered. “Are you okay? Where are we?”

Tina’s head swung toward her. “Don’t show fear.”

“Oh my God. Are you okay?” Skylar’s pulse raced as Tina’s eyes rolled up into her head.

Laughter erupted from outside the tent. With one arm still tied to the bed, she made the split decision to pretend she was sleeping. She slid her blindfold down over her eyes and laid back. Stiff as a board, she froze. Listen. Learn. Escape.

She stifled a scream as a fingernail trailed down over her arm. Her mind raced, wondering if she could headbutt her kidnappers, possibly fling her body over and break the cot.

“Leave her alone,” a familiar voice scolded. “I’m saving her for later.”

“But baby, I’m so thirsty,” the woman whined.

Skylar held her breath as icy cold lips grazed over her ankle. With grit and determination, she fought back tears, willing her mind to remain calm. Who were these monsters? She had to get out, she had to fight.

“Don’t touch her. I told you she’s mine and mine only. I’ve been watching her all week. From the moment I saw her, I knew she was a prize. I’m sharing her with Zyaire.”

“You’re so selfish. But fine. I like them screaming anyway. Wouldn’t want to wake your princess.”

“She’s not waking up until I tell her to wake up. But when I fuck this little starlet, she’ll be wide awake.”

“I like them afraid. I want them to feel it all. Not so much they pass out of course,” she mused. “Ruins the fun.”

“Hmm, darling, you are diabolical,” he said.

“The sound of their screams? The fear? It’s better than sex,” she purred.