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“Do your worst,” I say, feeling almost bad for Kandice and Becca. Then I turn on a heel and weave my way through the crowd of people to the bar. I’m going to have one drink and go upstairs. Without the aid of some alcohol, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep a wink from missing my…fiancé. Because that’s exactly what he is, controlling nature and all.
In fact, when I signal the bartender, my ring glinting in the dim lights as I ask for a martini, I start to crave Bobby’s control.
My nipples bead thinking about it. How he’ll probably greet me when I walk through the front door tomorrow. He’ll throw me down and make me pay for this trip with my body. He’ll make me beg for his seed inside of me. And I want it so bad, I almost consider taking a bus back to Boston tonight—
There’s a prickle on the side of my neck.
Sensing I’m being watched, I turn my head quickly.
There are so many shadows moving in the darkness of the club, I can’t make out any facial features, but I have this unshakable feeling of eyes on me. Maybe it’s Becca and Kandice plotting my demise. Maybe I should book a separate room, just to be safe.
With a quiet laugh, I turn back around to find the bartender has set down my martini in front of me—and I notice with a wave of horror that a white powdered substance is soaking into the blue surface of the alcohol. It dissolves almost instantly, but I catch it—and I also catch the blond man beside me at the bar shoving a clear vial back into his pocket.
He’s…trying to drug me.
Oh my God.
With my pulse racing in my ears, I push away from the bar, but the volume of people has me disoriented and I can’t recall which direction I need to walk toward for the exit. I end up on the dance floor, throwing a quick glance over my shoulder to find the blond man from the bar is following me. He has a friend with him now, too. The guy in the purple polo shirt and gold chain. They’re looking at me like I’m their next meal.
One of their hands clamps around my wrist in the center of the dancefloor and they attempt to pull me closer. In between them. I struggle, striking one of them in the side of the head with my clutch bag. No one around me seems to notice what’s happening, continuing to dance.
I trip over someone’s foot and fall to the ground, which is gross, because the floor is sticky, but my fall has a silver lining, because the blond man is forced to let go of my wrist, or come down with me. When I find my footing and stand up, ready to do battle once more…
Both men are gone.
They are being dragged into the shadows by someone I can’t quite see.
A hooded figure.
The bouncer perhaps? Security? A good Samaritan?
I don’t know, but I’m not waiting around to find out. As fast as possible, I jog in my heels for the exit and leave the loud, hectic club, my eyes filled with tears as I follow the signs to the elevator bank. I pull my phone out of my clutch as soon as I’m safely inside one of the cars.
Backing into the corner, I call Bobby, thanking God I demanded he return my stolen phone before I left for Atlantic City.
He answers on the first ring.
There’s a blast of noise down the line, but it cuts off almost immediately, leaving nothing but his winded voice. He must be working at the firehouse. “Mandy,” he says urgently. “Are you okay? Where did you go?”
I frown. “Atlantic City, don’t you remember? I’m at a casino.”
“Yes, but where?” He sounds frantic. “Are you in the lobby or a bar or—”
“No, I’m in the elevator going back up to the room.” All at once, it hits me what almost happened in the club. If I’d turned around a second later, I would have been drugged. Helpless. “It was a mistake to come here. I j-just want to be home with you.”
“Go to your room and lock the door. I’m coming to get you, gorgeous.”
“It’s a five-hour drive. You don’t have to do that—”
“Mandy, I’d drive through hell for you.”
My heart shoots up into my throat. “I love you,” I whimper.
I’ve never been more sincere about anything and his choked sound on the other end of the line only makes my eyes leak more, my pulse going eighty directions.
“I love you, too, Mandy. You’re my life.”
I’m so weighed down with excess emotion that I can barely walk myself off the elevator when the doors open, but I manage, my heels sinking into the carpeted hallway floor. Bobby’s breathing in my ear is comforting. However, not even talking to Bobby on the phone can comfort me when I pass the hotel room party that is still raging and two men step out into my path, blocking me from going to my room.
