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I get up and make my way across the crowded dancefloor to the bathroom. I wait patiently and do what I need to do. I rinse my hands and dry them before fixing my hair. As I step out of the restroom, I bump into someone standing there.
“I’m so sorry!” I attempt to step around the person, but they block me. When they turn and push me into the wall, I’m caught off guard. Then I feel something hard being pressed into my side and I finally look up at the person in front of me. A scream lodges in my throat as I find myself face-to-face with Spike.
He leans down, presses his face to mine, and warns in a whisper, “If you make one sound, it’s over.”
I start to tremble, my hands shaking. Patrons move to and fro around us with barely a glance as we look like nothing more than a couple having a private moment in a dark corner.
Spike continues to speak. “I knew if I waited long enough, I’d catch you without your guard dogs. I’m not happy, Sidney. You’ve made me very angry. And I don’t like being angry. I want my money. And I want it now. I’ve waited far too long for you and your boyfriend. And I’m tired of it. So, I would suggest that you find some way to get it from your boss or goldilocks over there.”
He presses the gun into my side even more and I feel my knees go weak and my body clammy. “I’m not averse to writing off bad debt and adding a body to the morgue. It’s just that it would be a pity that it has to be you.”
Tears fill my eyes as I stammer. “P-Please. Don’t hurt me.”
He smiles evilly. “I don’t want to, honey. You’re such a pretty little thing.” I cringe as his eyes move up and down my body. He breathes deeply and leans into my face. His hot breath makes me feel nauseous. I close my eyes and try to move my face away. He presses his body into mine and raw panic races through me as I feel his hardness.
“I never gave it a thought before. But perhaps we could work off that debt in other ways.”
I cry out and try to push him away and he laughs. “Keep that option in mind. I’ll be stopping by your place tomorrow. You’ve got twenty-four hours to produce the first fifty grand.”
“F-F-Fifty grand?” My body goes into shock. “B—B—But—”
“The rest we can work out. Pretty girl like you would feel real good underneath me.”
He kisses my lips ruthlessly, bruising them as I push at his chest. Then he is gone. I feel as if I’m having a seizure as my body goes into convulsions. I begin to slide down the wall.
“Hey! Are you okay?” The voice seems to be muffled. I hear other voices raised in alarm. Then I hear Michelle. I struggle to open my eyes, but I feel as though I’m walking down a long dark road. Then blackness overtakes me as I pass out.
Chapter ten
Archer
IbreathedeeplyasI slowly reduce my speed on the treadmill. My heart is pounding, and I feel the adrenaline rushing through my body. There’s nothing like a good workout to boost one's energy levels. Installing the home gym in my basement has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I reach for the towel hanging on a bench nearby and mop my wet face. My T-shirt sticks to my wet torso and sweat runs down my back. I reach for my glasses and phone and head up to my room. Twenty minutes later after a shower, I head downstairs wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I have just decided to grab some popcorn when my phone rings. I frown at the strange number. It’s minutes to eleven. Only a security emergency warrants a call at this time.
“Colleymore.”
“Is this Archer Colleymore?”
I frown at the noise in the background and the strange voice.
“Speaking,” I reply.
“This is Michelle. Sidney’s friend. I don’t know if you remember me.”
“I do.”
“Sidney was attacked tonight. We went out for a few drinks and – it’s okay, Sidney. You’re safe, honey. Archer, you need to come get us. Please.”
I have already gotten to my feet and grabbed the handgun I keep in the coffee table before she finishes speaking. I hurry to the door leading to the garage. “Where are you?” I demand, “Better yet, just send me your location.”
I shove my feet into my shoes by the door of the garage and jump into my car. I’m halfway down my street when the message comes. I struggle to clear my mind and put the pieces together. What the hell is Sidney doing at a nightclub downtown? Who is supposed to be watching her? My usually acute brain draws a blank on my weekly roster, and the name does not present itself. But where is he? I’m overtaken by panic for Sidney. I press the accelerator as I race toward the club. The phone rings.
“Yes.”
“Are you almost here? Sidney is beside herself and I can’t control her,” Michelle says, sounding worried.
I grit my teeth. “I’m about ten minutes away. Where in the building are you?”
“Right now we’re in the bathroom. The club security is helping us stay safe.”
