always smell the guy first; this one stinks, and the urge to run from him is just as strong as his body odor.
“Umm…thanks, but that’s ok,” I say, trying to pay for myself.
He pushes my hand away. “I said it’s on me.” Ok, now I’m really spooked. He’s nice one minute, and then aggressive the next. A familiar feeling starts in my gut, and I feel the panic rising. I may throw up.
Kiaya slips her hand into my pocket, removing my phone. I’m not sure what the hell she’s doing, but I don’t question it as I’m preoccupied with the jerk.
“Umm…thanks, I guess.” I stutter out towards the foul-smelling man.
“No problem, darling. My name’s Clay.” He tries to wrap his arm around me, and though I pull away, he tries again.
“Hey, we’re all friends here. Right, darling? Relax.”
“I appreciate the beer, but I’d really like to spend some time with my friend. Sorry, Clay,” I say, jumping from the bar stool. His hand tightens around my wrist.
“You should learn to show some gratitude…”
“Hey, Clay! Do you play pool?” Kiaya interrupts. What the hell is she doing? I shoot daggers at her at first, but then I realize she’s trying to distract him. Unfortunately, things don’t get any better when we get to the pool table. Despite Kiaya’s attempts to get him interested in the game, Clay keeps the majority of his attention on me and keeping me near him. Every time I try to leave, he grips my hand, waist, or arm and demands I stay put. Poor Kiaya is beside herself with worry even though she tries to appear strong and brave. I can see it written all over her face, and quite frankly, I’m about one minute away from losing my mind and having a psychotic breakdown. We were so stupid for coming in here!
Another guy makes his way over to us. He’s a lot older than Clay and is missing his two front teeth. Only black, rotten stumps remain. He backs Kiaya into the corner.
“Hey, baby. My guy Clay’s got him a woman now, and look at you sitting over here all alone.” She looks terrified. My breathing quickens as panic takes hold of me completely.
“Leave her alone!” I make a move to go to her but find myself being roughly pulled back by Clay, and he locks me in his arms. He’s so close, and the smell of stale tobacco and sweat are overwhelming. I gag. “I think it’s time we get to know each other better.”
Though I shake my head, Clay pins my body against the bar. He runs a yellow, tobacco-stained finger along my cheek. Recoiling from his touch, I feel like I may pass out. Shit, this has fast become seriously out of control.
His acrid breath leaves tears welled in my eyes, and I pray to be anywhere but here.
“Don’t hurt me,” I plead, and Clay laughs.
“She don’t want me to hurt her,” he shares with his disgusting friend.
“Yeah, this one don’t want me touching her, either. We should teach these ungrateful bitches a lesson. What do you think? Out back in the alley?”
Clay sneers. “Hell, yeah.” He runs his hand up my thigh. “I’m going to like this.” Trembling, I try to face away from him, but he forces me to look at him.
No, this can’t be happening to me again!
Over Clay’s shoulder, I spot the face of an angel. Ok, it’s not really an angel. It’s Ethan, and he looks murderous. How the hell did he know we were here? Kiaya. I want to kiss her for taking my phone. Relief washes over me, but the sensation is temporary. Anger is etched across Ethan’s face, and that anger isn’t only directed at Clay. With lightning speed, Ethan has a strong grip around the back of Clay’s neck, and the foul-smelling man shrinks down to one knee.
“What the fuck is your problem?”
Ethan completely ignores him but glares at me. The nasty old man who was harassing Kiaya releases her, and not wanting trouble, abandons his friend to move back to the bar.
“What the hell are you doing in a place like this?” Ethan demands. Fear begins to rise once again, and
“Umm…thanks, but that’s ok,” I say, trying to pay for myself.
He pushes my hand away. “I said it’s on me.” Ok, now I’m really spooked. He’s nice one minute, and then aggressive the next. A familiar feeling starts in my gut, and I feel the panic rising. I may throw up.
Kiaya slips her hand into my pocket, removing my phone. I’m not sure what the hell she’s doing, but I don’t question it as I’m preoccupied with the jerk.
“Umm…thanks, I guess.” I stutter out towards the foul-smelling man.
“No problem, darling. My name’s Clay.” He tries to wrap his arm around me, and though I pull away, he tries again.
“Hey, we’re all friends here. Right, darling? Relax.”
“I appreciate the beer, but I’d really like to spend some time with my friend. Sorry, Clay,” I say, jumping from the bar stool. His hand tightens around my wrist.
“You should learn to show some gratitude…”
“Hey, Clay! Do you play pool?” Kiaya interrupts. What the hell is she doing? I shoot daggers at her at first, but then I realize she’s trying to distract him. Unfortunately, things don’t get any better when we get to the pool table. Despite Kiaya’s attempts to get him interested in the game, Clay keeps the majority of his attention on me and keeping me near him. Every time I try to leave, he grips my hand, waist, or arm and demands I stay put. Poor Kiaya is beside herself with worry even though she tries to appear strong and brave. I can see it written all over her face, and quite frankly, I’m about one minute away from losing my mind and having a psychotic breakdown. We were so stupid for coming in here!
Another guy makes his way over to us. He’s a lot older than Clay and is missing his two front teeth. Only black, rotten stumps remain. He backs Kiaya into the corner.
“Hey, baby. My guy Clay’s got him a woman now, and look at you sitting over here all alone.” She looks terrified. My breathing quickens as panic takes hold of me completely.
“Leave her alone!” I make a move to go to her but find myself being roughly pulled back by Clay, and he locks me in his arms. He’s so close, and the smell of stale tobacco and sweat are overwhelming. I gag. “I think it’s time we get to know each other better.”
Though I shake my head, Clay pins my body against the bar. He runs a yellow, tobacco-stained finger along my cheek. Recoiling from his touch, I feel like I may pass out. Shit, this has fast become seriously out of control.
His acrid breath leaves tears welled in my eyes, and I pray to be anywhere but here.
“Don’t hurt me,” I plead, and Clay laughs.
“She don’t want me to hurt her,” he shares with his disgusting friend.
“Yeah, this one don’t want me touching her, either. We should teach these ungrateful bitches a lesson. What do you think? Out back in the alley?”
Clay sneers. “Hell, yeah.” He runs his hand up my thigh. “I’m going to like this.” Trembling, I try to face away from him, but he forces me to look at him.
No, this can’t be happening to me again!
Over Clay’s shoulder, I spot the face of an angel. Ok, it’s not really an angel. It’s Ethan, and he looks murderous. How the hell did he know we were here? Kiaya. I want to kiss her for taking my phone. Relief washes over me, but the sensation is temporary. Anger is etched across Ethan’s face, and that anger isn’t only directed at Clay. With lightning speed, Ethan has a strong grip around the back of Clay’s neck, and the foul-smelling man shrinks down to one knee.
“What the fuck is your problem?”
Ethan completely ignores him but glares at me. The nasty old man who was harassing Kiaya releases her, and not wanting trouble, abandons his friend to move back to the bar.
“What the hell are you doing in a place like this?” Ethan demands. Fear begins to rise once again, and
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