Taking her hand, I head off the dance floor with Callie giving me puzzled looks. “Babe, what’s wrong?” I cup her face in my hands so she can’t avoid my gaze.
“I’m okay or I will be... While we were dancing out there my claustrophobia stayed away because I had you distracting me. But now, I feel like there’s something wrong.”
I kiss her on the forehead. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Closing my eyes, I hold her tight not wanting to let her go. “I need to ask you something?”
“What?” she mumbles, kissing my chin.
“On the dance floor…I saw Drew.” I tighten my hold on her when she tries to break free. “Has he always been possessive toward you?” I shout close to her ear, and even though we’re having a serious conversation, I can’t help myself and nibble on her lobe again…and yeah, she likes that.
She pinches my ass. “Stop trying to distract me…and, I guess he’s always freaked me out.” She sighs. “He’s the reason I started to suffer from claustrophobia. Long story short because of him frightening me, I ended up getting locked in the attic in the dark as a small child. Since then I can’t seem to shrug the panic attacks unless I’m distracted, hence me being okay on the dance floor with you.”
I’m angry listening to her telling me why she has panic attacks. Because of him she’s had years of suffering. The need to find the bastard and make him suffer won’t let go. He needs to be taught a lesson, but not while Callie is with me because my kind of lesson isn’t going to be verbal.
“Hey, big guy,” she smirks, “I’m going to hit the restroom then you can take me somewhere and put that, um, equipment to use.”
I grin. “Equipment, huh!” I smack her ass as she moves out of my arms, but I grab her hand before she disappears. “Keep your eyes open, babe.”
She nods and disappears down the side of the bar to where the restrooms are located while I look around trying to spot the bastard. He’s still here. I can feel it.
Walking closer to the bar, I order another longneck when a partly drunken woman stumbles into me.
“You alone?”
“No.” I turn my back to the bar, and leaning back, rest my elbows on the bar, ignoring the dark haired woman whose standing beside me, looking me over.
“Not talkative I see,” she comments.
“Not interested, more like.” And that’s the truth. Yeah, I noticed that she’s hot, but no one comes close to my Callie. Thinking about her, I check my watch and realize she’s been gone a bit too long. The restroom in these places can get pretty busy, but with Drew around somewhere I feel restless.
Chapter 27
Callie
Splashing cold water on my face feels amazing and is helping to cool me down. After the hot dance out there with my deliciously sexy guy, this is a godsend. With the music and Reece all over me, I’d forgotten where we were. I was that lost that he could have yanked my jeans down and fucked me out there in the open without me batting an eye. That’s how turned-on I am. Yes, I am. Even dousing myself with water, although cooling my temperature, isn’t cooling the fire going on in my jeans. I can’t get enough of him, and can’t wait to head back with him tomorrow and to see everyone again, especially my best friend, Thalia. I’ve missed her and really should have spoken to her more often. I feel a bit guilty about that.
Drying my face and hands on some paper towels, I quickly glance at myself through the mirror and realize my black mascara has run underneath my eyes making me look like an owl. Grabbing another towel, I clean up some then give up. We’re leaving anyway.
Tossing the towel into the trash, I open the door and stepping out, I’m grabbed from behind in a vice-like grip. I can’t screa
m. I can’t move my arms as I’m dragged backwards all the while praying someone appears, but no one does.
I kick and hear a grunt when I connect with his shin. My heart pounds and I feel my lungs start to close in panic. Struggling against him doesn’t do anything. Tears fall from my eyes as I feel a cold draft hit me, then the door he’s dragging me through slams shut behind us.
Oh, God! We’re outside.
I’m still struggling in his arms, but my strength is waning and I’m having difficulty breathing. Part of me is saying ‘calm down and wait’ and the other part is saying ‘don’t stop fighting.’
His hand over my mouth starts to loosen so I clamp down with my teeth into his palm. He cusses and tightens his hold around my body, which is painful and sucks the breath out of me.
“Stop fucking around before someone comes. Get her in the car.”
Who the fuck is that? I’m not going anywhere with them, especially in a car – no way in hell. I start to struggle again, not really sure where my strength is coming from. But before I can think further I’m released from his tight hold and slammed against a wall with a thud. His hand goes around my neck and he starts to squeeze. I start to cry, knowing this is probably it and wanting Reece. His arms wrapped around me telling me everything is going to be all right. As I start to see stars, I find strength from somewhere and knee him in the balls. He releases me and crumples at my feet. About to run, I’m yanked back by my hair. I scream or rather I try to scream, but it sends me into a coughing fit.
“Not so fast, bitch.”
He spins me around and again I find myself being held against the wall while I watch Drew rise to his feet looking spitting mad. His face is bright red and the veins in his neck are standing out with his fist clenching at the side of him.
“Hold her,” he says to his accomplice.