Worse Than Enemies

He doesn’t react to it, instead lowering his head to speak into my ear. “I don’t think so. We have business to take care of.”

I know the voice. Now, I regret drinking because everything in my stomach wants to come back out. I’m still swaying back and forth to the music, and Salem hasn’t noticed. Oh, my God, I hope she doesn’t notice. I hope she doesn’t see him.

“I told you. I don’t have anything to give you.” All I want to do is scream, but I can’t. Because I don’t know what he’s going to do.

“And I told you we could work something out. Unless you want your brother going to prison.”

“He’s not my brother.” I can’t believe we’re having this conversation in the middle of a party. Nobody knows, nobody notices. They’re all too busy having fun while I’m standing in the middle of a nightmare with a rapist’s arm around my waist.

“But you sure as hell cared a lot about him staying out of trouble. I feel you could be motivated under the right circumstances.” With that, he yanks me away from the makeshift dance floor, his arm still around my waist. How is nobody seeing this? I want to scream, but I don’t dare. I don’t want Salem to know he’s here. What might that do to her?

I don’t know where we’re going. Everything goes by me in flashes—people, dancers, girls waiting in line for the bathroom. We reach the kitchen, then go through a door off to the side. It’s cool and quiet, especially compared to the noisy party. Logan closes the door before letting me go.

My head swings around as I look for a way out. Where’s the light switch? I stumble toward the door we came through, my hands outstretched, but he pulls me away. It smells like gas in here, exhaust. We’re in the garage. It’s still too dark to see, but now I can make out the outline of a few cars.

“We’re gonna settle this now, you and me.” He tears off his mask and runs a hand through his flattened hair.

“Why bother with the mask? You look plenty scary without it.”

I regret it when he rushes at me, closing his hand around my throat. This isn’t like the way it is with Hayes. Hayes might intimidate me, he might even scare the shit out of me, but this guy is trying to hurt me. Now I know the difference.

“And whose fault is that? Give me one good reason I shouldn’t go to the police right this very fucking minute and identify him as the motherfucker who did this to me.”

“You’re a rapist,” I grit out despite the pain and my limited air.

“Says you.” He shoves me away and I land against a set of shelves, but stay on my feet. “Video evidence says otherwise.”

“Right. Good luck finding anybody who will provide those videos from the concert. People have short memories. I bet most of them are already deleted.”

“Tell yourself whatever you need to.” He lunges for me again, and the alcohol must slow me down because he catches me before I run. Where am I running to? I don’t know how to get out of here.

He presses me against one of the cars, the door cold under my back. “Here’s how it’s going to be. You’re going to give me what I want, or else I’m going to the cops tonight. Understood? Hayes is going away for a long time after what he did. And you know that little slut can’t say anything about it. Stop pretending.”

“What do you want?” I ask. Even though I know.

“You’re gonna put my cock in your mouth, and you’re gonna suck it real good. And I’m going to come on your face, and you’re gonna thank me for the privilege.” He runs a hand over my boobs, and I have to bite back a whimper. “Or maybe I’ll come on these tits instead. That way, I won’t mess up your Halloween makeup. See? I’m not such a bad guy.”

“You mean it? I suck you off, and you won’t go to the police and report Hayes?”

“If you do a good job,” he reminds me with a grin. It’s sickening, even more so because of his messed-up face. “Now, on your knees, like a good little kitty.”

What am I supposed to do? He could just as well go to the police after this, for all I know. But if he was going, wouldn’t he have gone by now? Can I even call him on it? Do I want to push my luck?

I don’t think I can. Oh, my God, I think I have to do this. Even though I know he won’t stop with only this. Even though I know he’ll find me again and want more next time. Hayes, I’m doing this for you.