Cara nodded. “Fair enough.” She kissed her friend’s cheek. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Pathetic but okay.”
“You’re normal. If anyone’s pathetic, it’s me.” Cara glanced in the mirror and made a face.
Alexa shook her head. “You handled him well. You stood up for yourself, and I was proud of you.”
“Thanks.” Cara didn’t feel all that proud. As much as she’d turned him away, she still wanted him. Not that she’d let herself give in, but she hated the weakness those feelings inspired.
“Are you ready to go back in there?” Alexa asked.
Cara straightened her shoulders. “No, but I’m not going to let him run me off, either.” She studied her reflection and sighed. “I would like some lip gloss, first.”
“Body armor. I like it,” Alexa said with a grin.
“Yeah, but I left my purse in the car. I’ll run out and be back in a few minutes. I’ll meet you back out by the bar.”
“Want me to go with you?” Alexa offered.
“Nah. Why should both of us freeze?” They’d parked their cars out back and left their coats to make things easier once inside the bar.
A group of women practically fell into the ladies’ room, giggling and laughing loudly.
Cara and Alexa stepped toward the door. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” Cara promised, and headed outside.
The freezing cold air rushed over her skin and chilled her to her bones. Still, she appreciated the reprieve, not ready to deal with Mike again so soon. Shivering, she rushed past the brick wall behind the bar, her car a few feet away, when someone grabbed her around the neck.
“What the hell?”
Cara attempted to pivot, but the big body and surprise attack prevented her from using any means of self-defense, leaving her with one alternative. She screamed loudly before the arm strengthened, cutting off her air.
“Shut up, bitch,” a deep male baritone said, too close to her ear.
Cara recognized the voice. Bob Francone, Daniella’s ex. Shit. Before she could act, Bob yanked her against him, his beefy arm strong and thick around her neck. The harder she struggled, the tighter he held on.
She coughed and would have driven her fingernails into his arms, but the heavy jacket he wore prevented her from hitting skin. And her gun was in her ankle holster, out of reach.
“You convinced my woman to leave me,” he raged, and though Cara couldn’t see his face, she’d bet it was red with anger.
He squeezed her neck harder, and Cara desperately pulled at his arm. “Can’t breathe.” She didn’t know if the words came out of her mouth or were merely inside her head. White spots floated in front of her eyes from lack of air.
He eased his hold on her throat, but the pain that remained was excruciating and she hacked out a cough.
“Are you insane, attacking a cop?” she asked.
“You convinced her to leave me. Both times. You screwed up my life, and now you’re going to fix it,” Bob demanded.
Cara concentrated on inhaling gulps of air and planning on how to reach for her gun.
“Well? Do you hear me?”
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t.
So he slammed her against the wall, his hands at her throat.
Jesus, could the man not find another way to subdue women? “What do you want?” Again, Cara wasn’t sure whether her words came out.
He’d cut off her breath and her ears had begun to ring.