Page 10

He grins, taking our teasing in stride. "It's short for Maximus, actually."

I smile, but it feels forced. Emily happily chats him up, but my eyes drift across the club, still unsettled. Who is that dark presence lurking?

Sensing he's losing me, Max touches my arm lightly. "So Danica, what brings you out tonight?"

I meet his pleasant gaze. Get it together, I tell myself. Just a regular guy. No need to be paranoid.

"Just blowing off some steam with my friend," I reply, willing myself to sound upbeat.

"I hear that!" Max says amiably. "Well, I'd love to buy you a drink if you change your mind." He lingers, hopeful.

I know I'm being unfair by letting my odd nerves ruin his night. With an effort, I smile more genuinely. "Sure, I'll take that drink now. Whiskey neat, please."

Max's face lights up. As he flags the bartender, I try to focus on him and not my irrational fears. I came here to have fun. What's the worst that could happen?

Max insists his friends join us. I'm too dazzled to object. We squeeze into a booth, and he introduces Samuel and Dakota.

"Pleasure," Samuel says smoothly as we shake hands. Dakota ogles Emily openly. Their relaxed vibe seems genuine, but something about them puts me on edge.

I try ignoring my doubts, determined to have fun. Throwing myself into lively banter, I push away the niggling voice urging caution. I'm being paranoid—it's time to cut loose!

But unseen eyes bore into me, sending a chill down my spine. I quickly scan the crowds but find nothing.

Max slides in close at the crowded booth, his thigh pressed to mine. I try ignoring my unease and chat brightly with him and his friends. But each time I sip my drink, nausea swirls in my gut.

Max's hand creeps onto my leg under the table. I shift away and pretend not to notice, laughing louder at Samuel's lame joke. But Max grows bolder, and his hand slithers up my inner thigh.

"So sexy," he murmurs in my ear. "I can't wait to have you alone." His hot breath makes my skin crawl.

I firmly remove his groping hand. "Keep dreaming, buddy." My sharp tone only seems to excite him.

"Don't play hard to get, sexy," he goads. "I know you want it." His roving eyes undress me shamelessly.

Acidic bile rises in my throat. I need to shut this down now. But as I open my mouth to tear into this creep, the room starts spinning. Sudden dizziness washes over me. Strange—I usually have a high tolerance. But my head spins, my limbs leaden. Escape seems impossible as I weakly call Emily's name.

Max seizes the chance to pull me tighter to him. "Feeling alright?" He grins wolfishly as my head lolls. Emily seems equally out of it next to Dakota.

"Don't touch me—" I try to snarl, but I can barely form words. The world fades in and out. I am helpless against Max's roving hands.

Through the haze, he lifts and tugs me along. My leaden limbs won't cooperate. I want to scream, to rage against this violation, but only a feeble moan emerges. This can't be happening. I have to fight! But my body fails me, leaving only frantic, unvoiced protests.

Max's grinning face blurs above me. "Let's have some real fun now." He guides me toward the exit, his grip viselike on my waist. I have never felt more trapped and terrified.

I should be throwing a fit, but all my energy has been completely zapped. My body is limp, and words are failing me; the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a quiet “Noo…”

I sink into a pit of despair as it dawns on me that Max has somehow managed to maneuver me into the back seat of his car. I swing my fists blindly, and there’s a delicious crunch as I connect with Max’s face.

He grunts in pain and calls me a “Fucking cunt.”

But I know there is no time to lose. Summoning my strength, I push open the other door and stagger out on jelly-like legs.

The flickering neon lights of the club beckon me like a beacon as I stumble toward them, only to hear Max’s voice echoing behind me, “Get back here, you fucking slut!”

My heart hammers within my chest as I painfully careen into an alleyway, searching for cover. I tumble onto the ground, feeling the sting of gravel shred my bare knees.

Max thunders up to me and snatches me off the ground. His rancid breath gags me as he screams, “You fucking bitch I was gonna go easy on you, but you had to piss me off!”

My head spins from a lack of oxygen, and my heart hammers in my chest; I can’t even move. He flips me around like a discarded doll, yanking my dress so violently it rips at the seams.