Page 59 of The Billionaire Love Match

Casey stared at him coolly. “I just like Diet Coke.

“Sure,” he said, voice slurring a bit. Casey glanced back at the bodyguard, who stood unmoving as he had the entire time.

“How about a dance?” Lucas asked, holding out his hand. It flopped on the bar between them.

“No.”

“For old times’ sake. Aw, come on.”

“Lucas, I said no.”

“You’ve never said no before,” he said, leering.

“I said no plenty of times. And I’m saying no now.”

“You’re no fun. I thought you might be more fun now. But you’re not.”

“I’m going to the bathroom,” she said. “Maybe don’t have any more whiskey while I’m gone.”

“I own you,” he said. “Not the other way around.”

“Whatever, Lucas,” she called over her shoulder, walking away.

She stood in the tiny bathroom again, leaning her head against the mirror, wondering how long she could hide in here before the producers made her come out.

His words didn’t sting. She could see his game, so clearly, even if she hadn’t in their brief relationship.

Was she that blind to character flaws? She’d seen him as annoying, clingy and protective. Not menacing, as she saw him now. Out of control. Emotionally and physically abusive.

If she misjudged this so badly, how could she trust her instincts about Colt, whom she’d known for less time?

She needed to go back out. It had to be almost time. She unlocked the door, but as soon as she pulled it open a crack, it flew open and Lucas barreled in. He grabbed her by the front of her dress, yanking her so close she could almost taste the whiskey on his breath. His teeth were bared and as he grabbed her now with both hands, kicking the door closed with his heel. She tried to scream but could not make a sound.

He tossed her body against the wall and pinned her there, pushing her into the wall by her chest, hands inching toward her throat.

Someone pounded on the door and Lucas didn’t seem to even register the sounds.

“You don’t get to treat me like this,” he said. “You’re mine. No one else’s. Do you understand?”

Pounding on the door more insistent now.

Help, she thought, but the word would not come out.

Casey pinched her eyes closed and he shook her harder, slamming her head against the wall. “I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

“I understand,” she whispered, and at that moment the door splintered open as the bodyguard’s huge shape busted through.

“Hey—” Lucas started, but the bodyguard had already pulled him off Casey with a meaty hand. He pressed Lucas to the opposite wall, pinning him there with one hand.

“You okay, Casey?”

“I think so,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

“Go on out,” he said. “The cops are on the way.”

Lucas struggled within his grip. “You called the—”

Before Lucas could finish that statement, the bodyguard had landed a hard cross with his free hand. Casey’s legs were shaking but she held onto the wall and grabbed the doorframe, splintered though it was, and made her way through the door.

Of course the cameras were in the hallway. She kept her head down, trying to make her way past them, shielding her face from the lights.

A hand took her by the arm. Mark the intern led her to a booth just as the cops made their way in. An ambulance flashed outside.

“Casey, we’re so sorry,” he said. “That was...insane.”

She nodded, still not trusting the voice that had betrayed her when she needed it most.

Two cops ran off to the bathroom where she could hear the sound of Lucas shouting and a scuffle. Another cop knelt down in front of her. “Miss, we’d like to get you checked out then take your statement. First, though, do you want to press charges?”

She found her voice and it was strong and clear. “Yes. Absolutely I want to press charges.”

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