Page 92 of Her Dark Angel

My hand instinctively rubs the beaded bracelet around my wrist. “Well, he’s busy with whatever project he’s currently working on. We don’t get much of a chance to talk as it is, so getting him out of the house to meet you guys will be a tough feat.”

“He sounds like a nice guy,” Matt comments. “At least from what you’ve told us about him.”

“That’s why I want to meet him.” Sadie sucks the last of the liquid in the glass through the straw and smacks her lips. “I hope you tell him about us.”

“Y-yeah, I do. All good things, I promise.”

I smile at the memory of writing my first letter to Travis when my family moved to Los Angeles. It had been my first day of freshman year, and I couldn’t wait to relay everything that happened with Sadie and Matt to my best friend. I wanted Travis to know all the good things happening in my life so he knew I was okay. Given the darkness that had formed deep inside our souls, we found comfort knowing the other was okay and enjoying the small things in life.

Travis had responded with a letter filled with support and excitement for me, as well as good news of his own. He said he couldn’t wait to meet my new friends so he could thank them for making me happy.

I blink back tears forming in the corner of my eyes. Needing to collect myself and gather some air in my lungs, I clap my hands together. “Well, I’m going to order us another round.” I stand from the stool with wobbly legs, but manage to right myself with the help of Matt. “I’ll be back soon.”

Limelight is even more crowded now it’s later in the night and all the party animals are out. I have to fight my way through drunk gropers and couples locking lips on the dance floor before I reach the bar. The two bartenders working are run off their feet as they frantically race around the space making drinks.

Wrapping my arms around my waist, I wait for my turn to place my order. But with how busy they are, I could be waiting a while.

With a sigh, I turn to look over my shoulder at the people dancing in the middle of the room. I can barely make out faces in the crowd because of the dark lighting. Fluoro shirts and jackets glow under the blue light, creating a sea of bright colors as everyone moves to the beat of the music.

As I turn back to the bar, hoping to catch the eye of one of the bartenders, I feel a warm hand at the base of my spine through my black leotard. Sadie told me to wear my sexiest clothes, so I went for a leotard with a little black denim skirt and knee-high black boots. It was one of my only options that didn’t include a sweater or jeans.

“Hey there, pretty little thing. Can I buy you a drink?”

I gaze over my shoulder to see a man a little older than me smiling smugly. His skin is dampened with sweat as if he had just got done busting a move on the dance floor, and the blonde strands of hair hanging over his brown eyes are slicked with sweat too.

I fight the urge to gag at the overwhelming scent of body odor mixing with whatever cheap cologne he sprayed on his skin before leaving his house tonight.

With a forced smile on my lips, I ignore my skin crawling where he’s touching me and shake my head. “I’m good, thanks.”

That response isn’t a good enough answer for him.

“Come on. I can buy you any drink you want.” His hand slides down my back enough to where half of his hand is resting on the top of my ass.

My body freezes at his touch, sending icy waves of dread across my warm skin. My heart is in my throat when the man leans down to whisper in my ear, “I’d be happy to take you home too, if you’re up for it.”

My mind is screaming to get his hands off me, but all I can do is stand motionless as his hand drags lower to rest firmly on the curve of my ass. My heart just about leaps out of my chest when he squeezes roughly, eliciting a strained yelp from my throat.

“Oh, you like that, do you?” The excitement and pleasure in his voice are evident as he continues to invade my space and my body. My stomach knots with nausea. “Well, aren’t you a good girl?”

Blood rushes in my ears as his words repeat painfully in my mind before morphing into a much sinister memory.

Always such a good girl for me, Kinnie. Now, I wanna see how much of a good girl you are for the others.

I open my mouth to scream, but no sound comes out.

Across the bar, I lock eyes with one of the bartenders as they come over to order my drink. I do my best to beg with my eyes for their help to get this fucking guy away from me, but with the loud music and dim lighting, he doesn’t pick up on my pleas for help. He can’t see the man touching me without my consent.

Instead, he moves along to the next waiting person when I don’t speak.

Oh, Kinnie. Don’t you know I love it when you cry? Your tears are so pretty.

If I wasn’t so paralyzed, trapped by the memories of my past and the man standing behind me, tears would be streaming down my face.

The man squeezes my ass again, and a voice sounds from behind us. The deep notes send a shiver racing down my spine.

He’s here.

“If you don’t get your fucking hands off my girl, then you’re going to have a serious problem on your hands. One that ends with you fucking losing them.”

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