Page 73 of Falling Too Late

I could hear the guy’s curses as I walked away.

Mario looked up as I approached him, his expression lifting and falling when he spotted the red drink. “You switching it up on me?”

I got up in his personal space, gesturing for him to take our two drinks from my hand.

“Don’t look, but do you see that greasy guy up at the bar? Probably still talking to Barry and glaring at me?”

Mario quickly caught my drift and brought his drink to his lips, only looking to the bar with his eyes. From this angle toanyone else, Mario and I probably look like we were a couple having an intimate conversation.

“Mhm.”

“I think he roofied this drink.” I brought it up between us, turning and tipping my head back so the guy would think I was drinking it. “See the bubbles coming up from the bottom, and that white film?”

“I see it.” Mario sets his and my drink down on the table by us. “You ready?”

I nodded.

He started patting his pockets like he forgot something. He walked around me, and started walking backwards, and from here, I knew the drill.

“Where are you going, babe?” I said, louder than necessary.

“Forgot something out in the truck.” He winked at me. “Be right back.”

I turned my back to him and the bar, picking up my whiskey and taking a long drink. I went through the motions of re-racking the balls, making sure to sway and shake my head, gradually getting worse. I picked the red drink back up, turning toward the bar, my body angled to the door like I was watching for Mario to come back. I faked taking a drink, letting it spill down my front.

“Fuck.” I set the drink down on the table, wiping the spilled liquid off my chest before heading toward the bathrooms, making sure to sway and catch myself on the wall.

In the bathroom, I stood at the sink, turning it on, waiting for the door to open.

The fucker would follow. He thought he was a predator and I was his prey.

On cue, the door slowly opened, and I did my part, playing like the drugs were kicking in.

“Are you okay? His stench rolled into the small space. I did my best to not wince.

“Hmm?”

“Oh, let me help you.” He took the paper towel I’d wet,tossing it to the side before guiding me out the bathroom door. Turning right, he ushered me out the back exit. I didn’t make it easy for him, dragging my feet and forcing him to support my weight.

I could tell that he’d done this before. The thought of other girls going through this made my stomach drop.

He started steering me toward a truck.

“Let her go! Put your hands behind your head!” Mario’s voice boomed out. The guy’s grip on my wrist tightened and I felt something press into my back.

“You fucking bitch,” he spit out, realizing I’d stood to my full five-foot-four height, no longer dragging my feet.

“Better let me go.” He pushed whatever was in his hand farther into my back.

Police cars started to roll into the parking lot, several coming up behind the building. Lights were flashing, and now a whole scene had been made.

“I’ll fucking shoot her!” he yelled. “I’ll do it!”

“Stand down!” Mario raised his gun; the officers surrounding us did the same.

I took a deep breath, centering myself before moving. I grabbed his wrist, twisting it. Something dropped in the gravel, and I kept twisting till I was at an angle to sweep his feet out from under him, making him land on his ass.

He tried to scramble up, but Mario was already there, kneeling on his back and cuffing him.

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