Page 4 of Theirs to Ruin

Kage leaned in close. “It’s nothermouth I want.”

My eyes widened. Did he really just say that?

“And she’s not my girlfriend.”

Rallying, I shot back, “Neither am I.”

“We were just leaving anyway,” Billy said as he reached for my arm.

Kage’s planted his hand on Billy’s chest and shoved, making Billy stumble back.

“What the fuck, man?” Billy shouted.

“You’re not going anywhere with her, ” Kage said, his eyes flashing. “I know you slipped her something."

Shock raced through my hazy brain as I tried to comprehend what Kage was saying. Slipped me something? Had Billy roofied me? Was that why everything felt so weird?

I didn’t do drugs.

Ever.

“Oh, god,” I whispered.

Memories of finding my mother dead from a drug overdose flooded my head. Anger quickly overshadowed my fear. I stood and lunged for Billy but only managed to move one wobbly step. My limbs felt like jelly and my head was a mess. I couldn’t think straight, let alone walk.

“You’re insane,” Billy said. He reached for me again, but Kage shoved him back even harder.

Brooke tugged at Kage’s arm. "Let’s go," she whined. "Leave it alone. I’m sure Camille can handle herself."

“Get back, Brooke,” he ground out just as Billy took a swing. Kage caught Billy’s fist in one hand, wrapped his other hand around Billy’s throat, then pushed forward until he had Billy pinned against the bar.

Someone screamed. I searched frantically for the bartender, but he’d disappeared.

A crowd gathered. Flashes went off. I thought I heard the wail of sirens and saw flashing lights, but I couldn’t be sure. Was I hallucinating? How had the police known to come and so soon? I reached out to steady myself on the table, unable to rip my eyes off Kage. He squeezed Billy’s throat so hard that Billy turned blue and frantically clawed at Kage’s arm. All the rumors about Kage having killed in cold blood ripped through my mind.

He was killing Billy.

Forme.

“Kage,” I cried out. “Stop it!” But my words came out soft and shaky. I sucked in a breath, my mouth dry like it was full of cotton candy. I was about to scream out again when the bar door opened and a cop stormed in.

“O’Hare!” the officer shouted at Kage as he strode toward us. “Let him go.”

Kage ignored him. “You will never drug a girl’s drink again. Ask me how I know.” Billy’s eyes bulged as Kage increased the pressure on his throat. “Fucking ask me!”

“Kage,” I called, my voice stronger this time. “S-stop. Please!”

Kage stiffened, then turned and looked at me with rage-filled eyes. Slowly, his expression relaxed, and he took a deep breath. He eased off Billy, shoved him toward the cop, then strode over to me. He put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

Instinctively, I leaned into him.

"He roofied Camille,” Kage told the cop, pointing to my drink. “I saw him do it.”

“I did not!” Billy protested, his voice raspy in between him sucking in breaths. He held his hand protectively over his throat. “That crazy fucker tried to kill me.”

The officer pulled a thin strip from a pouch and dipped it into my glass. It didn't take long for the strip to change color. The officer shot Billy a disgusted look.

“I’m Officer Rick Davis. Crimsonvale PD. Empty your pockets,” he ordered.

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