Page 2 of Used By the Merciless Bratva
“Whatever,” Hannah remarked, then broke into a grin. “I really can’t wait!” She added, “A solo date under a cabana is the first item on my bucket list.”
“Of course, you have a list,” I uttered, chuckling.
“Speaking of dates, Steph, my neighbor, was assaulted by her date yesterday,” Jasmine revealed.
“What?!” Hannah exclaimed, her pupils dilating.
“Like a date rape?” I questioned.
“Thankfully not,” Jasmine answered. “The guy insisted on walking her home. She said she had to give in because he was being forceful; apparently, he had gotten drunk. The bastard kept touching her inappropriately at every chance he got as they passed every dark street. She had to fake a call when she got close to the apartment building to get him off her back. She was so scared when she eventually came in. She could already see herself getting raped.”
“She must have been fucking hysterical. Is she okay now, though?” I asked.
“Hm, she’s better.”
“She should file a restraining order. He might come back, since he knows her house,” Hannah pointed out.
“Yeah, her brother mentioned that. I just hope bastards like that get all the punishment they deserve,” Jasmine sighed.
“Not to allocate blame or anything, but it could have been avoided if she had left him at the bar when he started sounding threatening or forceful,” Hannah dropped, looking from me to Jasmine with a small shrug.
“Well, you just did,” I remarked with a dry chuckle. “But you’re not wrong. Thing is, some people are kinda drawn to dark sides, you know, a little hint of danger.”
What I didn’t mention was that I fell into the category I just cited.
“Following that attraction might send one to an early grave; it’s not something you should explore with someone you don’t know or trust. Imagine she couldn’t escape him or he even forced himself on her against the wall in a dark alley,” Hannah explained.
“True,” Jasmine breathed, emptying her plate.
***
“Okay…on a scale of one to ten?” Hannah pressed, glancing not-so-subtly at the guy two seats away from us at the bar table.
“He’s okay…a seven, I guess,” I drawled, lifting my glass to my lips.
“Maybe an eight. His lips are so perfect,” she practically crooned.
We had been at the bar for close to an hour, and Jasmine was too interested in dancing to join us for another round of drinks.
“Looks like he’s heading over,” I informed Hannah before whisper-yelling, “don’t look!”
I couldn’t help but smile at how hard it was for her to hold in her excitement.
“Hello, ladies,” the guy’s smooth voice cut through the loud music.
“Hi,” I replied for both of us, since Hannah was busy admiring him.
“Hannah, gotta use the restroom,” I whispered, rising to my feet.
With a small smile, I gave the guy a polite nod as I excused myself. I knew without any iota of doubt that she wouldn’t be in the same seat when I got back.
I thought of Max, the guy I went on two dates with a few weeks after ending things with James. When he literally listed delicacies his partner ‘must’ be able to make and laughed when I mentioned my love for animated movies, I knew he was everything I didn’t want in a man.
My phone vibrated in my purse as I slipped out of the restroom cubicle.
Unlocking the screen, I saw that it wasn’t a text. It was an email.
The ‘Notice’ subject jumped out at me before my eyes caught the sender’s email address.
