Chapter Twenty-two
Lance waited for Lisa; a ridiculous level of shyness overcoming his usual relaxed boldness when around such a classy girl. Finding himself stressed, he began to fidget after she’d been gone for a few minutes. Being intimidated by any female wasn’t a situation he’d ever had to deal with. Not being the best looker in any room by a long shot, yet women still seemed to fall for his compelling charisma.
His buddy at college had put it down to his not giving a damn if the girls liked him or not. His great body helped but it was his arrogance that attracted them… in droves.
Standing to stretch, he moved over to the old jukebox by the window and was pushed abruptly when one of the loudmouths sitting at the other end of the bar went to leave.
He could have sworn he’d seen a few of these same dudes go into Kane’s house earlier, but it had been dark and they’d arrived as a group, all bunched together. Wait, right, that messy-haired lurching drunk had been there.
Grinning, no humor at all in his expression, he shook his head as the idiot knocked over a sign, fell against a chair, and then staggered to his feet. Just as he went to turn away, another one from the same table pushed rudely past him and he held his cool, knowing that he couldn’t get into it with the bastards right now. He had to wait for Lisa, and he sure as shit didn’t want her to find him slugging it out with some sloppy drunks.
He stepped closer to see if she was coming out of the hallway that led to the restrooms but only emptiness filled the darkness.
Suddenly, a noise drew him back to the window and his gaze sought a movement further down. He watched the first dude pushing at someone roughly. By then the second man had joined them and seemed to be trying to assist his buddy with getting a third person into the car. He shook his head in disgust. Probably helping another of their pissed buddies who’d passed out. Glued to the window, his view enhanced by the overhead lighting of the parking lot, he kept watching.
A shock hit him hard when that person turned and he could see Lisa’s face, her mouth open to scream and a man’s hand grabbing roughly, hitting out, punching, and then jumping in with her to the back seat behind the driver.
By the time Lance had gotten out the door and ran to stop the car, they had pulled out of the parking lot and only the one red taillight could be seen in the darkness.
Stomach aching, worry clawing at his guts, his head filled with so many dark images he couldn’t see straight, he spun around and realized he had nothing. No car, no way to follow. Jesus H. Christ. He’d just watched someone rough up his boss’s daughter forcing her into a car, drive off with her, and there was no way he could help.
Banging his knees with his fists, he swore something terrible. Then he grabbed his phone and answered the text messages that he’d been ignoring earlier.
His fingers flew over the keys as he typed, “There’s been a situation here at the bar around the corner from your place. Some crazies took off with Lisa. I’ll meet you at your house.”