When the order is taken and the wine is poured, Trey lifts his glass, clinking it with mine. “To the strongest, bravest, most beautiful woman in the world,” he murmurs, his free hand resting on top of mine.
As our gazes lock, I swear he can see all the way to my soul.
I drink deeply, lost in his gaze, barely noticing his thumb brushing over my hand. A shiver runs over me, almost like a premonition.Your life will never be the same again, it whispers to me.
The waiter appearing with our appetizers interrupts my trance, and I sit back, making room for the plates. We turn to our food, trying some of each other’s, and indulge in small talk as we learn more about each other.
A few times over the course of the meal, I see Trey’s brows furrow, his surreptitious glances around the room. “What is it? What’s wrong?” I ask quietly, worried at the look in his eyes.
“I’m not sure,” he mutters, glancing around again. “All day today I’ve had a niggling feeling that we’re being watched. But I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.”
Dread slides down my spine as I pick up my wine glass, glancing around the room myself. We’re surrounded by other diners, but no one seems to be paying us any attention. “Are we safe? Should we leave?”
Trey shakes his head. “It’s probably nothing, I might just be feeling a little antsy with everything that’s been going on lately. This day is for you, and we’re not leaving unless you want to.”
His reassurance soothes me, and I offer a smile. “Let’s finish our meal, then head back to the hotel.”
“Okay,” he replies, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Handing me the dessert menu, he asks, “Would you like dessert?”
A small laugh escapes as I run my hand over my stomach. “I shouldn’t, not after all that crap I ate at the park today.”
He leans towards me conspiratorially. “Baby, we’ll be working it off when we get back to the room. If you want something, go ahead.”
Chuckling under my breath, I order the Sicilian lemon cheesecake, while Trey gets the chocolate fudge cake and an espresso. My eyes flutter closed and a sinful moan erupts from me at the first bite. Trey’s eyes flare with desire as he watches me lick the fork, and I make sure to make a show of it, knowing he’ll pounce on me as soon as we’re back in our room.
As I finish off the dessert, I notice a man sitting at the bar. He keeps glancing our way, and after Trey’s earlier misgivings, I make note of him, an uneasy feeling running through me. He puts a hand up in a wave, and when I see the person sitting at the table across from me raise a hand in return, I breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe I’m catching a bit of Trey’s wariness.
Standing, I lean over toward him. “I’m just going to run to the ladies’ room, I’ll be back in a minute.”
“Okay,” he replies, looking towards the direction of the restrooms. He lifts his hand towards the waiter, signaling for the check.
The bathroom is as fancy as the restaurant with marble floors and wainscotting on the walls. After I finish my business, I wash my hands and go out the door. Strong hands grab me and pull me down the hallway. For a moment, I think it’s Trey, but this man’s scent is different, and I start to struggle.
“Tr—” My shout is cut off as he clamps a hand over my mouth, the other around my waist. Kicking my heels off, I let him drag me, knowing Trey will see them and come after me. Once he gets me outside, he pushes me against the wall. We’re in a darkened alley, surrounded by dumpsters. The stench is overwhelming, and I struggle against him.
“Now, now, pretty girl,” the man from the bar spits. “I just saved you from that animal you were with. You might like to thank me on those knees.”
I bite down on his hand and he yelps, cursing at me as he pushes me once more into the wall, one hand at my throat and another between my thighs.
“Fuck you!” I snarl at him, fighting to get free.
“I really hope you’re not with him for real.” He licks up my neck, thrusting his pelvis into mine. “Pretty girl like you should be with your own kind. Or are you some kind of race traitor?”
I spit in his face and he roars at me, punching me in the side of the head. It stuns me, and the edges of my vision start to go black.
The man rips my dress open, baring my breasts. “You need a real man, girlie. They don’t know how to please a woman.” He grabs me, squeezing hard, making me cry out in pain. His knee comes between my legs, the hand at my neck slowly suffocating me.
Just as my vision goes dark, the hands release me, and I drop to the litter-covered ground.
Chapter 31
Trey
This day has been nothing short of amazing. Bar the occasional “watched” feeling, it’s been pretty special.
Seeing Rebecca come alive at the theme park was simply magical. She pulled me everywhere, laughing and squealing at each thing she passed. Despite everything, she was able to take the day for what it was, and enjoyed it with an exuberant innocence that delighted me.
Putting cash and a generous tip in the receipt folder, I leave it on the table. Glancing down the hallway towards the restrooms, I frown as I realize that Rebecca should have been back by now. A frisson of dread slides over me, and I hurry towards the door. Pushing it open, I see all the stall doors are open. Where is she? My heart starts racing as fear sets in.
