Chapter 41
ZOE
I was starving but I knew better than to get my hopes up about the quality of food we’d be served tonight. Club food was routinely terrible. Watery gravy, overcooked dry roast meat, and cold vegetables, so when the plate was put down in front of me I’ll admit I was pleasantly surprised. I received a hunk of steak smothered in a thick mushroom sauce with steamed carrots and asparagus. With alternate service, my mouth watered when the plate was put in front of Spencer. I knew I wanted his meal instead; a roasted chicken breast with sweet potato mash and steamed green beans.
“Hey Spencer…” I cooed sweetly.
“Oh-oh. I know that tone.” Derek laughed as he took a huge bite of his steak.
“What’s up, Pippi?”
“What’s the chance you’d want to give me the chicken?”
“You want my chicken?”
Fluttering my eyelids dramatically, I looked up at Spencer. “Please.”
Mischief was written all over his face. Beside him, Derek chuckled deeply, nudging him in the ribs. “What’s in it for me?”
Two could play at this game. Leaning over, I whispered in his ear before sitting and watching with amusement as he turned beet red. Without another word, he switched our plates, shook his head, and cut into the steak.
Turning my attention to the chicken in front of me, I cut off a sliver and popped it in my mouth. It was perfect. Tender and moist. It was delicious. So much so that I didn’t know where the moan came from that fell from my lips.
“That brings back memories,” a sickening whiskey-drenched voice breathed into my face.
There was something sinister and familiar about the voice. And the stench.
Too afraid to move or look over my shoulder, I dropped my knife and fork to the plate with a clatter. With shaky fingers I reached out for my water glass and took a long swallow.
“Shit, Zoe, you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Derek’s voice echoed in my head but his words didn’t break through the haze.
In that moment I didn’t know what was wrong with me. My whole body was tingling and every hair was standing on end. Even the smell of the chicken in front of me made me nauseous. Something was not okay. I was not okay.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Spencer spin in his chair and address the drunken intruder. “Kane, you’re smashed. Again. Get out of here and sober up,” he said sadly, nudging his brother away before turning back to me. “Zoe, you okay? You’re scaring me.”
I was beyond help. I could feel every nerve ending standing on end. I was sweating profusely. Grabbing at the hem of my dress, I tried to pull it down as far as I could. I didn’t want even an inch of skin exposed.
“Fuck, Zoe! Talk to me. Please. What’s wrong?” I could hear Spencer’s voice but it sounded muffled. Everything did. “Derek, help me.”
When someone’s hands landed on my forearm, I couldn’t contain the sound that burst forth. I screamed bloody murder.
A deep, maniacal laugh boomed from behind me and I knew. I’d heard it before. I knew exactly where I’d heard it.
“It’s him,” I said. In my head it sounded like I’d screamed the words.
The snicker came again. “She didn’t scream like that when it was my hands on her, big brother!”
