“You’re out of your fucking mind! I didn’t roofie anyone!”
Joshua ignored him. He hissed in a deep breath, gathered his strength, and delivered a one-two punch that landed with devastating force. The first punch connected squarely with the man's chin, stunning him. Before he could react, Joshua’s second punch collided with his jawbone, sending him sprawling to the floor, where he lay, dazed and grappling with the fading threads of consciousness.
“Get up!” Joshua screamed, hovering over him, fists still clenched. “Get up, you fucker! I’m not done with you!”
“Josh! Wait!” David grabbed his arm and eased him away from where the downed man lay. “I brought security. Let them handle it.”
One of the officers spun Joshua around. “Hold it right there!”
Joshua pointed to the perpetrator. “He drugged my husband’s drink! I have two witnesses who saw him do it!”
A second security officer dragged the man to his feet and began searching his pockets while the officer questioning Joshua left him and strode to the suspect, placing him in handcuffs.
“Hey!” the man protested. He tried to jerk away, but the officers held him fast as they secured his wrists. “Let me go! I have rights!”
“Not anymore, you don’t!”
The security officer held out his hand so Joshua could see the items he had removed from the man’s pockets. In the center of his palm rested several vials filled with clear liquid.
“What are you going to do with him?” David asked, still gripping Joshua’s arm.
“He’ll be in the brig while we wait for local law enforcement to arrive,” the officer told David as he placed the vials into a clear plastic bag. “They’ll remove him from the ship.” He glanced up at Joshua. “And he won’t be allowed back on.” He took the prisoner’s arm and moved him toward the exit while the second officer approached Joshua.
“The cops will probably want to talk to you and your husband.” He looked around the busy bar. “Where is he?”
Joshua wheeled and trotted back to their table, where Nate bent over Colin. “How is he?” Joshua asked as he knelt at Colin’s feet.
“Still a bit groggy, but OK, I think.”
“What happened?” Colin asked, his words slurred. “Are you OK?”
Joshua grinned up at him, shaking his right hand. “Well, my hand hurts a little from colliding with that fucker’s jawbone, but other than that… I’m fine.”
Colin laughed out loud and bent to kiss him. “Did you get into trouble? Nate wouldn’t let me follow you.”
“The only one who got into trouble was the asshole who drugged you.”
Colin grabbed Joshua’s hand in his and kissed his knuckles. “Absolutelybadass!”
The security officer placed a hand on Colin’s shoulder. “Sir, are you able to walk? We need to get you to the infirmary.” He urged Colin to his feet, one hand firm under his elbow.
Joshua took Colin’s other arm and drew it around his shoulders. “Where are we going?” Colin muttered, then sagged, nearly collapsing as the two men tightened their grip. “Damn! Dizzy!”
“Colin?” Alarmed, Joshua glanced at the officer.
“Yeah, we need to get him to the infirmary.” He grimaced and peered at Colin as if assessing his condition. “Maybe I should call for a wheelchair.”
“No fucking way!” Colin insisted, jerking himself erect. “No damned wheelchair. I can walk.” He drew in a deep breath. “Just hang onto me, baby,” he told Joshua.
“Colin, maybe we should?—”
“No damned wheelchair!”
He draped his arm around Joshua’s shoulders, and, supported by his husband and the security officer, with David and Nate hovering nearby, they made their way to the ship’s infirmary, where the doctor was waiting. While Joshua and David helped Colin lie down on the examination table, the officer drew one of the vials from his pocket and handed it to the doctor, who nodded. “Rohypnol,” he muttered.
Colin hissed out a sound through clenched teeth. “Goddamn date-rape drug! That fucker!” He glanced up at Joshua, who was hovering over him, clutching his hand, white-faced with anger and fear. “Baby, it’s fine. Roofies are just a glorified sedative. It’ll wear off.”
Joshua nodded, still clutching Colin’s hand.
