***
Faith
I wash myhands in the sink, then fix my makeup, cleaning the dark smudges from beneath my eyes and freshening my lipstick. My feet hurt in my shoes. I don’t know how much longer Jason needs to stay, but I’m more than ready to go home.
With a last look in the mirror, I stride out of the powder room and walk right into a wiry male body I recognize immediately.
“Colton.” My mouth goes dry at the sight of him. He’s never looked worse. His hair is stringy and greasy, hanging limply over his face, his eyes are glazed, and his skin tinged yellow.
“You are one hard woman to get alone.”
“How did you find me to begin with?” I ask, eyeing either side of me, hoping someone will come by.
“My friend’s sister works at the police station. Not that it matters. Just that I found you.” He raises a shaky hand and grabs my wrist.
I know immediately he isn’t strong enough to hold me, and I yank my hand away. Instead of being able to run, I teeter on my heels and twist my foot, my ankle wrenching hard.
“You bitch.” He swings his hand, slapping me hard across the face. I’ve never been hit before, and the move dazes me for a precious second, and in that instant, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pocketknife, releasing the blade.
Needing to get someone’s attention, I scream, because even if Colton wasn’t strong and able-bodied, he certainly is deranged and determined.
“Shut up, bitch. You’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass,” he says as he roughly yanks me to him, pulling me up against his thin body, his body odor overpowering.
He raises the knife to my neck. “I just want my money. We’re going somewhere for the night, and first thing tomorrow, you’re going to the bank and giving me what’s mine. Understand?”
Careful not to move and cause him to stab me with the knife, I say, “Yes,” in a deliberately tiny voice.
Although Colton’s blade is small, it is sharp and I already feel it prick my skin. I’m more afraid he’ll hit an artery than I am of him in general. He’s a shaking, pathetic mess of the man he was, but his tremors make him dangerous.
How does he think he’s getting me out of here, I wonder, what with the front of the bar bustling with help and Jason’s family milling around? But I don’t want to freak him out and cause him to react by asking him about that, so I voice the other question on my mind. “How did you get inside?”
“I walked in with a huge party that was on the list.” He speaks like he’s proud of himself. “Then I hid in the back and hoped I could get you alone.” His hand shakes, which makes me nervous.
I wonder when he had his last fix. “Colton—”
“Faith.” Jason calls my name as he steps cautiously into the hallway.
I’m so grateful to see him, my knees almost buckle as I meet his gaze.
“You okay, sweetness?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I swallow, careful not to move.
“If you want her to stay okay, move aside and let us through.” Colton nudges me forward one step. My ankle buckles, and I yelp in pain.
Jason’s gaze narrows, his fury at me being hurt obvious. “It’s crowded out front,” he says through clenched teeth. “Why don’t you take her out the back door.”
Colton shakes his head. “That door’s got an emergency alarm. What do you think, I’m stupid? I checked it out earlier,” he says, tightening his grip.
Jason takes a step forward as he speaks. “That’s okay. Tanner’s going to throw you out the back, aren’t you, Tanner?”
It’s obvious we have company, and Colton clearly realizes the same thing. “Fuck!” he yells, and whirls around to check behind him.
Jason lunges forward, pulling me out of his grasp and into his arms just as Tanner dives for Colton, easily taking him down, Colton’s frail body no match for Tanner’s more muscular frame.
“Jesus Christ.” Jason lifts my face to his, running his hand gently over my cheek. “Does it hurt?”
I shake my head. “Not as much as my ankle. I wrenched it when I tried to get away.” I sit back on my butt and stretch out my leg.
