Page 42 of All for Love

I nodded and returned her grin when she pulled away from me. Josh said something to Ben before he took Ellora’s hand and led her to the exit. Since the show was over, the area in front of the stage was emptying out fast.

There was a steady stream of people heading to the bar and to the other dance floors scattered around the club, but I was intent on joining those who were on their way out. Alone with Ben, I immediately began planning my exit strategy.

“Want to dance?” He didn’t wait for my answer before grabbing my hand and yanking me into him.

His arm snaked around my back and he started making jerky movements that I assumed was him trying to dance to the rhythm of the song. It didn’t work, but I stuck around anyway, figuring that staying for just one more song couldn’t hurt.

I really didn’t know what to make of this guy, and if he was just nervous or socially awkward, I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. On the other hand, I trusted my gut and it seriously didn’t like him.

Once the song had petered out, I pulled away and gave him a tight smile. “I’ve got an early start tomorrow, and I’m exhausted, so I’m just going to call it a night.”

He reached out and grabbed my wrist, locking his fingers around it. He tugged me back to him. “We’re just getting started and it’s Friday night. Where have you got to be so early on a Saturday morning?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve got a thing.” I frowned, moving my free hand to his fingers to pry them off after pulling on my arm didn’t work.

Ben still refused to release me, leaning in to speak into my ear. “I’m going to go get us some drinks. We’ll have one more at least.”

“No, thank you.” I tried taking a step back, but he was surprisingly strong and shockingly aggressive about it.

Those sandy brows inched up when he looked into my eyes, and I saw a darkness I didn’t like. “A nice girl accepts a drink when a man offers, darling.”

Like that settled it, he adjusted his grip on my wrist and dragged me with him to the bar. My gut was revolting now, not just disliking him but in a full panic.

Josh might’ve said he was a nice guy at heart, but he wasn’t just uncomfortable or awkward. He was strong and possibly dangerous, and he’d been guzzling booze since we’d arrived. Not a great combination.

All my spidey senses were tingling, but for a minute, I was stuck on what to do. The club was still full, but not as full as it had been. Ellora and Josh were long gone and Ben had made it clear he wasn’t letting me go.

A groan tore out of me when I realized who that left me with. Kaden, Kody, or my mother. I’d never been a social butterfly. I didn’t have lots of friends and I couldn’t just call on anyone in a situation like this.

Mom was at the Wagner Estate, and it would take her ages to get here. Plus, it was late and she and her husband were probably asleep by now. Kaden and I hadn’t spoken much since he’d found out about me and Kody, and in any event, I didn’t feel like I knew him well enough to bother him with a rescue at this hour.

Which left me with Kody.

Fuck.

At least I knew he lived in the city, which meant he’d be here long before my mother would be. Desperate and too scared to try my luck and make another go of it by myself, I rummaged around in my purse with my free hand. Then I managed to fire off a text to Kody to drop my location.

Ben was making me nervous as hell and I didn’t want to risk making a call or sending a text. It was possible he’d fly off the handle and I really didn’t want that.

This was much better. I just hoped Kody got the hint and actually came after our disagreement earlier. I’d gotten spicy with him after he’d gone douchey on me, and now I needed his help.

Praying that he’d come, I stood at the bar with Ben and asked for a light beer when he refused to get me a water. A sense of foreboding rolled through me and I watched my drink like a hawk when the bartender uncapped it and passed it to Ben.

I doubted he was the type to drug me, but I also hadn’t thought he’d get aggressive, and that was definitely happening. When he passed over the beer, he had a strange smile on his lips and it grew when I brought the bottle to my mouth and pretended to sip.

None of this was okay, and my hopes for getting out of it were all pinned on a stepbrother who hated me. Crap. Maybe I should’ve considered being nicer to him earlier.