Page 104 of A Wild Darkness

“Shouldn’t you be off doing the same?” he presses.

I tear at the napkin on the table, replaying the rehearsed responses from earlier. “He wanted the night alone.”

“Oh, no.” He tsks. “Not a good decision on his part.”

“That’s why I came here alone. I wanted to have some sort of fun tonight. Then, as I was coming out of the restroom, I spotted you.”

“Hmm.”

“Fate, maybe?”

Pete’s upper lip quirks. He’s satisfied with my answer. “Fate? Did you say?”

The twenty-one questions need to stop, so I make a bold move and hope for the best. I lean in, slide my hand under the table and onto his upper thigh.

Pete’s eyes lock on mine. “I might be able to give you what you’re looking for tonight.”

With my other hand, I break the clasp on the substance in my pocket. “I knew you could.”

His legs move apart. He grips my hand, which is on his thigh. He holds it in place. “Looking for something?”

My heart is pounding. How the hell am I supposed to get this powder into his drink?

Think, Stevie.

“Maybe,” I say.

With his hand over mine, he slides it between his legs. My fingertips glide across his hardened length. “You’re a beautiful woman, Annabel.”

My muscles stiffen. I want to yank my hand away, but I can’t. He needs to believe I want this.

Sebastian and I talked about slipping the drugs into his drink when he wasn’t looking or if he leaves to go to the restroom, but I don’t have time to wait for that chance. Then an idea forms in my mind—one I’m not proud of.

I slip my hand from between his legs and reach over the table. Hooking it around his neck, I pull him close to me without resistance. Then I lean in, his breath dusting my lips. “Let’s get out of here.”

Pete moves closer, but I don’t pull back, teasing him with the chance of a kiss. While distracted, I spring into action, bringing my free hand up to the table. Pinched between two fingers, I hover over his glass, then trace to the rim with my pinky to make sure I’m positioned correctly before dumping the contents of the bag into his drink.

When Pete’s lips barely graze mine, I jerk my head back. “Let’s go.”

“You got it.” He takes a full gulp of his water.

Thank god.

I cross my arms against my chest, getting cocky. “You might need more hydration for the night we’re about to have.”

Pete shoots me a side-eye, then chugs the rest of it.

I breathe an audible sigh of relief. I fucking did it! Now to get him through the back door.

He stands. “You better give me what you promised.”

A chill moves up my spine. “Let’s head out the back door as if we were never here.”

He throws a couple of bills on the table to cover the cost of his food, then grabs my hand and pulls me through the café. His hand is clammy and feels sick to the touch. His lips barely touched mine, but they ache with disgust like they had made full contact.

Shit, I hope Sebastian and Hayden heard our conversation and are outside waiting.

As soon as Pete opens the metal door, he’s already weak. But suddenly, a shadow comes from the side, and with a loud thud, Pete is knocked to the ground.