NOT AGAIN

I crept around the corner and into the small alcove and almost lost my two bites of salmon. Graham had his tongue so far down Missy’s throat he could probably taste that roll she’d snagged from me moments ago. Her back was mashed up against the wall and his whole body was flattened against her even as he tried to wiggle his hands between their chests to get a feel.

Okay, ew. I had to look away. This wasn’t right. But I couldn’t seem to make myself move. It was like watching a truly horrible American Idol audition. You felt for the poor sap crooning away, so off-key he could shatter glass; you felt for the judges as they tried in vain to stop cringing; the whole thing made you feel queasy inside, but for some sadistic reason you had to see it through to the bitter end.

Missy turned her face, smearing her lipstick across her cheek, and started to open her eyes. A sudden surge of panic hit me hard, and I was about to turn away before she could accuse me of being a creeper, but I was too late. She looked right at me, blinked, and then I swear she started to smile.

I turned, my heel catching on the ornate hallway rug, and stumbled around the corner. At that moment, someone’s gloved hand came down over my mouth and a strong arm locked around my waist. My heart hurtled into my throat and I tried to scream, but the fingers were clamped down too tightly against my lips as I was pulled roughly backward. I flailed and kicked and writhed, but nothing worked. My good arm flung out as my attacker dragged me toward the end of the hallway and for a brief, desperate second I was able to clasp the corner between the alcove and the hall, but with one jerk the guy freed my grip and we were all alone.

We were headed toward a back exit. A door that I knew led to the employee parking lot, which would be all but deserted, what with everyone working the banquet. My eyes filled with hot, angry, frantic tears.

This was not going to happen to me. Not again. Not without a fight. I whacked at my attacker with my cast as hard as I could and felt his grip give the tiniest bit. At that moment, Josh, Trey, and Gage came running into the hall. My eyes widened with hope as Josh turned and saw us.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing?”

The guys sprinted toward me and my attacker let go, dropping me on my ass in the center of the hall. He turned and fled out the back door. Gage and Trey went gunning right past me and gave chase. Josh ran over and fell to his knees in front of me.

“Are you all right?” he asked, running his hand over my forehead and into my hair. “Who the hell was that?”

“You didn’t see his face?” I gasped, clinging to my broken arm, which radiated sharp pains up into my shoulder and down into my fingertips.

Josh shook his head. “He was wearing a ski mask.”

“Oh my God.” I leaned into Josh’s chest, my breath coming short and ragged as wave after wave of terror crashed over me. “I thought it was over. Paige is in jail . . . I thought . . . I thought I was safe.”

“I know.” Josh ran his hand over my hair again and again and kissed the top of my head. “I know. It’s okay. We got here in time. Everything’s gonna be okay.”

Suddenly Gage and Trey reappeared at the back door. They were out of breath and soaking wet. Apparently the skies, which had been threatening since that afternoon, had finally opened up. Gage doubled over as he clung to the door handle and I saw lightning flash through the sky behind him. He finally straightened up and let the door slam.

“Anything?” Josh asked.

“He took off in a black Acura,” Trey said as he fought for breath. He ran his hand over his close-shaven head, sloughing off the rain. “I tried to get the plates, but I only saw the first two letters.”

“Well, at least that’s something,” Josh said. He tipped my face up with his finger beneath my chin. “We should go to the police.”

I shook my head, tears streaming from the corners of my eyes. I felt like an idiot for going off on my own. For thinking this was over just because Paige was locked up. For not listening to MT. “I just want to go home.”

“But we have to report this,” Josh told me.

“So let them come to me for once,” I said, bracing my hand against the wall and struggling to my feet. All three of the guys—even Gage—made a move to help me, but I managed to do it myself. “Right now all I want to do is lock myself up in my room. And until someone figures out what the hell is going on around here, I’m not coming out.”