Vicious by Olivia Rivard Page B

head.
    “You mean with us? What does it look like?”
    There was that nonchalant tone again. I staggered a little, caught her shoulder and tried to talk again.
    “What are you? What is she? What’s going on?”
    I started to fall backwards, but she caught me effortlessly and pulled me back to my feet. She began to drag me towards the back door of the bar as though I weighed the same as a small child.
    “Easy there. She took more from you than I thought. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
    “What?”
    My head was starting to spin again, and by the time we reached the door, she was practically carrying me. She unlocked the door, opened it and carried me inside after she had checked to make sure that no bar staff was in sight.
    We found a decent-sized employee bathroom just down the dark hallway, and she plopped me down on the dirty floor. With a quick click, I heard her lock the door behind us. Even the terrible fluorescent lights couldn’t take anything away from her beauty, and I stared at her, dizzy and confused as she examined a few red spots on her face where Lea’s fist had made contact.
    “Does it hurt?” I muttered.
    “Not really, and these will be gone by the time we leave here. A little make up will cover it for now, but you, dear Grant, need some help.”
    My gaze wandered up to meet hers as I held my hand to my neck. It seemed like my mouth might be hanging open, but I couldn’t be sure. I was certain I would pass out at any moment.
    “No, no, no. Come on now, I need you to stay awake for me a little longer.”
    She squatted down in front of me and propped me up against the bathroom wall. She took some wetted paper towels and held them against my neck. They felt cool, and the sensation woke me up a little. I looked at her as she used some more wet paper towels to clean the blood off of my hands and neck.
    “Are you feeling a little better now?”
    “Yes. Are you going to kill me?”
    Anna stopped what she was doing to look me in the eyes. I was woozy, and I knew the question sounded strange, but it was a strange evening. I figured I was allowed a few crazy questions.
    “I’m not going to kill you.”
    “Who was that?”
    “That was Lea.”
    “What is happening? Why did she attack me?”
    “That is my fault and just bad timing on your part. I was following her because I needed to talk to her, but I knew that I couldn’t confront her in a crowd. I was watching her from afar, trying to think how I could get her alone, when you came up to me. I tried to leave when you turned around so that she might not see you, but it was too late. She saw you, and I knew what she planned to do, so I followed you two outside. I just wish I had gotten there sooner.”
    “So…I was your…bait?”
    “You were my unintentional bait. I didn’t mean for this to happen. She saw you talking to me and just couldn’t stand it.”
    “Why?”
    “That’s a story for another time. Right now, we need to get you somewhere safe and away from here. I assume you are here with those guys?”
    “Guys?”
    “The dumb drunk ones with the tall leader?”
    The thought of Eric and the guys flashed into my brain for the first time since I had followed Lea out into the alley. They were probably wondering what had happened to me. I suddenly hoped they were too drunk to remember they had a friend named Grant at all.
    “Uh, yes. What do I do about them?”
    “That’s easy. Hand me your phone and bring up one of their phone numbers.”
    I did as I was told, too weak to do otherwise, and she began writing a text to Eric on my behalf.
    Don’t wait up. Going back with blond to her hotel room. Tell you all about it tomorrow.
    It was full proof. I had to give her that. No way would the guys try to interfere after reading that message. A man never denied another man a night with a hot girl. She pressed the send button, and I wondered if that text had just sealed my doom.
    “Okay, hold still while I get some more paper towels.”
    I sat there