Storm Warning - By Kadi Dillon Page 0,5

than she had felt a few minutes ago. “Thanks for the dance and the drink. It was nice to meet you.”

He nodded and smiled again. It made her uneasy, she thought as she made her way over to the bar. He smiled at her like he knew her. Maybe she had had too much to drink.

Just as she slid back into her seat, a hand clamped down painfully on her arm. She whirled around and stared straight into the face of an enraged Vance Johnson.

The look in his eyes sent chills up her spine, but she straightened and tried to make herself look taller.

“Outside,” he said in a completely awful voice, then he released his brutal grip.

Tory lifted her chin slightly and opened her mouth to speak.

“I said outside.”

“Fine.” She stumbled through the crowd of people toward the back door.

What did she have to be ashamed of? She’d only danced with someone. He’d been sitting in that booth for two hours with several different women all over him! She bit down on her fury as she bounded out of the door and stopped in the alley to wait for him. She would end this pathetic excuse of a relationship now.

He came out a moment later and slowly made his way over to her. His white t-shirt ripped across his muscled chest. His bald head that she’d once found sexy now seemed hilarious as it shone in the glow of a street light.

“You needed to speak with me?”

He backed her into the wall, caging her in with his massive arms.

“Did you really come here tonight just to embarrass me? Huh,” he roared. “You think you’ve proved a point by letting that asshole paw all over you?”

She tried to catch her breath—to shout back, but he shook her.

“How do you think that makes me look?”

“How do you think I feel watching you drool all over those bimbos like the dog you are?” she yelled back.

He brought his hand across her face—hard. She staggered and would have fallen, but he grabbed her again. Tears of pain and humility welled up. Vance had never physically hurt her before. He must have had too much to drink, she cried inside. He must be drunk.

“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again.”

“Or what? You’re twice my size, but you still feel threatened enough to hurt me?” she challenged. She brought her knee up as hard as she could and smashed what he was so proud of. On an oath, he released her and fell to his knees. She didn’t think, she ran back through the partially open door and dove into the crowd of people.

Keys, she thought wildly, lunging through the packed dance floor. She had to get them and leave. Where was the hotel again? How long would it take her to get there? What would Vance do if he caught up with her? Those questions were swirling in her mind as she shoved past the people who were in her way.

She stopped abruptly at the bar and tried to catch her breath. “I need my keys.”

“Sorry, you had too much to drink. By law—”

“I need my keys now!”

“Tory.” She turned around quickly to see Adam standing behind her. She pressed her back against the bar, willing herself to disappear. Could this get any worse?

“I need my keys,” she said quietly. “I need my keys now.”

Adam’s face went from anger to shock in an instant. He grabbed her by the arms.

“What the hell happened?”

She shook her head. “I need my keys. Tell him,” she shot her finger toward the confused bartender, “to give me my keys!”

“Hey, I think she went—”

Tory’s gaze flew to the man beside Adam— the man she’d danced with.

“What the hell happened?” Adam demanded again.

She could feel her heart pounding violently in her chest. She looked past her brother’s face and into the crowd of people as they parted—and she saw him. Vance was making his way purposely to the bar. She could feel the blood drain from her face.

“Oh God,” she whispered. “No. No, no.”

“Tory!” Adam gave her a small shake.

“We have to leave,” she told him and suddenly found her strength. She twisted out of his hold and turned to flee—and ran smack into a hard chest.

“What happened, Tory?” the man she danced with demanded.

“I think I know what happened.” Adam said with strained control as Vance walked up to the three of them.

“Adam.” Vance greeted him, then shot a hateful look at Gabe. “We need to talk,” he