Date Me

The guy in the suit turns to me. "What did he say to you and did he threaten the Senator's son directly?"

"He told me he had a gun and that if I didn't dance with him he'd start shooting."

"But he never mentioned his name?"

I shake my head. What is going on here? Do they think Vincent was after Dallas? “No, he didn’t say anything about Dallas. He only mentioned Damian, the guy you put in the other truck. He’s my friend. That’s why we were at the club in the first place. To hear him sing.”

Another black-suited guy stands in front of us. “We’d still like to question him. I have a man in the club. Can you give us a physical description of the assailant?”

“He was white, dark haired, about six-two, and was wearing a dark jacket,” Dallas replies.

“That’s half the people at the club.”

I could give them his name and a much better physical description, but I’m a little confused right now, because I think they think he was going to shoot Dallas, not me and Damian.

“Look, guys,” Dallas says to the suits as he takes a calming breath. “I’m sorry for the hassle. It's the first time I've ever been in a situation like this and I panicked."

"Well, you're safe. That's all that matters,” the suit says.

The other guy in the suit, who has been on his phone the whole time we've been talking, raises his head. “The senator will be calling you shortly. We've kept him abreast of the situation and we'll make sure you get safely back to school. You're free to retire, Miss Monroe."

I'm pretty sure I'm being dismissed.

"My friend, Damian, where did you take him?"

"We took him to where you were staying. He was not followed and is secure. We’ll get your belongings brought here.”

"Thank you,” I say, because I can’t come up with anything else.

I'm led to the door of a large bedroom. I walk in and collapse on the bed.

A few minutes later, Dallas and Riley walk in. Dallas grabs the bottle of champagne that was chilling in the corner. Probably waiting for the senator’s arrival.

He pops it and pours us each a glass.

"So now that we're safe, I need to apologize to you," Dallas says as he climbs on the bed with me.

"Why would you apologize? You helped me.”

"Because I've told you more than once not to lie to me, but I told you a lie."

"You did?"

He sighs and runs his hand through his short blond hair. "Yeah."

"What did you lie about?"

"I told you I got caught smoking weed and that I was an embarrassment to my dad."

"Yeah, I kinda thought your dad sounded like a dick."

"He's not. My dad is awesome."

"So why did you lie?"

Riley has been pacing the floor. "You lied too, Keatyn. About why you're here."

I lower my head. "Yeah."

"We'll talk about you next," Dallas says. "I need to get this off my chest."

He leans back on the pillows. I pull my feet under my legs and snuggle up next to him.

Riley turns from the window and leaps across the room and onto the bed. "How ’bout we all get naked and do something worth lying about?"

Dallas and I laugh.

Riley pulls me back into a hug. "You seem like you're doing better. Are you?"

I kiss his arm and nod.

Dallas says, "Okay, so I'm the youngest of five kids. I was the oops baby. I’m the same age as most of my brothers’ and sisters’ kids. They are all grown, married, and spread across the country." He pauses and sighs. "So, my dad was threatened by this extremist group. They specifically threatened our family. My mom and me. They were going to make me leave my normal school and go live in Washington with them, but I didn't want that." He rolls his eyes. “I threw a bit of a fit. So the drug thing was a lie. Dad let it be publicized. Said he was sending me to military school. That drugs are killing our youth, blah, blah, blah, and I went to Eastbrooke. To stay safe."

"I keep dangerous company," Riley says with a laugh. Then he looks at me seriously. "So that guy at the club. Is he the guy you told me about? Your mom's ex?"

"Um, yeah. He . . ." I don't know what to say. I want to tell them both the truth so badly. But I can't. Just yesterday, I was going to tell Dawson everything. I can't fully trust anyone. And even though I do trust these boys, I also know they are human. They could accidentally say something about Abby being my mom. If that happened, the whole school would find out in seconds. And I can't risk it.

My phone rings, startling me.

Shit. It's Garrett.

"I need to answer this," I say to the boys.

I try to act nonchalant. "Hey, what's up?"

"Keatyn."

"Yes?"

"Where the fuck are you and why aren’t you wearing your necklace?”

“I'm out of town, but I think you already know that."

"Yes, I know that you’re in Miami. I know that you went to see Damian. I know that you had a run in with Vincent. I know that you tackled Damian on stage and were whisked into black Suburbans by what might have been the Secret Service."

“That about covers it. I’m fine.”

"I need to know what he said to you. Damian has already filled me in on the rest."

"I can't now,” I say and hang up.

I get tears in my eyes. What could have happened to me is sinking in.

I'm go

I look at Riley. He’s helped me so much. I’m not going to have another meltdown in front of him.

But it's coming.

"Uh, if you don't mind, I'm go

"That's fine," Dallas says. "My dad is going to be here soon. He’s here in Miami but he’s out on a boat somewhere. They are choppering him in. He’ll want to talk to me alone."

He chugs his champagne then goes back into the living room, shutting the door behind him.

“I’m just going to lie on the bed, drink champagne, and think about how bad-ass that was,” Riley states. “I felt like I was in a spy movie or something.”

I nod, walk into the bathroom, shut the doors, turn on the shower, strip off my clothes, and stand under the warm water.

I let the water fall and start crying.

I look at the tattoo. It’s supposed to remind me of my first love, but now it feels violated and dirty.

I grab a washcloth and try to scrub it off.

I scrub and scrub and scrub.

When it won't come off, I sit on the shower floor, pull my knees up to my chest, drop my head to my knees, and let my emotions rack through me.

I cry about everything.

The way Dawson looked standing there in his closet.

How much I miss Damian.

The things Vincent said to me.

How he probably had Tiny killed.

How he's been following the breadcrumbs.

How he’s not going to stop.

How I know it’s just a matter of time before he shows up at school and gets me for real.

I suddenly realize the water has stopped ru

A towel is thrown across my body as Riley sits down next to me. “You’re not go

"Where's Dallas?"

"His dad is here. He's out with him. And your friend Damian called, so I answered for you. He wanted you to know that he’s fine and that he’s sorry about everything."

I grab Riley’s shoulder, getting his shirt all wet, and cry into it until I have no more tears.

"I'm so glad you came with me, Riley. Otherwise, I’d have been here alone and I don't think I would’ve gotten away."

“What I don’t understand is why he wants to kidnap you. For ransom or something?"