Read Scarlett Red: A Billionaire SEAL Story, Part 2 (In the Shadows) for Free Online

have to give him anything.” I grab my beer and take a couple of swigs. “No one touches me without my permission.”
    “So prickly. I’ve touched you many times.” She giggles and takes a sip of her wine.
    “That’s different.” I roll my eyes at her as we maneuver out of the bar crowd. Standing along the edge of the dance floor, we enjoy our drinks while watching people dance. Or try to dance in some cases.
    “This really is very entertaining,” Cynthia says later after we’ve people-watched for a bit. She’s laughing at the obnoxious bearded guy, who just tried the same move on another girl only to get an elbow in the gut.
    “See.” I point my bottle toward them. “She didn’t like being touched either. I’m not prickly.”
    Cynthia pats my shoulder and we move out of the way as more people crowd onto the dance floor. “You don’t understand what it’s like to be tall. Guys try to cuddle up to you because you’re small.”
    “I’m five-seven. That’s not short for a woman,” I say, finishing off my beer. Setting the bottle on a nearby table, I look up at her. “How tall are you? You can’t be more than five-ten.”
    She nods. “Yeah, but that’s tall for a woman. It limits the pool of men who’ll give me the time of day.”
    “Care to dance, Blondie?” A guy with two-day’s scruff on his face touches his cowboy hat as he clasps Cynthia’s elbow and leans in closer. “Let me show you what good ‘ole boys can do on the dance floor.”
    Laughing, she hands me her empty glass and takes his hand. “Show me what you’ve got, Cowboy.”
    I snicker when they get out there and she convinces him to show her how to do the two-step. She glances my way, all smiles, a mischievous look in her eyes.
    Setting her glass down, I wave to her to have fun and head for the bathroom. Two shots and a bottle of beer are finally hitting me.
    As soon as I leave the bathroom, stepping into the dim, crowded hall full of girls and guys waiting in bathroom lines, a heavy, woozy feeling descends over me.
    I stumble into someone and murmur an apology, pushing my hand against my head.
    Sudden terror makes my pulse whoosh in my ears. My palms turn damp as I quickly shake my head to clear it. No, no, no. Not again. The sense of unrealism shifts the floor beneath my feet. This time feels much heavier, like it’s pulling me under. I blink rapidly, heading down the hall as fast as I can. I glance around, fear seizing me as I look for Hayes’s leering face among the crowd. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know it’s illogical. The bastard’s in prison for drug cooking and dealing, but I can’t stop my mind from being sucked into the past, back to the days where my innocence and freedom were stolen from me.
    My skin crawls with the feel of Hayes’ warm breath rushing across my neck and I hear his voice in my head. “You just need to relax a little.” The strong, bitter taste of the powder he brushed across my lips suddenly fills my mouth all over again, making me want to gag.
    He’s not here. My stomach heaves anyway. I have to get out of here. Get outside and breathe in fresh air.
    My heart is hammering by the time I make my way past the dance floor and through the mass of people to the bar’s front door. I think I hear Cynthia calling me, but I need open space, not people pressing against me. I need to breathe, so I keep moving forward, each step feeling slower than the last.
    The second I escape outside I run into someone. The man grips my arms. “Hey, are you all right?” But even though the deep resonance of his voice seems familiar, I can’t get the words to form.
    His hold on me tightens as if urging me to answer. I open my mouth to say something, but I stumble and pitch forward. With my chin suddenly smashed against the guy’s chest, I glance up at the same time Bash looks down at me, a deep scowl on his face.
    My world tilts as he effortlessly scoops me into his arms. Pressed against his chest, I