E

empty file up his fat ass,” Harley

t, which an average person called drunk, was only getting started, whe

about it on my night off. God fo

because he’s too much of a slacker to go recruiting himself. At least you’re lucky this

e the end of my agent days,” I sai

oming to think of it, you’ve never accepted

reason I would rather di

e leaned close. “How did he get you to agree? From wh

answer either, “he said it’s a small mission. No violence is

kled. “So, no busting the

op

to tha

d of shots. I looked around the bar, the dance floor

are teenagers,” I said, inspecting the

ere aren’t many strict bouncers out there,

ig

ll me you never went t

was going through the hardest recrui

ghteen, I could never get enough of it. It took away a lot of things

hots and a sickly grin glued to his lips. “For yo

n a few seats away from us with dirty blond hair tied in a topknot and a heavily trim

inish, Harley had already emptied two out of fou

prise you haven’t had a dick in quite a while.” She giggled at her

e my r

she g

eeded time, effort, and honesty, all of which I couldn’t invest

ystem, will you?” Without overthinking, I took the glass and, with one gulp, I dran

have fun, even though mine was out of the question. I had known Harley since she jo

ty, fighting back, and getting the job done. No matter what. Harley was

d away. It was the same man who had ordered the drinks fo

” I looked away, hoping

ne here?” I tilted my head. “Oh, c’mon! It’s

ning what Harley had said: what could go wrong? I ignored people like

g his hand. I nee

d with me to the drumming beats. I could see Harley’s grin from afar whil

passing minute and the beats more abrupt. The ache in my head became unbearable with it. I

him on the dance floor, I dashed to the long, dimmed hallway that led towar

. On top of it, my mouth tasted like smoke and tar, a horrible mixture. I

se past allegations about our drinks being spiked hadn’t been true. But today,

for women,” I bit out

u sick? D’you feel di

my head. “You think I don’t understand

grabbed my arm and twirled me around to face him. I was

ing? I thought we

erve between his arm—perfect to inflict pain on morons like him

ok me for a fragile woman.” I pushed him back. “Touch

rd him say, his vo

to hold it together, but whatever was mixed i

audacity! My back crashed into the wall behind me and I

sweetie? I’ll take you to a place you’ll

to his groin. He squealed in pain, but this time, his grip didn’t lo

y feet were wobbly. If he struck me this time, I could do nothing

ched my ears. Twisting my head to the figure walking toward us,

you trying to do he

ng in my throat. Jerking James’s hand off of me,

out of here,

here,” the man said, grabbing James up by

n to be, I was more focused

n fear as if he had seen a ghost, which made me wonder: who the hell is this man? As soo

o understand simple human

un,” I got out.

ld do this again. His next vic

y back with his hand, sending warm sensations down my spine,

thank him, but before I could manage a si

lished, clearly

ing way to t