Super Dark (Super Dark Trilogy) (23 page)

The music changed to a thumping house track and I realized how badly I needed the toilet. Tapping Becky’s shoulder, I told her where I was going, and then made off in the same direction I’d seen Marie and Hannah heading.

It was a nightmare trying to navigate through the swarms of bodies, and I stepped on toes more than once. Eventually, I reached a door marked
Ladies,
flung it open, and raced into one of the cubicles before I peed myself.

After I’d flushed the chain and washed my hands, I peered at my reflection in the basin mirror. I still looked pretty good, but my eyes held a certain blankness I found unsettling. Giggling hysterically, I took another swig from the Evian bottle, hoping to sober up once and for all. Then, sucking in my breath, I staggered out into the corridor that led back to the dance floor.

I froze.

A few feet away, leaning against the wall with his cap pulled down low, was Lee.

For a moment, my heart leapt—but then I remembered I was supposed to be mad at him and I continued walking. As I passed, he placed his hand gently on my arm.

“Hey, hey, Sam, it’s me—Lee. Don’t you recognize me?”

“I know who you are,” I replied icily, shrugging him off. “What are you doing here? You following me or something?”

“Of course not,” he said, laughing. “Why would I be following you?”

“You tell me.” It was a struggle to keep my voice steady, but somehow I managed to. I couldn’t let him to see how tipsy I was. “Every time I turn around, you’re there. It’s like if I look up the word ‘stalker’ in the dictionary, there’ll be a picture of you there.”

“I can assure you,” he said through gritted teeth, “I am
not
following you. This is a free country. Aren’t I allowed to go to the same club as you without being accused of stalking?”

I cut him off. “Who are you here with then?”

“What?”

“Did you bring any friends?”

“No,” he admitted.

“So you came out clubbing on your own? That’s like really normal, right? What are you, Billy No Mates?”

He started to scowl but then shifted it into a laugh. “Ha ha! Very funny.”

For a second, he stood there staring down at me, a broad smile etched across his perfect lips. I felt very intimidated, but refused to let it show.

“Look,” I said, “I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but it stops now, okay?”

“What are you talking about? I don’t play any games.”

“Yes you do! All this blowing hot and cold all the time. One minute you’re nice as pie, the next you … you …” I trailed off, my vision growing blurry. “Listen, I’ve got to go. Becky’s waiting for me.”

Trembling inside, I pushed my way through the maze of bodies, hoping to get as much distance between us as possible. After a moment, I glanced behind me. No sign of Lee. Relieved, I pressed on, and soon I was back at the bar standing beside Becky.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, daintily sipping from a glass of wine. “Your head feeling any better yet?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” I lied.

“Did you see Hannah and Marie in the toilet?”

“No I didn’t. I don’t know where they are.” I placed the empty bottle on the bar.

Frasier came over and handed me another Evian. “Drink this. It’ll help to soak up the alcohol.”

“Thanks.” I knocked it back in three gulps.

“Maybe we should go and look for them,” Becky suggested. “I’m a bit worried. They’ve been gone for ages.”

“Relax,” Frasier said. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. And anyway, they know where the bar is. Best we stay put.”

“Excuse me,” said a deep voice.

We turned and saw Lee standing behind us. I caught my breath, my heart pounding so wildly it momentarily drowned out the music.

“Oh my gosh!” Becky squealed, throwing her arms around him. “What a lovely surprise! I’ve missed you so much.”

Frasier’s mouth dropped open, his eyes wide with astonishment, like he was looking at a divine deity. And then it hit me that this must be the first time he’d seen Lee since Taffin’s party. I hoped he wouldn’t make a scene.

Gently, Lee pried Becky’s fingers from around his neck and shook Frasier’s hand. “Long time no see. How you doing?”

“I’m very good thanks,” Frasier replied evenly.

Then Todd, John, and Duncan closed in, keen to be introduced to this stranger getting so much attention. Lee merely nodded at them, and then briefly glanced at me. There was a flash of something dark in his eyes that sent a ripple of excitement up my spine.

“Well, it was great seeing you all,” he said. “Hope you have a good night. Frasier, Todd, I’m off.”

“Aren’t you going to at least stay for a drink?” Becky implored. “Please don’t go yet! I need to talk to you.”

“I know, and I’d love to, really I would—but my friends are gonna be wondering where I am. I can’t leave them alone for too long. Let me go now and I’ll come back and find you later.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.” He winked at her, then turned and disappeared into the crowd.

I stared after him.
What friends?
I’d thought he’d come alone. Or was that just an excuse to get away from her?

“Come on, let’s go find the girls,” Becky said, grabbing my arm and pulling me in the opposite direction. “Frasier, we’ll be back in two secs.”

She dragged me across the dance floor to some benches on the other side of the room.

“Can you believe Lee’s actually here?” she said as we sat down. “I never thought I’d see him again. This must be fate. It has to be.” She downed the last of her wine and put the glass on the floor. Then she leaned her head against my shoulder and spoke in a low, baby voice. “Tell me honestly, Sam, do you think he likes me?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps you should ask him.”

And then out of nowhere, Lee appeared again, gazing down on us like some sort of dark angel. Becky stared up at him, hypnotized. Slowly, he took her by the hand and led her across the dance floor, just as the music changed to a sexy hip-hop track with a deep, pulsating rhythm. Sliding his hands firmly round her waist, he rocked her back and forth in time to the beat, his hips grinding sensuously against hers with breathtaking finesse. Becky was a good dancer, but next to him, her movements looked positively sluggish. He had such control and energy, he could have put any music video dancer to shame. Theirs was a ritual of seduction—like a wolf leading a lamb to the slaughter and enjoying every second of it.

Open-mouthed, I watched Lee spin Becky around a couple more times before pulling her to him and leaning in for a kiss.

Almost. But not quite.

For what seemed like forever, those gorgeous lips of his remained suspended in mid air, teasing the corners of her mouth but not making physical contact. It was all so intense, so passionate, I could almost smell Becky’s sweat. I could almost feel her anticipation and the depth of her desire.

And then, abruptly, he twisted her body around to face me, his black eyes boring into me over her shoulder, a mocking smile playing on his lips, almost as if he were taunting me, daring me to do something about it.

But I didn’t. I just sat there gaping, paralyzed by conflicting emotions.

Then, with slow deliberation, his fingers traced the curve of her bare arms and traveled down to her waist, gripping it even more tightly. Becky’s breathing appeared to quicken as she tilted her head back and closed her eyes in ecstasy.

I felt a rush of blood to the head. If his plan was to get me jealous, then he was succeeding, big time. Watching the two of them together made me feel like I was drowning and couldn’t get up for air. I was dying a slow and painful death—and he didn’t care.

He just didn’t care.

Hyperventilating, I stood.

I couldn’t take any more. I had to get away from them before I did something stupid. Fighting back tears, I pushed my way through the crowd toward the bar, in search of Frasier and the others.

A large hand gripped my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks. I turned and saw a tall man with a shaved head grinning down at me. “Hey baby, want to dance?” he drawled.

“No, thank you,” I snapped, trying to extricate myself from his vice-like grasp. “Please let me go.”

“Aw, what’s the matter, sweetheart? You don’t like dancing?”

In one swift movement, he’d swept me into his arms and pushed himself against me, forcing me to move in time to the music. I screwed up my nose. His breath smelled foul and there were pools of sweat trickling down his face. He was like a horrible, hairy ape.

“Let me go!” I shouted. “Get your dirty mitts off me.”

But my cries fell on deaf ears.

Laughing cruelly, his meaty fingers ran down my spine and attempted to squeeze my bottom. That was it. With all my might, I swung my fist back and punched him full in the face, sending him flying.

“Why you …!” Clutching his hand across his injured cheek, his Neanderthal features twisted into a grimace. “You’ll pay for that you little …”

“Back off!” Lee bellowed, stepping between us. “Just back off, okay? Be cool. We don’t want any trouble.”

The man’s scowl melted into a gap-toothed grin. “Neither do I. Let’s forget this happened.” He strolled off, still holding his face, and Lee exhaled an enormous sigh of relief.

“That could have ended really badly,” he said sternly. “What the hell were you playing at? You can’t just go around hitting people.”

“Excuse me, but he was trying to molest me,” I spat. “He got what he deserved. I have no regrets.”

Lee’s eyes narrowed. “You’re drunk, aren’t you? Don’t lie to me. I can smell it on you.”

“I am
not
drunk.”

“Yes you are.”

“Is everything okay, guys?” Becky cooed, skipping over. “What just happened? That skinhead looked absolutely furious.”

Lee opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it. Quite a lot of people were watching us, and not all their expressions were friendly.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said. “There’s been enough drama for one night.” Grabbing my arm, he started dragging me toward the cloak room, his fingers digging into my flesh so deeply it was painful.

“Where are you going?” Becky shouted. “You can’t just leave me!”

“I’m taking Sam home,” he shouted back. “She doesn’t feel well. Tell Frasier we’re sorry.”

As soon as we got outside, a gust of cold air hit me, helping to sober me up. The street was virtually empty, as most of the clubbers were already inside.

“Goodnight folks,” one of the bouncers said. “Make sure the lady gets home safe, okay?”

“I will,” Lee muttered darkly.

“Let go, you’re hurting me,” I hissed when we were safely out of earshot. He released his grip and I rubbed my arm reproachfully. “Jeez, you’re almost as bad as that ape. What is it with you men? Why do you always love throwing your weight about?”

“Excuse me, but I’m not the one who punched a skinhead stranger in a bar. Out of the two of us, I’d say you’re the one who’s violent.”

“No I’m not. I just know how to take care of myself, that’s all.”

“Yeah, you were really taking care of yourself in there, weren’t you?” he said sarcastically. “What would have happened if I hadn’t intervened? Do you think that creep wouldn’t have knocked you out?”

“Nobody asked you to butt in. I don’t need you fighting my battles for me.”

“Yeah, yeah. Look, can we please talk and walk? I don’t want to spend the rest of the night arguing. My car’s parked just around the corner.”

We walked in silence to a little side alley around the back of the club where sinister-looking tower blocks surrounded us. The whole place seemed eerily deserted and smelled of old waste and urine.

I shivered as we stopped beside his Lotus. The air felt frosty and stale against my goose-pimpled flesh.

Lee fumbled through his jacket, searching for his car keys. “Damn, where did I put them?”

“You didn’t drop them somewhere did you?” I asked fearfully.

“Ah ha!” His face broke into a smile as he retrieved them from his back pocket. “Now we’re in business.”

Then, out of nowhere, I heard the echo of running footsteps, and the bald-headed thug from the nightclub materialized from the darkness brandishing a knife. Before Lee had time to defend himself, the assailant lunged forward, knocking him to the ground. Back and forth the two of them fought on the pavement, Lee struggling to pry the knife from his opponent’s hand.

Then I heard a loud groan, a cry of agony, and I saw the blade skid across the ground, landing just beside my feet. Picking it up gingerly, I saw that the tip of it was covered with blood.

One of them has been stabbed.

With a blood-thirsty cry, Lee’s opponent continued the onslaught, raining blow after blow down on him with frightening rapidity.

“Get off him!” I screamed, throwing myself into the mix. Turning sharply, the thug elbowed me out the way, sending me sprawling into a brick wall. For a moment, I lay crumpled on the ground in a daze of horror, sweat dripping into my mouth, my nose, my chin. Then I scrambled to my feet and ran at him again, This time he whacked me full in the face, the blow stinging my jaw so badly it brought tears to my eyes. I doubled over and tried to catch my breath again, fighting the urge to throw up. My ears were ringing, my vision blurry with swirling images of what was unfolding around me.