CHAPTER 4 SAVE ME

Stacy’s POV

The old, wrinkled hands were everywhere. On my arm, my waist, sliding over my hip. The air in the Oak Room was thick with cigar smoke and their heavy breath that smelled like alcohol. Five pairs of eyes, hungry and dirty, looked at me in the red dress Matt had chosen.

"Look at that body. Matt's been keeping you all to himself, you selfish bastard," one of them said, his words slurred. His fingers dug into my thigh as he pulled me down onto the couch next to him. I tried to move away, but another man on my other side pressed close, his leg pushing against mine.

"Come on, sweetheart, don't be shy. We've all heard about you," another voice, rough and harsh, said. His hand landed on my knee, moving upward. "We can make it worth your while. A night with me, and I'll make sure your husband gets a very good deal."

My heart hammered against my chest. Everything inside me was screaming. The room started to tilt, the lights blurring.

A fresh glass was pushed into my hand. I shook my head, my vision blurring. "No. I can't."

Matt's smile faded. His eyes narrowed. A clear, silent order. Drink it.

The man with the cigar breath grabbed my chin, his grip painful. "Don't be rude, sweetheart. Your husband went through a lot of trouble."

My head felt fuzzy, like it was floating away from my body. The drink. He put something in my drink.

"Please," I whispered, my voice shaking as I tried to push a hand off my leg. "Please, don't."

"Don't be like that," Waltham said from across the table, his cold eyes shining. "We're all friends here. We just want to see what all the fuss is about. Why don't you show us a little something? Get on your knees and show us how you suck that dick of your husband's. Show us you know how to please a man."

The crude words hit me like slaps. My skin crawled. Their laughter was harsh and ugly. Another hand, this one on my back, slid down to squeeze my ass. I jerked away, a wave of pure panic cutting through the druggy haze.

I can't. I can't do this.

Without thinking, my hand shot out and grabbed a metal dinner fork left on the table. I swung my arm wildly. There was a sharp cry of pain and the hand on my ass disappeared.

"You bitch! You stabbed me!"

Everything exploded into chaos. I didn't look back. I pushed myself off the couch, my legs shaking beneath me, and ran for the door. I fumbled with the handle, my vision swimming, and finally pulled it open. I fell out into the hallway, the bright lights of the ballroom making my head spin.

I heard Matt's angry yell from inside the room. "Stacy!"

I didn't stop. I just ran. The sounds of the party became distant noise in my ears. The world was a blur of color and light. My chest burned. The drug made everything feel slow and fast at the same time.

I turned down an empty hallway, my heels slipping on the shiny floor. I kicked them off, not caring where they landed. A door, slightly open, caught my eye. I didn't care what it was. I pushed it open and fell inside, slamming it shut behind me and leaning against it. My breath came in loud, sobbing gasps.

Darkness. Quiet darkness. The only light came from a thin crack under the door. I slid down to the floor, the coldness seeping through the thin fabric of my dress. I pulled my knees to my chest, trying to make myself small. Invisible.

Outside, I could hear the noise growing. Muffled shouts. Heavy, fast footsteps. "Find her!" Matt's voice, cold and angry, cut through everything. They were looking for me.

My whole body shook with terror.

"And who, exactly, are you?"

The voice came from the darkness, smooth and low, and it scared me so badly I almost screamed. I moved backward, my hands scraping against the rough floor, until my back hit a wall. My eyes tried to see.

A man sat in a big leather chair in the far corner, a thin line of moonlight from a high window showing the sharp edge of his jaw and the faint shine of a glass in his hand. I hadn't seen him before. Or I'd been too scared to notice.

"I-I'm sorry," I said, my voice shaking badly. "I didn't know anyone was in here. Please. Please, you have to help me."

He didn't move. He didn't speak. He just took a slow sip from his glass, the ice making soft sounds in the tense quiet. The coldness was worse than anger.

The footsteps outside grew louder. Closer. They were checking doors.

Tears filled my eyes. "Please, sir. My husband… those men… they're going to…" I couldn't even say it. The words choked me.

Still, he said nothing. He just watched me. The silence felt like rejection.

Total hopelessness washed over me. I pushed myself up, my legs feeling like jelly. "I'm sorry for disturbing you," I whispered, the words empty.

I turned toward the door, my hand reaching for the handle. Maybe I could run past them. Maybe…

A strong hand closed around my wrist, stopping me. His grip wasn't rough, but it was firm. I froze, my heart jumping into my throat.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound made me jump. Three sharp, impatient knocks on the door right in front of me.

Matt's voice, fake and charming but threatening underneath, called out. "Open up. I know she's in there."

Pure terror seized me. A small, scared sound escaped my lips. I looked back at the man, my eyes wide with panic, begging him without words.

He held a single finger to my lips. Be quiet.

My eyes looked around the dark room and saw another door, half-hidden in the shadows. A bathroom. I didn't think. I just moved, pulling my wrist from his hand and stumbling toward it. I slipped inside the small, dark space and pulled the door shut, leaving it open just a tiny crack.

I pressed my back against the cold wall, my hands flying up to cover my ears. I couldn't hear it. I couldn't hear him let Matt in.

But I couldn't block it out. I heard the main door to the room open. I heard the low, muffled sound of two men's voices. I couldn't understand the words, just the tone. 

My chest squeezed tight. This is it. 

He's giving me back. There's no escape. No one will help me out now. There was no way that my dignity would be saved today.

God help me for once.