“Oh, look!” Talia pointed down the hall. “To the right, there’s a restroom.” We took a few more steps, and she noted, “The gift shop is right across from it. Wanna meet me in there?”

I pulled her against me and stared into the store window. “Oh look!” I teased. “There’s a display of some really nice purses and totes.”

She rolled her eyes. “What would I need with a tote?”

I released her so I could tick off all the reasons on my hand. “Well, there’s carrying all your Kleenex. Let’s not forget the assortment of meds I’ll soon be on in order to maintain a normal life.”

“You’re ridiculous. It’s one prescription,” she grumbled.

“Really, because I could’ve sworn they wanted me to take pills before bed, and pills after lunch…” My brow arched in challenge.

“I’m going shopping now,” she announced. “See you soon.” She stood on her tippy-toes to kiss my cheek and froze.

“What?” I asked.

Talia pursed her lips. “Nothing. I’m sure it was nothing. I’m just being silly.” She opened her clutch and passed me the single pill in a teeny tiny baggy. She laid it in the palm of my hand and wrapped my fingers around it. Then she gave me a squeeze which seemed far more intense than the last and left me wondering over what had spooked her. Then she turned on her heels and disappeared into the store.

I looked down at the pill in my hand. This would mark the first time I had taken a pill for medical and not recreational purposes, maybe ever. I glanced up at the store window and grinned as she passed by the cards and went straight to the purses. I laughed. “Caught you,” I murmured.

Then some movement behind me in the reflection attracted my attention. I whipped around, my heart in my throat as I scanned the area. When I didn’t see the guy I expected anywhere around, I exhaled. “Power of suggestion,” I reminded myself as I tucked the pill in my pocket. “Talk about the drug dealer, think you see the drug dealer. Classic.” Then I turned back one more time to see Talia before I left. She was eyeing this Kate Spade tote, blue and white striped. I knew what I’d be picking up the minute her back was turned. When she moved deeper into the shop, I ducked in, grabbed the tote from the display, and spoke to the woman behind the register.

“Can I help you, sir?” She smiled brightly.

“Yes, my girlfriend is shopping in here.” I gestured towards the back of the shop. “I noticed she was eyeing this. Can you wrap it up, bill the room, and have it delivered there? I’m trying to surprise her.”

“Absolutely. What a thoughtful gift.” She rang the purchase up, and I signed for it, then I snuck out and rushed into the bathroom.

I felt light and easy, which surprised me more than anything. I pulled the baggy from my pocket. Maybe I didn’t need this after all. Then I remembered how I felt around everyone else and admitted I definitely did. Opening the baggy, I poured the pill into my palm. Then I turned on the faucet, popped the pill in my mouth, and scooped the water into my hand to drink it down. I’d nearly finished when I saw him in the mirror and started choking on the last gulp of water.

“Yeah. Swallow down someone else’s pills, then swallow your words,” Mike growled. His dark hair was slicked back and he wore more chains around his neck than I remembered. The diamond stud in his ear looked new too.

I tried to remain calm, but how could I? The pill probably hadn’t even hit my stomach yet and Talia was so far away. I glanced toward the door then back at my old drug dealer. “What are you doing here?”

“You owe me.” His voice was low and menacing.

My brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You had me come out here. I expect to be compensated.” He crossed his arms in front of his body and closed the distance between us.

“That was three months ago!” I exclaimed. “If you’re still here, you’ve been compensated enough.” I rolled my eyes. “Obviously, you stayed because you’ve opened up shop. There are tons of people here who need you, but I don’t.”

Mike laughed, loud and slow. “You need me. You think whatever you took is going to help you as much as a few of these?” He pulled a baggy of Vicodin out of his pants.

My reaction to the pills dangled in front of me was completely different than my response to the smell of alcohol on the drunk. Seeing them actually did make me want them a little. I could feel my palms growing sweaty. They worked fast. They helped numb me. I was calm and relaxed, but not intoxicated. Over the years, though I’d had to increase my intake, I’d found the sweet spot, or so I thought. I’d never overdosed. I’d never been caught. I’d always told myself I could handle it. I closed my eyes. At the moment, I sucked at handling anything. I never should’ve come into the bathroom alone.

“I’m good,” I murmured, but even I wasn’t convinced by my response.

“Are you sure? You seem like you got the itch. You remember, right?” Mike walked closer and dangled the baggy in front of my face.

There was a light knock on the door. “Hey, Drew? Are you in there?” Talia was silent a moment.

Mike pulled a knife from his pocket and held it to my throat. “Not a word. You hear me? You don’t utter one motherfucking word.”

We stood there in silence while we waited to see what would happen next. The knocking had ceased and Talia hadn’t spoken again.

Then my phone began to vibrate in my pocket. I pulled it out, but he slapped it away. “Why?” I swallowed hard.

“Because I can. Because I have an awesome customer retention rate. No one walks away from me. You buy or you die. How the hell do you think I’ve managed to go so long without getting caught?” He chuckled threateningly. “No one would dare snitch on me.”

“I won’t snitch on you either.” I struggled to find the right words to reassure him while he pressed the knife harder against my throat.

“Damn right you won’t.” Mike leaned in until we were nearly nose-to-nose. “So, what’d you pick?”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Buy or die, asshole.” He sneered.

“What if I pay you for your troubles, the time it took to get here, the gas, the stuff I didn’t purchase, and we’ll call it a day?” I was reaching and stalling and I had no idea why I’d decided on that tactic. After all, I was on my own. I kept glancing down at the hilt of the knife held to my throat. It wasn’t shiny and new. This was old and dull. I at least deserved a better knife.

“I like my offer better.” He pressed the blade more menacingly against my skin and this time I could feel warm blood dripping.

I closed my eyes. This is how it ends. My life, over before it began, right when I was close to having everything I always wanted. I tried to imagine Talia’s face, with the amazing sooty lashes, and her warm dark eyes. Her skin seemed nearly porcelain compared to her hair. I would give anything for one chance to make my life work, to build a future with her. I swallowed, ready to give up and accept my fate, when the bathroom door burst open.

Ty and Harry stood there, glaring at Mike. Beside them, Talia stood with both hands fisted.

“Hey, pussy cat, this is the men’s room. You shouldn’t be here,” I murmured.

“I’m staying.” She narrowed her eyes at Mike. “He’s going.”

Mike laughed. “Not this time.”

Harry stepped closer. “I told you to leave town three months ago.”

“So?” He moved to angle me in front of him.

“Now I’m leverage?” I groaned.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Mike began slowly. “I’m going to leave here and he’s coming with me, for safekeeping. My safekeeping.” He laughed as though he’d said something incredibly clever.

Ty moved to block the door. “I don’t see that happening. See, I own the hotel and it sets a bad precedent if I let guests get kidnapped out from under my nose. The reputation of the hotel is at stake, not to mention the life of my best friend.”

“Thank you.” I winced as the knife dug in even more.

Mike continued to back us toward the door, while using me as a human shield. “Walk,” he growled at me when I stumbled slightly.

“You do realize I’m worthless if you kill me, right? Oh, and if the blood loss weakens me, I’m gonna be hell to carry.” I let my body weigh down a little more for emphasis.

“You do realize if you piss me off, I will literally cut and run, right?” He hissed in my ear.

Talia’s eyes were wide with fear. Her hands were clasped under her chin as she moved toward me. “Drew…” She seemed at a loss for what to do.

“Pussy cat.” I smirked. “By the way, if I survive this, I want a pet name.”

“Asshole,” she muttered.

“No, something cute!” I joked. We were at the door and I could tell Mike was struggling with pulling it open and maintaining control of me. I kept waiting for a moment, a chance to break away.

Then it happened. The door opened from the outside, and Mike prepared to rush out, dragging me with him. Because of his momentum he stumbled, so I shoved his knife-wielding arm against the door frame, and then dove out of his grasp into the waiting arms of my friends and the woman I might just make my wife.