Page 24 of Property of Yak

“What he doesn’t know won’t kill him. Besides, unless I have a ring on my finger, his opinion doesn’t matter.”

She pulls me over to the bar, and while she tries to flag down the bartender, I look around. There is a literal wooden box of guns in the corner that men are looking at. Ones I know for a fact are not legal in our country. My eyes move from them, and I watch as a couple of guys spin darts in their hands. One of them throws a dart, and instead of it hitting the dartboard, it hits an apple that’s balanced on top of a girl’s head as she stands against the wall in nothing but a bra and panties.

“Goodness,” I say quietly.

My eyes move once again, and I find people having sex out in the open. There is a girl kneeling between a man’s thighs, blowing him. He’s got his hand in her hair, helping her move up and down as he carries on a full conversation with another guy sitting next to him.

I shake my head in equal parts awe and disgust.

I could never.

“Have you seen him yet?” Liz asks, pulling my attention back to her.

I shake my head. “No, but Liz, I think we need to go. We shouldn’t be here.”

Her eyes soften, and she reaches out and squeezes my arm. “Okay, I hear you, but hear me out. Let’s have a beer and make a lap around this place while looking for your guy. If we don’t find him by the time I finish my beer, we can head home. How does that sound?”

I want to beg for her to just cancel this mission, but I know that once Liz has something in mind, there’s no swaying her.

“Okay,” I reluctantly agree.

“What can I get you?” the bartender asks, pulling our attention to him.

“Hey, handsome. Can I get two Steam Whistle Pilsners, please?” Liz asks, leaning against the counter.

“Coming right up, beautiful,” he says as he starts getting our drinks.

“Did you hear that, Jules? He thinks I’m beautiful,” she teases, making him laugh.

I roll my eyes. “We all know you’re beautiful, Liz. We have eyes.”

Before she can say anything, a man steps between us and leers down at me.

“Found you. I saw you come in, and I knew I had to have you tonight.”

I feel my nose crinkle. “No, thank you.”

He reaches for me, and I try to step back but bump into someone. He grabs onto my belt loops and pulls me into him.

“You like to play hard to get? Okay, count me in. I like it when they fight,” he rasps, making my heart race.

“While I’m flattered, I’m not interested. Now please let go,” I tell him.

“Sweet cheeks, you lost the ability to say no as soon as you stepped on the porch. Didn’t anyone tell you that?” he chuckles darkly.

“No is a full sentence and can be said at any time.”

He shakes his head and laughs harder. “The little lamb walked into the slaughterhouse, didn’t she? Let me put it like this, sweet cheeks, you shouldn’t have come in here if you weren’t willing to play. Now be a good girl and come with me. I’m hard as fuck, and I’m dying to see those lips wrapped around my cock as you gag on me. I bet you cry so pretty.”

Fear freezes me in place, and I swear white spots dance before my eyes.

Not again.

“Hey, back off, big guy. She said she’s not interested!” I hear Liz yell.

Next thing I know, though, the guy is being violently pulled away from me, and I watch as a fist flies at his face, making him sway in his spot.

“What the fuck!” he snaps.