“I can’t believe I let you drag me out again,” Dom grumbled, tapping the side of her glass of Coke. The sweat running down the sides pooled around her fingers so she pulled them away, tracing patterns on the table between her and her roommate.

“Believe it,” Nat winked at her and smiled. “That guy over there is eyeing you up. Hardcore,” she leaned forward and nodded toward the far corner of the bar.

Heaving a sigh, Dom glanced across the room and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because he knows me, dumbass.”

“What?”

“He works for Luke, Nat,” she groaned. “I told you, he’s got guys everywhere. That’s Kurt.”

Before Dom could say anymore Nat was gathering her things, sliding out of the booth, her expression less than pleased. “Come on, we’re going somewhere else.”

“What’s the point? Wherever we go, someone will be there. It’s just how it works with that scene,” Dom leaned forward over her glass, resting her elbows on the table. “Just sit and ignore him.”

“Fine,” Nat plopped back down with a huff. “But if he comes over here for anything I’m going to slap the eyes out of his face.”

Unable to help the smile spreading across her lips, Dom reached across the table and pulled her roomie’s hand into hers. “And I’ll love you forever for that. But if we’re here to have fun let’s just have fun, okay? Don’t worry about my dirty laundry.”

“Okay.”

As the bar slowly began to fill for the night and the music turned up Dom found herself actually having a good time. For a few hours she let herself go. Bobbing to the beat as she sat she felt uplifted from all the depressing shit that weighed her down. Nat’s gradual drunkenness gave her something else to focus on. The blonde finally stood up as the small dance area began to fill and she held her hand out, the other occupied by a blue drink sloshing in a martini glass.

“Come on baby, let’s dance,” she winked, pulling Dom to her feet.

“Only for a little while,” she laughed, letting her be dragged through the swaying mass of people until they were squished in the middle between two very tall very aggressive looking guys. Nat quickly adsorbed herself in the music, raising her arms over her head and letting her body do the talking as she found the rhythm in the rock music. Unable to help herself Dom draped an arm around Nat’s waist to avoid any physical contact with unwanted men and the two danced together, Dom even letting a genuine smile drift across her features as Nat belted out the words to each song.

“This would be so much better if it were a concert,” Nat yelled a few songs later as the music shifted from rock to a poppy remix.

“Yeah,” Dom quietly agreed flinching when a hand drifted down her thigh. “I think I’m done for tonight.”

“What?”

Tugging her arm, Dom tried to maneuver Nat from the middle of the fray to their booth with little avail as hands settled on her waist, encouraging her to dance.

“No, I’m done, let me out,” Dom frowned, trying to push the guy off her as Nat returned to her flail-like dancing.

“One more song, baby, come on,” the guys behind her groaned but she ignored him, trying her best to navigate around the bodies crunched around her. As she reached the edge she took a long deep breath to calm her nerves and slumped into the booth, taking a long sip from her half empty Coke. Keeping her eyes peeled for Nat she glanced at her cell phone, frowning at the “1New Text Message” on her screen. Opening it her frown deepened when she read the short note from Gerard.

‘Been thinking about you a lot. Call me.’

“Right, like you want to talk to me now,” she grumbled, her eyes flicking back to the dance floor where Nat had finally made her way to the edge and stumbled toward her with a silly grin on her face.

“You want another drink? I need some water.”

“Yeah, please,” Dom nodded as she stumbled away again. Taking the moment she moved toward the front of the bar and slipped outside, dialing the number she never thought she’d dial for a long time.

“I didn’t think you’d actually call me back,” his voice sent a shiver through her and she let out a scoff.

“I wanted to know why all of a sudden you wanted to hear from me. I understand you’re doing well without me,” she bit out, he tone hollow and cold.

“Dom, come on, we both needed to cool off and you know that,” Gerard replied, his tone sharp and defensive. “I was just respecting Mikey and he was right, I needed to realize that what we were doing was toxic to both of us.”

Biting back the instant anger roiling in her stomach she took a long breath in through her nose. “You said you loved me.”

“And I do, just not like that anymore.”

“You know what… This was a mistake. I’m hanging up,” Dom pulled the phone away from her only for Gerard to yell out before she could end it.

“No, wait don’t. That’s not what I wanted to talk to you about!”

“Then get to the point, I can’t do this right now,” she chewed the inside of her lip and tucked her hand in the pocket of her jeans. Her fingers fumbled with a small lump hidden in the cloth and she froze, pulling out the small white pill. She rolled it in her fingers, ignoring Gerard’s voice as she focused on the tiny thing.

“Dom?”

“Hmm.” she hummed into the receiver.

“Did you hear me?”

“Hmm?” she returned her focus to the conversation, stuffing the pill back into her pocket.

“I said I’m coming back to Jersey with Ray and Frank when they fly out.”

“Oh.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“What does my opinion matter?” she mumbled, kicking a few rocks around the sidewalk.

His sigh filled her ear and she fought the urge to laugh. “Because I want to see you. You know, to work this shit out.”

“Right, like that’s gonna go over well. Mikey might as well come too so he can brood at me from across the room. We’ll just turn this into a fucking party why don’t we.”

“Don’t be like that.”

“I’ll be how I want,” she snapped defiantly. “But if you want to fly out, go ahead. And if all four of you end up in Jersey, cool, we’ll have a chance to hang out. I promise to not bring my depressing baggage with me.”

“Stop it—”

“No, Gee, I’m glad you can just leave me here and move on but I can’t, okay? I’m still suffering. It might be my fault that I can’t snap out of it, I don’t know. But I’m still here and I’m still trying to move on. For christ’s sake Mikey still hasn’t even called me,” she sniffed, pacing in front of the bar, “and I really didn’t want to get worked up about this right now.”

“I know, I know, I’m sorry. I’ll let you go. I guess I’ll see you in a couple days.”

“Fine.”

“Bye, Sugar.”

Dom froze. Her heart did a few back flips in her chest as the line disconnected and she slumped back against the wall of the building. She let her weight pull her to the ground and leaned her head back. He’d called her Sugar. What the fuck was that supposed to mean?

“God damn it,” she breathed into the night.

“You can say that again,” a voice interrupted her emotional spiral and she jumped, nearly dropping her phone. The silhouette of a man stepped over her and she stiffened as he moved closer.

“Do I know you?” Dom squinted into the dark. He chuckled and stepped into the light. Dom’s eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and she tried to scramble to her feet only for him to pull her swiftly and pin her against the brick.

“Yeah, you do, sweetie. You should’ve let that pretty little blonde piece leave when she tried,” Kurt smirked down at her, his arm digging into her collarbone.

“Get the fuck off me,” Dom choked, pushing at his arm and managing to push him away enough for her to correctly right herself. “If I disappear that ‘little blonde piece’ will have the cops trailing your ass until you stay in jail this time, prick.” She snapped, spitting into his face.

He wiped it away, his hazel eyes darkening as she tried to wriggle away from him. “That’s alright the man who wants to see you is right down that alley. I got your girl covered while your gone. I think she’s good and trashed by now,” he checked his watch with a cocky laugh. “You better run along before you get us both in trouble with the boss,” he pointed down the block.

Backing away from her he dug his knuckles into the small of her back, pushing her down the street. Rolling her eyes she dodged a few swaying patrons of the other bars lining the street and glared over her shoulder at Kurt who stood watching, arms crossed over his chest.

“Just fucking great,” she mumbled to herself, taking off down the block. She tucked the phone into her pocket and peered into the alley her heart pounding in her ears at the sight of a black Escalade parked by the dumpsters toward the end of the darkened space. A window rolled down as Dom approached and Luke smirked at her before the back door swung open and she was tugged into the backseat.

“Fucking Christ!” she yelped, settling into the leather as Luke reached over her to close it.

“Nice to see you again, Dommie,” he winked at her, flexing his arms as he stretched them along the back of the seats.

“Right,” she offered a tight-lipped snarl and scooted up against the door, feeling the locks click at her movement. “What do you want? I told you I’m done with this shit, Luke.”

“Not from where I stand,” he leaned toward her forcing her to shy even closer to the door.

“Stay back,” she held her arm out, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible. She studied his eyes and frowned. For once he wasn’t blasted and the focused malice in his gaze sent her nerves on end. His laugh filled the car and he ignored her weak warning, sliding up so their thighs were pressed together. He eased his arm around her shoulders, pressing her hard against him and buried his nose in her hair.

“God you smell delicious,” he breathed, his hands squeezing her shoulder tightly. “My favorite shampoo. That peachy stuff you always use.”

Squirming, Dom tried to create some space between them only for Luke to squeeze her tighter, his free hand wrapping around her wrists to keep her still.

“Don’t get so antsy, baby, we’ve got all night,” he whispered, his voice husky as Dom tried to wriggle her way out of his grip.

“Let go of me!”

“Don’t have that pussy Ray to protect you this time, do you?” he growled in her ear. “Do you?”

“Fuck you!” she spat trying to maneuver herself to use her knees for protection. All she managed was an awkwardly twisted position and an ever more pissed off Luke. With more grace than she knew he could even muster he twisted, pulling her into the middle seat and hovering above her, her arms pinned at her sides by his thick thighs.

“Stop this,” Dom hissed, looking him square in the eyes. “Just let me go. I’m sick of this shit.”

“You know I can’t do that, baby,” he leaned close to her face, his nose gently brushing her throat. She stiffened as his lips grazed her skin sending a chill of disgust through her. Her stomach lurched when he nipped her neck and let out a pleasure filled groan. “Mmm, you taste so good.”

“Stop, Luke,” she muttered, trying her damndest to keep the shake from her voice.

“No,” he lowered his weight on her, keeping her in the seat. His hands gradually found their way her chest, cupping her breasts through her shirt. Tensing Dom squeezed her eyes closed.

“Why are you doing this,” she asked, her voice losing its force. “Why, Luke?”

“If that pipsqueak singer can have you, then why can’t I?” He pushed her arms up so her hands rested behind her head. Holding her wrists with one hand he clawed at the button on her jeans.

“I’m not with him anymore!” she screamed. “Get off me!”

“Then you’re mine again. I can do what I want with you,” he laughed. “Come here.”

Pushing her pants roughly he wedged his hand between her thighs. He let out a harsh bark of laughter as she kept her legs clenched tightly together. “Oh, you’re always so fun to play with,” he breathed in her ear, snaking his tongue out to lick the lobe. “So fun.”

Keeping her mouth closed tightly and her legs closed tighter she stared at the ceiling of the car, praying for a distraction. Some god up high must have heard her desperate please for a fist landed hard on the window forcing Luke to snap back and bump his head on the roof.

“Fuck!” he roared, practically kicking the car door open. Kurt looked pissed on the other side. “What?”

“Her roommate’s looking for her. She called the cops when Pete wouldn’t let her head this way.”

“Damn it! Get in the car we’re leaving.”

Dom yanked her pants up over her legs as Luke leaned around the door. Moving as quick as she could she swung her legs up, kicking the door hard so Luke stumbled forward far enough that she had space to jump out of the back seat. Breathing heavily she ran for the end of the alley, letting out a yelp when she crashed into a police officer. He held her steady as the truck barreled out of the alley behind her, grabbing his walkie to report the license plate as it sped away.

“Are you all right?” he asked as Dom wriggled out of his grip. Pushing her hair form her face she took a few seconds to gather herself before looking into the concerned blue eyes of the officer.

“I’m fine. He tried to sexually assault me but I got away before he could do anything. I just want him to leave me alone,” she hiccupped, leaning on the wall.

“There you are!” Nat’s drunken slur broke the emotional tension, the blonde stumbling over. “I thought something happened.”

Sniffing and combing her fingers in her hair she bowed her head to calm her nerves. “Something did happen, Nat. He fucking tried to touch me again. I’m so sick of this.”

“Oh sweetie,” Nat pulled her roommate into a tight hug, the smell of booz roiling Dom’s stomach. Shoving her away Dom quickly stumbled away, vomiting in the street. Falling to her knees she heaved air into her lungs and curled up on the sidewalk.

“I think you two should come with me to the station. I need statements outlining what just happened and why,” the officer stepped forward indicating his cruiser and helping a stumbling Nat to the open door. Dom groaned and let him help her up and into the backseat. When he slid into the driver’s seat and started the cruiser Dom leaned forward.

“I’ll tell you whatever you need to know. Just make him stop,” she pleaded. “I’m so tired of this.”