He Dared Me to Kneel, I Hit Him With Law

Chapter 4

The poolside was in full swing, bodies everywhere, bikinis and champagne and cigarette smoke all tangled together. Caden was stretched out on a lounge chair at the center of it all, Gemma tucked under his left arm and a cigar in his right hand.

The moment I walked in, the music cut out. Dozens of eyes turned toward me at once.

Gemma extracted herself from Caden's hold and sauntered over, bikini-clad, carrying two glasses of wine. "You actually came!" She swayed up to me and held one out. "Here. Drink this, and we wipe the slate clean. From now on, the three of us are one big happy family."

The wine was pink, and the liquid was cloudy. I glanced down at it. "I don't drink."

The smile on her face flickered.

"You're being difficult," she said. "Everyone's watching. Caden's watching."

Caden stood up. "You really think you can turn down a drink Gemma's offering you? There's something special in there, the good stuff, reserved for women like you who don't know how to have fun."

Laughter rippled through the crowd. Someone started chanting, and Rex lifted his phone and pointed the camera straight at my face. "Everyone look! The legal nerd is about to break her streak!"

I looked at Caden. "You're sure you want me to drink this?"

"Drink it. Stop stalling."

I took the glass and swirled it gently. A flicker of excitement crossed Gemma's eyes. "Go on, drink up. After, come upstairs with me. I have so much to tell you." She reached out to take my arm.

I stepped back and raised the glass toward Rex's camera. "Under state criminal law, coercing someone into drug use carries a sentence of up to three years. The color and odor of this wine indicate the presence of an unidentified substance."

Caden's expression shifted. "What the hell are you talking about? It's just wine. Drink it or get out." He lunged forward to grab the glass.

Gemma panicked and shoved at me. "You ungrateful little witch!" She grabbed the glass, trying to throw it in my face.

I turned my wrist.

The wine went straight into Gemma's face and into her open mouth.

She shrieked, clawing at her face, coughing violently. "Water! Water! It burns!"

"You threw it on her!" Caden drove his foot toward my stomach. I twisted aside, but there were too many people. Rex and two other men closed in and pinned my shoulders.

"This woman is insane! Hold her down!"

Caden grabbed another bottle from the table. "Won't drink? Fine, I'll make you." He shoved the bottle into my mouth, and liquid poured down my throat. My vision began to blur.

So that was the "good stuff." It worked fast.

Gemma had already crumpled to the ground nearby, her eyes glazed, her body twisting as she reached up and wound herself around Caden's leg. He kicked her off and looked at me.

I felt it too now, a scorching heat spreading through my limbs, every muscle going slack. My pepper spray had fallen to the ground and been kicked away somewhere.

Caden dropped the bottle, crouched down, and patted my cheek. "Not so sharp now, are you? Not quoting laws at me anymore? Let me give you a real lesson today." He straightened up and waved a hand. "Take her upstairs to the master bedroom. Rex, you and the others wait at the door. I'll let you have your turn when I'm done."

Rex grinned. "Thanks, Caden."

Two men hauled me up by the arms, my feet dragging across the floor as they pulled me toward the stairs. My consciousness was sinking fast. I bit down hard on the tip of my tongue, letting the sharp pain cut through the haze.

My hand found my pocket. Inside was the transmitter.

The night before, I had already sent the location to the tactical unit, along with a note: drugging without consent, facilitation of s****l assault, multiple perpetrators.

I pressed the button.