Free Territory - Prequel by Susan A. Bliler Page B

Chloe’s.  “Cheers.”   She slammed the shot and winced.  “Maybe confrontation is code for he wants to bend you over a table and…”
    “Marissa!” Chloe felt herself blush.
    “Hmm,” Marissa ’s eyes narrowed in scrutiny, “It would appear young lady that you aren’t as opposed to that type of confrontation as you’d like me to believe.”
    Waving a hand dismiss ively, Chloe snatched up her shot and downed it quickly hoping to quell some of her apparent discomfort before she chased the shot with a long swallow of beer.
    Marissa smiled knowingly keeping her eyes on her friend.  “Hey, I don’t blame ya!  I’d let him bend me over a table any day.”  She laughed loudly.
    “Look, I don’t want to talk about t his anymore . W hat’s up with you ?   How’s work?”  The shift in conversation worked, and Chloe felt herself relaxing as the topic steered from her and Dell to Marissa’ s monotonous work week.
    Too many beers and too many hours later, Chloe peeked at her watch and cringed when she discovered it was nearly closing time.  “We better go.”
    Marissa smiled then sighed, eyeing the bar, “You’re right.  Wait here.  Those two goons are still at the bar.  I’ll get ‘em to give us a ride home.”
    “Pass!” Chloe exclaimed standing quickly only to brace her hands on the table as she swayed.  “I’ll get myself home.”  She watched as Marissa pulled lipstick and a pocket mirror from her purse and re-did her lips before smacking them together.
    “Fine,” Marissa hauled herself up and turned glossy eyes to the bar.  “I’ll take ‘em both.”  She erupted into a peel of laughter.
    “Marissa, maybe you should just go home.  I can drop you off or call you a cab?”
    “Why on God’s green earth would I want to go home alone when there are two viable and willing specimens at the bar,” she crooked a finger to beckon the two men who’d been watching her since she rose, “who are eager to satisfy my needs.”
    Fear sobered Chloe momentarily.  “You don’t know them.”
    The men approached and Marissa eased herself out of the booth, stopping to loop an arm through one of each man as they stood on either side of her before she winked and licked her lips devilishly, “ They don’t know me.”
    Ignoring the two men Chloe grabbed Marissa’s shoulder, “You sure you wanna do this?”
    One of the guys grabbed Chloe’s elbow and jerked her into his chest, “Come on baby, you can come too.”
    Chloe pulled back, “I don’t think so.”
    Marissa giggled and slapped the guy on the arm, “Leave her alone, she’s not as…adventurous.”
    Quickly grabbing her purse, Chloe turned imploring eyes to Marissa, “We could go have breakfast, head back to my apartment.  You could stay with me.”
    Marissa shook her head, “Don’t worry about me.”  She pulled tighter on the two men on either side of her and smiled, “I’m exactly where I want to be.”
    She knew from past experience that taking two guys home wasn’t anything new for Marissa, but it still left Chloe feeling like a worthless friend when the trio stumbled out the front door and out of sight.  Celeste approached and was picking up the numerous empty bottles and shot glas ses that littered their table when Chloe asked, “Do you know those guys?”
    Celeste shrugged, “Sure.  Well the one anyway.  His name is Hank, he’s a metal worker.  He’s a good guy, don’t worry.  He wouldn’t hurt your friend.”
    “What about the other guy?” Chloe eyed the door nervously .
    “ The grabber?   Not sure, just heard Hank call him Mitchell.  Tonight’s the first night I’v e seen him.  But Hank’s a straight arrow .  Tough as nails too, h e won’t let Mitchell rough-up your friend.”
    The revelation while meant to be comforting had the opposite effect.  “Thanks.” Chloe hurried out the door, hoping to find Marissa still in the parking lot.  She wasn’t, but Mitchell was.

Chapter 10
    Chloe