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back pocket. He used his teeth to pull the cap off and jammed it into my arm.  
    The liquid burned as it absorbed into my muscle. Still unable to breathe, the noise that tried to come from my throat was pathetic and weak. Zane let go of my neck and moved his hands to my arms, pinning them to my side. He kept his blue eyes locked on mine.  
    My legs began to feel heavy and my movements slowed. Zane chuckled and let me go. He tipped his head and ran his fingers down my arm, stopping at my wrist. His skin was soft and smooth, and his touch was deliberately gentle. He circled his thumb over the palm of my hand in slow movements. With his other hand, he fingered the hem of my tank top for a few seconds before slipping his hand under it. His eyes closed when he slowly dragged his hand up over my stomach.
    Hot tears fell from the corners of my eyes. His skin against mine was revolting. Black dots clouded my fuzzy vision. His fingertips reached the base of my bra and he hesitated, enjoying the buildup he was creating for himself. He pushed his hand up, groaning when his fingers curled around my breast. Unable to scream, a muted whimper escaped my lips. I fought against my heavy eyelids. Zane licked his lips and pinched my nipple in between his index finger and thumb.  
    My eyes shut. I was so tired and weak. I tried opening my eyes again and failed. The last thing I remembered was Jackson’s voice, though I couldn’t recall what he had said. His deep brown eyes flashed before me until the vision faded. And then he was just a voice in the dark.

CHAPTER THREE

    THE NEXT TIME I woke up, I was lying on a cement floor. Everything was dark again. My body hurt, though I wasn’t sure why. I pulled my legs up and rested my head on my knees. And then the memories came rushing back at a dizzying rate.  
    The parade. I could still hear the distant beating of drums and cheering. The sun was still warm on my skin, and I could still smell Lynn’s perfume.  
    I cried out and doubled over when a throbbing pain shot through my head. My hands smacked against the gritty floor. My cheeks burned and my body went rigid as I retched.
    The girl in the alley. Why had I stopped to help her? Her despairing face flashed into my mind. If only I had recognized the fear in her eyes, maybe I could have gotten away. I shook my head. No . It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t kidnap me. She didn’t inject me with something that made me black out.
    It was those two guys. Zane, with the clear blue eyes, and Jackson, with his dark wavy hair hiding his face. It was their fault. They did this. They took me, forced me into a car trunk, and drugged me. And now I had no idea where I was. Fear sunk its claws into me. I squeezed my eyes shut. This wasn’t happening. This was a dream, a horrible dream. And I would wake up any second.
    Oh, God. I straightened up when the memory of Zane groping me pushed its way into my consciousness. I knew he had fondled my breasts. I was still awake for that. What had he done once I was out? I began crying uncontrollably at the thought.
    I shook my head.   I had to keep it together. I forced out a shaky breath and moved my hand to my waist. My fingers went numb and I fumbled with the button on my shorts. Finally, I popped them open and yanked down the zipper. My heart was beating so fast I could hear it pounding in my head. A lump of vomit burned in my throat. I pushed my fingers inside the shorts.
    I was still wearing my underwear. A tiny bit of relief washed over me. And then I realized that I felt no pain between my legs. I had not been raped. My shoulders relaxed just a hair. I zipped up my shorts and looked around in the dark.  
    My heart fluttered when I saw soft light outlining a door. My breath rushed in and out of me and my body trembled. I put my hands out in front of me and took a tentative step forward. I slid my shoes along the floor, afraid of tripping over something, until I reached the door. I ran my hands up the