The Next Contestant Read Free

a friend of Kolby’s and I recognize the voice, but can’t place it yet. “Have we met? Because I can hardly see you, but your voice…”
    “Yup. Kolby and I… well, we go way back. Haven’t seen him, or you, in a while.”
    Maybe he’s not drunk. He’s not swaying and his words are clear. And he’s Kolby’s friend. I walk toward him to get a better look. Maybe I have seen him, but he’s got a ball cap on and the bill is dipped toward his eyes and shadows his face. It’s as if he’s keeping his head low on purpose, not wanting me to get a clear shot. A spine tingling chill snakes down my back and I shiver.
    I tug my shirt down to hide the exposed skin of my lower abdomen, and then take a step back when it dawns on me, the voice, the deep tone, is different, yet the same. Or possibly… steroid induced? I shiver harder. Shit!
    “That isn’t gonna keep you safe, honey.” He steps forward. I take another step back. He continues to move toward me; I struggle to keep my footing as I move backward, until I bump into a body behind me.
    “Devin.” It comes out in a squeak, and before I have time to think, or react, the guy behind me grabs my arms and yanks me back. I struggle to get away, but now a group of guys surround me.
    In my fear stricken state, a scream escapes from my open mouth, but I’m quickly silenced. Devin grabs hold of me, flips me around, pins me against his truck, his body practically molding with mine, as his big, calloused hand clamps over my mouth. The pressure of his palm makes it hard to breathe or bite him. Funny how fear allows me to recall a small bit of information. Information that would have kept me from approaching them in the first place. Too late . These guys are probably all pumped up on steroids, and now I’m his target, Devin’s revenge.
    My stomach knots and acid is swishing with my dinner. I feel the puke creeping at the back of my throat, but swallow furiously to keep it down. I’ll probably die from choking on it if it actually comes up.
    “Bitch. You could have played nice, but now you’re gonna do what I want.” Devin presses a sharp object against my left side. “Now open that pretty mouth of yours and don’t you dare scream. Got it?”
    I nod. I’m going to have to kiss him. I know that’s what he wants. And if I bite his tongue, I have no doubt he’ll drive that knife beyond the skin of my ribs, where it currently pokes the surface.
    His lips press hard against mine, and his tongue separates them. It’s slimy and disgusting. He breaks away, but only long enough to place his palm on my forehead and press my head tighter against the cab of the truck. And then he’s forcing me to kiss him again, but this time, he snakes the knife under my shirt and slowly drags it up.
    Where’re his buddies? It’s frighteningly dark, other than the moonlight bobbing between the sway of the treetops, and quiet.
    When he rolls his hips into mine, I feel it, the hard flesh grating against my pelvis. Panic sets in. He’s sliding his knife down my belly and attempting to unbutton my jeans. I feel the marble of acid and food moving up my throat… hear voices getting closer… the ball of puke now bubbling forward….
    “What the fu—”
    Oh, god! It’s Kolby … thank god! I’m trying to push this monster away, but he won’t budge. His neck and body is thick with muscle, obviously from steroids. To my brother, I’m sure it looks like I’m willingly kissing this disgusting asshole, but I’m sure Kolby knows better. Big brother will take Devin down no matter what.
    I feel the knife digging into my skin. My internal bargaining ends. Waves of nasty cramps squeeze my stomach.
    It all comes up, the single beer I drank, the enchilada, and the piece of cake I ate at the restaurant the girls and I went to earlier. It sprays out all over me, and all over him, the sick fuck, and he lets go of me. I inhale a breath of encouragement, and ignore the sudden sharp pain cascading down my