Page 46 of Ties That Bind Us

“What do we have here?” He was much too excited to see me in this dump.

“I need something, Jimmy.” My voice was hoarse from all the crying I had done; I almost didn’t recognize it when it came out.

Jimmy chuckled. “Girls, can you give us a second?”

The two bimbos on his arms glared at me and then stumbled along in their doped-up state. I bit my lip, knowing this was my last chance to reconsider. I could call Nick to pick me up and go home. Yeah, call the guy who lied about murdering my brother, that’s a great idea. Instead, I slumped into the chair across from Jimmy, supporting myself on my elbows. This place was probably crawling with diseases.

“What happened to what I gave you earlier? Out so soon?” Jimmy arched an eyebrow at me.

I shifted my weight slightly. “It’s at home. I can’t go get it and I need something now.”

Jimmy considered my words for a second. “Oh, how the mighty fall. What was it you said to me earlier? You’re clean? You’re not going down this road again?” He chuckled.

“You know what, never mind. I’ll find someone else.” I stood up, ready to go. I hadn’t come here to be ridiculed; I was well aware how pathetic I was.

He grabbed my arm roughly. “I’ll give you what you want, but on one condition.”

I should have known he wasn’t going to make this easy for me.

“What?” I asked, afraid of what the answer would be. I couldn’t pay him; I had run out without my purse. Thank God Nick had left the keys in the car.

“Do it now. In front of me.” He grinned evilly.

“What?” I asked shakily.

“I want to watch you. I’m not going to let you run out of here again and let my good shit go to waste. I want to see your face the second it hits your system.” He leaned in. “I used to love watching you get high,” he whispered harshly, and I squeezed my eyes shut.

Get up Ava, Get out of here and run. Go back to Nick.

I knew I should, but I couldn’t make my body do it. It was like it was separated from my brain, and as hard as I tried, I couldn’t make the two work together.

“Fine,” I spat.

Jimmy smiled and reached into his pocket, then pulled out a bag of cocaine. He set a line out and gestured to it as if giving me permission.

I bit my lip, staring at the line in front of me for a few seconds. There wouldn’t be any going back after this. What did I have to go back to, though? Nick? My family? No, I had no one. The second I got back home, my father would hand me off to marry a murderer and that would be it. None of this made any difference. I knew I would still have to marry Nick despite the fact he killed my brother. My father would make sure of it.

I blew out a deep breath, knowing I would feel better after this. All the bullshit would float away and I could have some peace, if only for a little while.

Without another thought, I leaned down and sniffed the powder into my nose. It hit me almost instantly, washing over every inch of my body. Jimmy smiled smugly as he watched it take control of me.

It didn’t take long before my world started spinning. I left Jimmy to be with the girls from before, and went to the bar to order myself a drink. I could feel the drugs pulsing through my veins and everything was in hyperdrive.

“What’s a pretty thing like you doing here all alone?” a deep voice said from the chair next to me.

I wasn’t in the mood for company and turned to the man, intending to tell him so. I soaked in his appearance. He was handsome, but nothing like Nick. Lighter and longer hair, a few more freckles, and despite his attempts, not much facial hair. He certainly looked like better company than Jimmy, though.

“What makes you think I’m here by myself?” I gave him a sloppy smile, slipping further and further away from my real self.

The man smiled. “I’ve been watching you for a while. And trust me, no man in his right mind would leave you alone in a bar for this long”—I felt his eyes travel up and down my body, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze—“looking like that.”

“Are you trying to seduce me?” I teased, sipping my drink.

“Is it working?” His smile was nothing compared to Nick’s. God, why did he have to creep in my mind right now? All I wanted to do was escape him and the web of lies he’d spun. I finished the rest of my drink to try to squash him back down.

“Why don’t you ask me that again in a few drinks?” I shrugged playfully.

“What’s your name?” he asked, scooting a little closer.

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