Bianca Chapter 4 #2
“I get what you mean about the impersonal aspect and how it’s easier to fool someone into thinking you’re someone you aren’t when you have no face-to-face interactions for a long time.
Just be careful and remember, they can still fool you.
Keep your guard up and always have a plan to get yourself out of a bad or dangerous date.
Don’t go anywhere alone without telling someone, and send me a picture of the guy’s driver’s license.
Oh, and never take a drink from anyone that you haven’t seen made or leave a drink unattended. ”
“Hell, Bianca, you make it sound like everyone is some psycho person waiting for victims. I swear I’ll be careful and do all those things, even if I do think it’s a little overkill. But other than that, what do you think? Should I try it?”
“I don’t believe it’ll hurt to give it a try. People have met their partners in many unusual places and in many ways over the years. Some of those relationships have worked out. I’m not trying to scare you to death with my precautions. I only want you to be safe.”
She reached across the table to squeeze my hand. “You’re the best. I will. Thank you.”
After that, we talked about how my weekend was. I didn’t tell her about my drugging or my hunt at the bar. That would’ve sent her into a spin. Instead, I kept it to my usual chores, then redirected our conversation for the remainder of lunch toward how to place the personal ad.
?
My luck ran out Thursday evening. I came home from a long day at the gym. I had stayed over to meet with a client who couldn’t meet me until after six o’clock because of her work. We had our session, and then I headed home.
I was tired, sitting on the sofa, considering whether I had the energy to warm up dinner when there was heavy pounding on my door. I knew who it was without looking. It had to be Mishap.
I’d dodged his suggestions that we meet after work on Monday and Tuesday.
When those failed, he moved to demanding we talk about Friday night and my revelations.
I told him I couldn’t. I had plans, and I hadn’t lied.
I went out to dinner with Pippa last night and then stayed over at her place, watching a movie until late.
Tonight, I had used the half-truth of a late consultation, though I would be home far earlier than I had let on.
I’d only been home for fifteen minutes. Long enough to change into different clothing and to contemplate food.
I knew he wouldn’t leave, and if I ignored him, he’d use the key I’d given him in case of an emergency.
I might need to rethink letting him have one.
Mishap had always respected my boundaries, but lately she’d been more insistent than before.
I wasn’t sure if it was because of my divorce or him becoming a Pagan. Maybe it was a bit of both.
I stood and marched to the door. A quick peek proved I was right. There, Mishap stood. I unlocked and jerked the door open, far enough to stare out at him with my arms crossed and a scowl on my face.
“What are you doing here, pounding down my door?” I went on the defensive before he could.
“I’m here to talk to you. You can’t keep avoiding me, B.”
“I’ve been busy. And I just got home. I’m tired. All I want is to eat and go to bed. We’ll set something up this weekend.” I tried to push him off.
Mishap shook his head and frowned.
“No, I’m not waiting. We need to talk. I’ve got to know where your head is. I’ve got to know that you aren’t planning to go out to any bars this weekend or anytime in the future. That you’ve given up on this dangerous search of yours.”
I opened my mouth to tell him he wasn’t my boss, but the words died because of what I saw coming up behind my cousin. Or I should say, who. Striding purposefully toward us was Chaos. My mouth went dry, and my heart skipped, or so it seemed.
While I was distracted by Chaos, Mishap pushed past me into my apartment. I feebly pushed at him to keep him out, but I didn’t put much effort behind it. Based on his amused expression, he knew it.
“Good evening, Bianca. I hope you don’t mind that your cousin and I stopped by without calling. We weren’t sure if you were home, but we were in the area, so we thought we’d try our luck. Are we interrupting anything?” Chaos asked smoothly.
“In the area? Am I supposed to believe that truly?” I asked him, moving back to let him in.
If my cousin were in the apartment, it would make no sense to keep Chaos out. And to be honest, of the two, Chaos was the one I minded the least being there. Although the way he made my body react and my brain go dazed, it should be the other way around.
I inhaled as Chaos passed me. There it was again, that scent that I found so tantalizing last time.
I still had no clue if it was his cologne or whatever he used as soap, but I loved it.
Chaos, turning to face me with an expectant expression after entering, shook me out of my trance and prompted me to close my door. My manners kicked in for now.
“Please, have a seat anywhere.” I gestured to my small living area just off the entrance to my apartment.
Mishap was already seated in my chair. Chaos walked to my small sofa, but he remained standing. I went to sit, but my cousin’s next words halted me.
“You have anything to drink, B? I’m thirsty.”
I narrowed my gaze at him. If I were in a good mood and happy that someone had come to visit, I would offer refreshments and fetch them. However, since I knew this was an ambush, and Mishap had brought Chaos, believing he’d be enough to make me behave, I felt no compunction to offer or fetch.
“You know where the kitchen is. Wait on yourself. I’m not your maid,” I told Mishap. Then, I glanced over at Chaos.
“If you’d like something to drink, I’ll get it for you. I have beer, flavored water, plain water, juice, Sprite, and coffee.”
“Hey, what’s with offering to get his but not mine?” Mishap asked, though he knew.
“You, I don’t really like at the moment. Chaos hasn’t done anything to upset me yet, so until he does, I’ll be nice to him,” I said sweetly, fluttering my eyelashes.
Chaos chuckled as my cousin gave me a pouty look and went into the nearby kitchen, which was clearly visible from the living room.
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ll have him get it. Plain water will do. Would you like him to bring you something?” Chaos asked.
I smiled at Mishap. “A flavored water. Any variety is fine.”
As soon as I said it, I sat. Chaos sat next to me. The sofa felt way smaller than ever before.
“You said you were in the area. Not sure how that can be when this is Sparta, and you live in Lake Oconee and work in Eatonton,” I observed casually.
Chaos gave me a grin and shrugged. “We felt like a ride to unwind after work, and we decided, why not come your way. Your cousin isn’t the only one who has been worried about you.
No one has seen you since Saturday morning.
We want to be sure you fully recovered from your ordeal.
Plus, we don’t want you to take further chances with your safety, Bianca.
I know from what you said last weekend, you want to make sure justice is served for the women who were harmed.
I get it. But you can’t place yourself at risk to do it. ”
Chaos got straight to the point. So, I did the same.
“I appreciate that you’re worried about me, but I’ve recovered fully without a problem.
As for me taking chances, life is full of those every day.
I will concede that dosing women via touch complicates the search for the ones behind the assaults.
It means that straight up going to bars to see if I see anything or anyone suspicious isn’t the way to go.
However, it doesn’t mean that I’m giving up on finding another way to figure out who the person or persons are behind the rapes.
Those women deserve to feel safe again, and I want to know who dosed me. ”