One of her fondest memories was of the moment when Lydia saw her for the first time in her wedding dress. The look of awe and love in her beloved’s eyes would stay with Katie forever. Now she had a new memory to match it: the look on Travis’s face when he entered the ballroom and saw her. Katie finally knew what it looked like to see someone struck speechless.
Walking across the room toward him—he was so handsome in a dark blue shirt, jeans, and a leather jacket, with his freshly washed hair curling slightly over his brow—Katie enjoyed his look of absolute adoration and awe. She set her wineglass down on a table and held out her hand to him. He took it, blinking slowly. His hand was slightly trembling and sweaty in hers.
“Damn,” was all he managed to say.
“You like?”
“Damn,” he said again.
“Nerit sewed it for me,” she said.
“I’ll thank Nerit later,” Travis stated.
“Want to dance?” she asked.
Travis got the goofiest look on his face. “I have other things in mind, but dancing is good for now.”
Taking her hand, he led her out onto the dance floor and drew her close. They danced slowly to a ballad sung by Patsy Cline, slipping across the highly polished floor gracefully. Staring into each other’s eyes, they were oblivious of all the looks of approval they were receiving. Old Man Watson applauded as they danced past his table. When the song finished and Travis kissed Katie, the room erupted into applause.
Giggling, stoned, and deliriously happy, Katie clung to Travis, embarrassed. Travis, looking dazed, gave a little bow. The laughter that followed was heartfelt and warming.
A few glasses of wine later, Katie found it even harder to stand in her shoes. Plus, she was having issues keeping her hands off Travis. She was sure they were making a spectacle of themselves, especially since she had sat on his lap during dinner.
“I always knew those rumors about you liking women were bullshit,” Peggy said with a wink.
Katie opened her mouth to correct her, but Travis lightly pinched her leg. She thought better of it.
Finally, she knew the wine and the pot had gotten the best of her and excused herself to the restroom. The foyer was empty when she paused to fix her shoe strap. The elevator doors opened and Philip and Shane stepped onto the marble floor of the ballroom’s entryway. Both were dressed for the party and holding open beers.
“Fuck,” Philip said, staring at her.
When Katie looked up and saw their sneers, her blood turned to ice. She moved quickly to the restroom. The last thing she needed was a confrontation with Shane and his sidekick when she was drunk and a little stoned.
Splashing cold water on her face, she felt a little better. A glance at the mirror revealed that she had smudged her makeup, so she picked up a hand towel and started to dab at her eyeliner. When she looked into the mirror again, she saw Shane staring at her.
Twisting around, she braced herself against the counter. “Get out.”
“It’s a damn shame that a fine piece of ass like you is a carpet muncher,” he said in a low, dangerous voice before taking a long swig from his beer can.
“Get out!”
“Look at those titties,” he said, and grabbed one of her breasts.
She thrust his hand away and repeated, “Get out now.”
“And that ass,” he said. His gaze was dangerous and feral.
Katie felt horrifyingly sober suddenly. This wasn’t another stupid confrontation where they threw insults back and forth. This was serious. He had already touched her, so whatever came next would be easier for him.
“Get out now!”
Tossing his beer away, he moved fast and she tried to get away. He gripped the straps of her dress and yanked. The material tore and her breasts were bared. Katie picked up a decorative candleholder from the marble countertop and swung it at Shane’s head.
She hit him in the nose and blood sprayed over them both. Enraged, Shane tackled her full force, sending them sprawling across the long marble counter. The candleholder slipped from her grip and rolled into the sink. Gripping her hair, he shoved her hard up against the mirror, trapping her on the counter, and pushed himself between her legs. She beat on him with her fists.
“I’ll show you what it’s like to be with a man,” he hissed. Fumbling with her dress, he tried to grab hold of her panties.
Katie started to scream.
Travis felt too happy for words. After Katie sashayed out in that damn hot dress, many of his friends had come to congratulate and wish him the best.
“You’re damn lucky.” Bill winked.
“I would say you have the hottest girlfriend in town, but Stacey would kill me,” Eric said as he passed by, carrying a couple of drinks. Travis laughed and flushed a little.
Jack, Pepe, and Nerit’s old dog, Tucker, scampered around with doggy delight. The party was in full swing now and everyone was having fun. Lenore and Ken were dancing in a corner while Katarina and Peggy were line-dancing to one side. Even Belinda was there, sitting at a table with Rosie and Monica. Belinda’s eyes were red from crying. Travis felt terribly for her. If Katie had died yesterday, he didn’t think he would even be able to function today. He was so grateful they were both alive and together.
Travis sighed, relieved at his good fortune, and spotted Curtis headed his way through the crowded ballroom, obviously upset about something.
“I found contraband on the kids,” Curtis said in a concerned tone as he joined Travis. “They were smoking pot out in the gazebo. I confiscated what they had, but there may be more.”
“Pot, huh?” Travis considered this. “Well, they are kids … .”
“We’re rebuilding society. We do not need drugs to worm their way into it and destroy our youth!”
“Well, Curtis, look around. Half the adults in here are pretty damn drunk. Hell, I’m on my way, too. A little pot isn’t going to hurt anyone.”
“Pot is a gateway drug!”
“To what? The drug war is over, Curtis. The kids found some pot. Big deal. Once they smoke it, it’s gone. It’s over. I smoked it myself back in the day. And I’m a fine, upstanding citizen,” Travis said in a tone he hoped wasn’t too condescending. He was really annoyed with Curtis ruining the kids’ party. Yeah, he wasn’t fond of the idea of the kids smoking, but it wasn’t going to kill them.
“I thought you would be a little more understanding,” Curtis said, half-hurt, half-angry. “I really did.”
“Well, I am understanding, but I don’t think it’s such a big deal in the grand scheme of things.” Travis sighed. “Sorry, Curtis, but I don’t. I’m going to go check on Katie. She was a little blitzed when she left.”
Curtis was obviously still upset, but gave a terse nod of his head. “Okay … okay. I guess I’ll drop it.”
Travis squeezed Curtis’s shoulder and walked out into the foyer. He noticed Philip standing near the women’s bathroom, and for some reason, the sight disturbed him. Rubbing his chin, he moved toward Philip.
“Have you seen Katie?” he asked.
Philip turned, startled. “Oh, um, yeah. She went into the ladies’ room with someone.”
“What?”
Philip looked flustered and unsure of what to say. “Yeah, she, uh, she, uh … you know. She’s trying out the other side of the fence.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
Philip blocked the door, looking vastly uncomfortable. “She came on to Shane, all slutty-like, saying she wanted to know what it felt like to have a man.”
Travis pushed Phil out of the way and burst into the bathroom.
Sprawled across the counter, Katie was trapped under Shane as he tried to push his erect penis into her. Katie had one hand planted hard into his throat, but Shane had twisted the other behind her back. Katie was kicking and squirming furiously, but Shane had her pinned. The sight of Katie’s ripped dress, exposed breasts, and torn panties sent Travis into a rage.
“Get off her!�
� Travis shouted. He grabbed Shane by the shoulders, pulled him off Katie, and shoved him across the room. The man crashed into the door of the handicapped stall and slumped to the floor.
“Travis,” Katie sobbed, reaching for him.
“Katie, I’m here,” Travis said, wiping away her tears and putting his arms around her. His heart was thudding so hard, it hurt; his anger was pulsing in his temples. He was torn between comforting her and beating the shit out of Shane.
Shane resolved that dilemma by punching Travis in the kidney, knocking him into Katie.
Travis twisted around and nailed Shane with a hard left to the jaw. He tackled the would-be rapist to the floor and smashed his fist into Shane’s face over and over again. Philip shoved the bathroom door open, saw what was happening, and leaped forward. Grabbing Travis’s arm, he yanked him to his feet and propelled him into a wall.
“Run, Katie,” Travis grunted as he swung at Philip.
To his relief, she fled, leaving him trapped with Shane and Philip.
3.
Descending into Chaos
The foyer seemed to swirl around her as Katie backed away from the bathroom. She could hear the men fighting inside. Tears streamed down her face as she stumbled to the doorway of the ballroom, pulling the top of her dress back over her breasts.
Already the self-incrimination was starting.
… How could she drink so much? …
… Why had she worn such a sexy dress? …
… Why didn’t she just go back into the ballroom, not the bathroom when she had seen Shane? …
Shoving those thoughts away, she concentrated on saving Travis. Her voice felt trapped in her throat, her fear and anger constricting it painfully. Opening her mouth, she tried to scream, but no sound came out. Swallowing hard, she tried again.
Finally, she managed to call out hoarsely, “Help me!” It was as if a dam broke and her voice returned. She screamed, “Help me!”
Though Nerit was halfway across the room, she saw Katie first and immediately started walking toward her, grabbing Jenni on the way. Jenni appeared startled until she saw Katie, then ran to her. Katie threw her arms around Jenni and held on tight.
“Someone needs to help Travis.” She was shaking as her adrenaline wore off and her mind was racing.
“What happened? Where is he?” Jenni asked. “Is it zombies? Oh, God, did we miss one?”
Juan was only a step away when Katie pointed toward the women’s restroom. “No, no. It’s Shane … Shane … he … he …” It was a struggle to get the words out. “He tried to rape me! Travis is fighting him!”
“Shit!” Juan cursed. He was almost to the bathroom door when it was flung open. Travis stumbled out backwards with Shane right after him. Juan dived into the fray immediately, shoving Shane into a planter just before he was sucker-punched by Philip.
“Break it up!” Bill shouted as he ran out of the ballroom with Curtis following.
Shane recovered enough to kick at Travis, trying to trip him. Travis stumbled but did not fall, then whirled around and slammed his fist into Shane’s stomach. The men exchanged a flurry of blows as Juan struggled with Philip.
“Break it up!” Bill managed to hook his arm around Shane’s neck and haul him away from Travis.
Travis lunged forward for one last punch, but Curtis caught him. “That’s enough, Travis.”
“He tried to rape Katie!”
Katie clung to Jenni, sobbing. She hated that she was crying and that her emotions had overwhelmed her intellect. Struggling for self-control, she looked at Travis. He was so upset, Curtis had to put extra pressure on his arm to keep him restrained.
Juan and Philip still grappled with each other. Finally, Juan managed to get him down to the ground as Roger and a few other men hurried to help subdue Philip.
“He fuckin’ attacked me out of nowhere! I demand you arrest him!” Shane was struggling to get free, his angry gaze on Travis.
“You were hurting Katie!”
“The bitch wanted to try a man. Yer just jealous she didn’t pick you!”
Nerit very calmly said, “If you hadn’t been late to the party, Shane, you would realize that Katie and Travis made it very clear tonight that they are a couple.”
Shane turned his bloodied face toward her and said, “Shut up, Jewbitch. I don’t give a fuck what you say.”
“It’s true, Shane,” Bill said. “You better come up with a better story, because that one is an obvious lie.”
“The lesbo wanted to try sex with a man,” Shane insisted through his bloodied teeth.
“You lying asshole!” Katie shouted angrily. “You tried to rape me!”
“You can’t rape the willing,” Shane spat back.
“That’s it,” Jenni said. She let go of Katie and launched herself at Shane. She managed to get in a few good slugs before she was yanked off him by Roger and carried away to a safe distance.
Nerit slid her sweater around Katie’s shoulders and drew it closed over her breasts. Katie was still trembling, but she felt like she was more in control of herself. Wiping her tears away, she forced air into her lungs, remembering a meditation trick her Buddhist wife had taught her.
“Let me go,” Travis ordered Curtis. “Katie needs me.”
Curtis hesitated, then released him. As Travis passed him, Shane yanked free of Bill and landed a solid punch. They went down in a jumble, fists flying once more.
Nerit picked up a candleholder from a nearby table as Bill and Curtis struggled to draw the two fighters apart. It was hard going since both men seemed determined to kill each other. Nerit finally managed to squeeze between the two cops and clock Shane across the back of the head. He collapsed over Travis. Bill and Curtis straightway dragged him off.
Travis struggled to his feet. Katie took his hand and pulled him into her arms. Clinging to him, she glared at the unconscious Shane as Bill put handcuffs on him while Curtis cuffed Philip.
“We didn’t do nothing wrong!” Philip shouted.
“I want to know what happened, right now,” Bill said in a loud voice.
“That bitch led Shane on, then Travis busted in on them—,” Philip began in an almost-shrill voice.
“From Katie, I want to know from Katie,” Bill said.
Travis gently rubbed her back as she struggled to regain her composure. . “I went into the bathroom to splash water on my face and Shane followed me in. Then he … he … attacked me … and … I fought him … until Travis came … .”
“I’m going to kick his ass!” Cursing impressively in Spanish, Jenni started toward the unconscious man, but Juan grabbed her before she could do any damage.
“Jenni, back off,” Curtis ordered, standing between the woman and Shane.
Travis was ready to beat the hell out of Shane again, but Katie held on to him and forced him to stay at her side.
“That bitch asked Shane into the bathroom with her,” Philip protested. “They asked me to stay outside and not let anyone interrupt. Shane was more than willing to turn the lesbo straight.”
“Oh, please,” Peggy said, rolling her eyes. “She’s with Travis. She’s obviously not gay.”
“Gay or straight, it don’t make no difference, if Shane was trying to rape her,” Bill said firmly.
Shane managed to open one swollen eye and slurred, “She fuckin’ begged me.”
Jenni shouted something about Shane being a puto and tried to kick him. Juan dragged her a little farther away.
“Let’s get them into the holding cell at city hall,” Bill said to Curtis. “We’re not going to get anything settled like this.”
Curtis obeyed and asked Roger and a few other men to help half carry, half drag Philip and Shane into an elevator.
“What are you going to do with them?” Jenni asked angrily.
“Nothing yet. Need to get the story down and process it. Then we’ll decide,” Bill answered.
“Throw them over the wall!” someone shouted from the back of the crowd.
>
There were murmurs of agreement.
“I think the clones would enjoy playing with them,” Calhoun said from somewhere in the crowd. “Obviously, those two men have no protection against the alien overlords and are controlled by evil forces.”
Bill ambled up to Katie and Travis and said softly, “Katie, want to sit down with me and give a statement?”
She tugged Nerit’s sweater tighter around her shoulders, nodding. “Yeah.” She drew on her inner strength and set her jaw with determination.
Bill stood up straight, taking on a commanding stance, and said to the people watching, “Go back to the party. Clear this area. There’s been enough drama.”
People reluctantly walked away, speaking in hushed voices. Juan was talking to Jenni softly in Spanish, obviously trying to calm her down. When the foyer was mostly clear, Bill pushed the button for the elevator. When it arrived, he gently guided Katie into the cab. Travis was right beside her. Nerit, Juan, and Jenni followed along with Peggy. They rode in silence to the lobby. The cop escorted the somber group into the hotel manager’s office, where Bill sat Katie down in one of the comfortable chairs and very gently questioned her about the attack. Peggy settled behind the desk and took notes in shorthand, often cussing under her breath as Katie spoke.
Squeezing her hands into tight fists, Katie tried to quit shivering. She had managed to stop crying and that felt like a small victory even though tears still threatened to fall. The voice inside her head—the one full of self-recrimination—sounded like her mother and she tried to ignore it. How many times had she sat with survivors of sexual assault and assured them that they were truly the victims? It didn’t matter how they were dressed, if they knew their attacker or not, or if they had maybe entered into a questionable situation. In the end, being raped was not their fault. Yet, as she sat talking to Bill, she grew increasingly conscious of her dress and heels, her makeup, and the fact that she had gone alone into the bathroom. She searched the faces of those around her, afraid she would see condemnation in their gaze, and was relieved to see only concern and compassion.
As The World Dies Trilogy Box Set [Books 1-3] Page 50
