Chapter 2

The club smelt like sweat and cigarettes. Bodies pushed against each other in the crowded room. Red and Dembe made their way through the dense crowd trying to find Liz. When they couldn't find her anywhere, Red took out his phone and called Tanya.

Red had to yell in the phone because of the loud music. "I'm here. Where are you ? Is Liz with you?"

"Come by the bar. I'm sitting on a stool. Left side. I have a pink shirt on. "

Red scanned the bar. " I see you." Red hung up the phone and walked over to Tanya. he didn't know anything about her. Liz had never mentioned having friends until a week ago when she insisted she was off duty this weekend and he couldn't call her. The warning fell on deaf ears.

Putting on his fake smile Red beamed. "Tanya! Nice to meet you." looking around he still didn't see Liz. "Where's our girl?"

Tanya smiled "Hi. She's over there dancing."

"She just up and left you? How rude of her." He tried to act disappointed in her. Shaking his head.

"I really didn't feel like dancing." Tanya replied as she took a drink of her margarita. "Besides, I felt like a third wheel."

Red's gaze followed Tanya's to the dance floor . That's when he spotted Liz dancing seductively against a man in a dark suit. Their bodies bumping and grinding against each other to the music. Liz had on a tight black skirt and a white button down blouse , the top three buttons left undone.

Red's smile turned to a straight hard line. "How long has she been dancing with him?"

"I guess an hour or so. They were dancing way before I called you. I tried to get her to sit down for a while but she wouldn't. They just kept coming over getting drinks and then going back out on the dance floor. His name is Ricky. "

Red shook his head. "What grown man goes by the name Ricky?"

Focusing back on Tanya he told her . " If you would like to leave, my friend here will take you home. I'll watch over Liz"

Tanya laughed. "No . Now that you're here I have someone to talk to. I'll stay and drink another one. "

Red turned toward the bartender and ordered a margarita and a glass of scotch and settled down on the stool next to Tanya. He continued to make small talk with her, while all along his attention was focused on Liz and her dance partner. He looked calm on the outside , but on the inside Red was about to snap.

Boom. Boom. Boom. The base played a deep beat pounding through the air. Liz could feel the vibrations through her whole body. She was loving it. She was on fire. The music let her loose all inhibitions and relax into it's beat. Her drink intoxicating.

Ricky was moving against her backside, rubbing against her very provocatively. She gave into him and encouraged the contact. Loving the feeling of losing control. She was sick of always feeling on edge.

Glancing over at the bar trying to find Tanya, she suddenly stilled in her tracks as she caught sight of Red and Dembe standing beside her. They were engrossed in conversation and from Red's facial expression and Tanya's laugh , she knew he was telling a story trying to charm her.

"Sorry. Excuse me for a second. I"ll be right back ." She said with a frown on her face.

Slipping out of the Ricky's embrace she made her way over to Red. As she neared, Red stopped talking and looked at her.

"Why Lizzie. Nice of you to join us." Red said with a smirk, as he held up his drink to her as if saying cheers.

Liz ignored him and stepped into Red's personal space. She stood between his spread legs and leaned close into his ear. Acting like she was giving him a hug, she sternly demanded, "Why are you here?"

Red circled her waist with his hands and brought her close. "It's time to go home Lizzie."

"I'm not going anywhere. The night is still young." Liz tried to lean back off Red , but he held her tight and wouldn't let go.

"Where's your purse? Your keys? Everything is gone. If it wasn't for your friend , I wouldn't be here to pay your tab and take you home."

"You stay away from her. You hear?" Liz slurred in his ear.

Red smiled and whispered in a deep voice. "Why? Are you Jealous?"

Liz curled her fingers in his shirt collar that he had left open without a tie for a change. "No! I'm going back to dance. Take your hands off me."

Liz gave him a shove but he still didn't let go. Instead, he tightened his hold with one hand around her waist and brought his other hand up to her neck so she couldn't raise up. "We are leaving." He said roughly in her ear.

Liz shook her head. "No. I'm dancing!"

Liz struggled in his arms to get away and Red finally relented, not wanting to cause a scene. Looking over at Tanya he smiled, then turned back to Liz and watched her make her way back over to her dance partner.

Liz looked over at Red and she could tell he was annoyed with her. "Good", she thought to herself. She was tired of his over-bearing, controlling ways. These past few months had been suffocating. He constantly brought cases to her and the task force, keeping her busy and within arms reach. She knew it was her job, but he was becoming more and more demanding in his interactions with her. He would show up at her apartment anytime he chose and called her at all times of the day and night. He didn't know boundaries. He even called today when he was clearly told that this weekend was hers. Now he has the nerve to show up here and try to take her out of here. Has the nerve to act like they are friends and call her jealous when she told him to leave Tanya alone. The arrogance of the man.

Liz was angry. She kept looking at Red and saw his left eye twitch. She knew he was angry too. So be it. Turning around she leaned close in to her dance partner and put her hands around his neck. Red accused her of being jealous but she knew the one who really jealous. Him. And she was going to prove it.

Slowly she swayed back and forth in Ricky's arms, loving the feel of them around her. The DJ was playing a soft, slow song and it made Liz want to snuggle up into his arms and let him guide her movements. They were slowly turning in a circle and soon Liz was facing Red again. She rested her head on his shoulder, but could still see Red glaring at her, his head cocked slightly sideways.

Finally the song ended and Liz wanted to piss off Red some more. She walked over to him and stood between his legs once again, while leaning over and asking the bartender for another drink. She could feel Red's hot breath on her neck and could tell he was looking at her. However, she ignored him and focused her attention to the bartender. When she finally got her drin,k she turned her head toward Red and saw that he was staring daggers at her, a mere few inches from her face.

"Pay him. I don't have any money." Liz said as she took a sip of the Margarita. The cool drink sliding down her throat.

"Hence why I'm here, Lizzie. Where is your purse?" He asked again for the second time.

Liz looked down at her drink and stirred it with a straw. "I don't know. I guess it's gone.". She went to turn around, but Red's hands came up to hold on to her hips and bring her closer.

"Lizzie. That's the last drink. I mean it. It's time to go."

"I will leave when I want to leave. If you don't want to stay, then you go!"

"I"m here for you..."

"No! You're here to keep tabs on me. I'm having fun with my friend and you don't like that." Liz pushed against his chest trying to get free.

"Your friend is sitting here with me while your grinding against a man you barely know on the dance floor. So don't tell me you're having fun with your friend." Red's face was so close to Liz's that she could have rubbed noses with him if she wanted too. Instead, she pissed him off and blew in his face , causing him to shut his eyes. Next , she pulled out of his grasp and walked back over to Ricky for another dance, her glass still in her hand.

The music was a faster erotic beat this time. Liz wanted to watch Red as she danced and piss him off . She took Ricky's hands and placed them around the front of her body. She then placed her hands up around his neck behind her and they both swayed to the music. Liz kept her eyes fixed on Red's across the room. Occasionally, someone would get in the way and she saw him move his head to get a better look. She kept dancing erotically against Ricky as she stared at Red, smiling at him and baiting him. Knowing that he was about to come unglued. He was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode, but she didn't care. Tonight was her night and he didn't belong there.