On Friday of the same week, Mari returned to Dulces Sueños alone. Zachary was on a date – a hook up from Grindr that he made plans with on a whim – but he did come by her house to help Mari pick out an outfit to wear before she hailed a cab and ventured out for the evening.

There weren't many patrons inside – the one or two barflies she saw every time she visited – so Mari sat at the bar and ordered a Screwdriver as she checked her messages. Quincy wasn't behind the bar on that mid-spring night, so Mari doubted she could sway the barkeep to lower the price for her drinks.

It didn't matter much since she didn't plan to get sloshed; just pleasantly buzzed.

Once her drink arrived, Mari sipped at it as she checked her mother's social media account. She seemed like she was having the time of her life. Mari was happy for her, though a pang of anger coursed through her. Why did her mother not ask her to go? Was she testing her?

Mari sat her phone down on the counter with a sigh.

Ignore it. Drink and have a good old time by yourself, she told herself.

Taking another sip of her drink, Mari noticed a person from the corner of her eye take the seat beside her, a gentleman in a suit. Potential sucker, she wondered. As she turned and looked him over, her face lit up. She had seen him before.

"Long time no see," she uttered.

The man who bought her a drink earlier in the week raised a brow.

"Pardon me?" He asked.

Mari felt her face heat up. So, he didn't remember her. She swallowed hard.

"Sorry. You bought me a drink on Tuesday. I was sitting on the couch over there," Mari explained, turning to point at the matching pewter chairs she and Zachary sometimes occupied.

"Oh yeah, the easy woman," the stranger recalled.

Mari almost choked. Zachary could kiss her ass.

But he was right. Nine times out of ten she took home a handsome stranger from the bar. She loved sex; sue her.

"Just between us," the man said in a whisper. He leaned in close. "I don't think you're easy. I think you know what you want."

Mari grinned. Damn, he was smooth. And hot. His eyes were the most gorgeous color of blue she had ever seen.

"I'm Marianna Davis," the said woman greeted.

The stranger grinned, easing away much to her disappointment.

"I'm Jackson."

Mari raised a curious brow.

"Does Jackson have a last name?"

"It might scare you away," he warned her.

Now she was curious. She watched Jackson take a drink of his Scotch, then lick his lips. Was it wrong to want a taste?

"My last name is Rippner," he uttered.

How ironic. Mari snorted. What were his parents thinking?

"Wow! That is scary. Most everyone who sees my name pronounces it as Mary instead of Mari."

Jackson faked a cough.

"That's … ironic."

Right?

Mari took a drink from her Screwdriver. What were the odds that she'd meet a person like him? It was a bit eerie.

For a moment the two sat in awkward silence until Jackson cleared his throat.

"I feel like I might have overstayed my welcome," he stated.

Mari hummed. It was strange, but she wasn't sensing any weird vibes coming from him. If anything, she was a bit turned on.

"Not at all. I like the company."

"That makes two of us," Jackson admitted.

Mari felt his hand on her knee and held back an eager grin. Was he offering?

"My place isn't too far from here. How do you feel about a nightcap?"

"I'd like that," Jackson admitted.

Mari opened her purse and paid for their drinks, then motioned for him to follow her outside to call for a cab. Once one arrived, they got in; Mari gave her address to the driver and sat back in the seat, leaning close to Jackson. She was glad that she left her car at home, able to sate her wandering hands.

Reaching up, she tugged at his loose tie.

"To be honest, I took you for a married man the first time I saw you. Or a businessman."

Jackson raised his hand, showing her that he had no ring on. Given the opportunity, Mari slid her hand into his and linked their fingers; his skin was warm.

"I'm in town on business actually," he told her.

"What sort of business?"

Jackson grinned.

Leaning in, he pressed his lips against hers. Mari understood; it was none of her business. She was fine with that. Licking his bottom lip, Jackson opened his mouth, pressing his tongue against hers. He tasted like single malt scotch, but damn was he a great kisser. The warm flavor made her crave for more.

Mari hummed, releasing his hand to run her fingers through his soft brown hair, drawing a groan from him. Was there anything more delicious?

For the short period it took for the cab to drive to Kalorama, they made out.

Mari was reluctant to part with Jackson. Her head was in such a haze and her body was eager to have his cock inside her, but she had to. Paying the driver, she hopped out of the cab and took Jackson's hand, leading him to the front door of her house.

Once the door was open, Jackson whistled as they passed the foyer.

"Do you live here alone?"

Mari shook her head.

"For the most part. Friends sometimes sleepover, but not tonight," she answered.

She didn't blame him for being impressed. Her house was rather big for one person. Mari knew it was a bit much, but her father gave her the key, so she lived there. Besides, it was a good neighborhood, and her mother could easily check in with her whenever she wanted.

"The liquor cabinet is this way," Mari stated.

She led Jackson to the kitchen where the cabinet was and took two whiskey glasses from the sink.

"There is ice in the freezer," Mari mentioned. She preferred her drink without. Once she poured a glass of brandy, she motioned towards the living room. "I need to start the fireplace. Once you're done, come join me."

Jackson shook his head.

Leaving him to his own devices, Mari walked into the living room and sat her glass down beside her as she readied the fireplace. Once the wood was stacked with the kindling mixed, she lit a match and started a fire.

Jackson soon joined her, taking a seat next to her. However, he knocked her glass over, spilling the contents onto the marble floor.

"Damn it!" He exclaimed.

Mari snorted. Someone was nervous. Or clumsy.

"You can have mine. I'll go make another," Jackson mentioned. "And grab some paper towels."

"You're too sweet," Mari laughed, accepting his glass.

He took hers from the floor and hurried back into the kitchen. In the meantime, Mari drank his scotch and waited in silence for him to return. The fire warmed her back as she rested on the brick plinth.

"The picture in the kitchen; is that your parents?" Jackson asked as he walked back into the living room.

Mari hummed. She knew the one he was referring to. It was taken last Christmas in front of the fireplace – ironically. Before the incident and before her mother started treating her like a child.

"Yeah, that's them," she uttered.

Jackson handed her the paper towels.

"Your mom looks familiar. Was she on TV recently?"

Did he mean the time she was inaugurated? Or the time her name was drug through the mud because of Marianna?

"She just became the new Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security," Mari uttered in a sour tone.

She drank the last of the scotch and kneeled to clean up the amber liquid on the floor. Mari didn't blame Jackson for her mood change; it was her fault that her relationship with her mother had turned to shit.

"I watched her inauguration on the TV," Jackson mentioned, looking around the room. "She has some big plans for the future."

Mari faked a grin.

"I've never brought home a man so interested in my mother before."

"Just making small talk," Jackson stated with a grin.

He sat down on the couch and turned his attention to her, knowing exactly what Mari liked. The said woman grinned.

After the mess was cleaned up and the soiled towels were thrown away, Mari poured another glass and joined him on the couch. She wasn't a big fan of hard alcohol, so she merely sipped on it as she watched the fire eat away at the wood. Her head was already a bit hazy.

"What's on your mind?" Jackson asked.

Mari hummed.

"I'm not sure. I lost myself for a moment."

She leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling a bit dizzy.

"What about you? What's on your mind?"

"Time," Jackson answered.

Mari snorted. What a strange thing to think about.

"It's been 15 minutes since your last drink," Jackson mentioned.

Has it? Mari narrowed her eyes. She just sat down though.

"The ketamine should be taking effect by now," he added.

What in the fuck was he talking about? Ketamine?

Mari sat up too quick, feeling her head spin. The room was starting to distort; colors began to blend into one. She felt relaxed for someone who just found out she was drugged.

A hand on her shoulder made her jump in fear.

"D-don't touch me," she uttered.

Jackson pulled her against him, allowing her to rest on his arm.

"If you do as I say then I won't hurt you."

Was he serious? Mari had no idea what to do. She took an uneasy breath and shut her eyes.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"I'll tell you that later, but for now, we're going to take a trip," Jackson explained.

A trip?

Jackson sat up, pulling her onto her feet. Mari had trouble walking, but with the said man at her side, she was able to stay on her feet. Everything was distorted. She had no clue where he was taking her.

Until she heard her car chirp as it was unlocked.

Oh!

Mari had almost forgotten. But where was Jackson taking her? She heard the door come open and with a little effort, she was picked up and laid down. The door shut moments after, and the world went black.

Why was this happening? Mari squeezed her eyes shut – it wasn't like she could see anyway – and listened as Jackson got into the car. He almost seemed miles away, but Mari wasn't sure. The Ketamine was messing with her head so much she didn't know make-believe from reality. Was any of this real? Her body felt like it was floating; it was almost soothing combined with the low roar of the engine.

Mari felt herself drifting, unable to keep her eyes open. Before she fell asleep, she wondered what dark plans Jackson had in store for her.

If only she knew.