Chapter 235: Bonus Chapter

Here's a little bonus content about Natalie and Nathan's story - enjoy! 💕

NATALIE

Scoot Davis, Nathan's business rival and Chicago's notorious club owner, yanked my hair backward with sadistic pleasure. The bastard was known for his drug connections and violent temper. Pain shot through my scalp as tears formed.

"Pathetic little reporter," he spat, breath reeking of whiskey and something chemical. "No one will even notice when you disappear."

The VIP room felt like a trap. My heart pounded, but I kept my face hard.

"Every magazine in Chicago will run the story of how you kidnapped a journalist," I said, voice steady despite my fear.

Scoot laughed cruelly. "Bodies disappear in Chicago daily. No evidence. No witnesses." He tightened his grip until I gasped. "The lake's deep enough for one more."

I caught the distinct chemical smell under his cologne – meth. This upscale club was clearly a front for his drug operation.

"Nathan's flying back to New York," I lied. "He won't come for me."

"Really?" Scoot's eyes narrowed.

"Nathan doesn't care about anyone but himself," I continued harshly. "He screws women and forgets them by morning. You're wasting your time."

Scoot loosened his grip slightly. "Your career ends tonight. One call—"

"And your job at Stellar Innovation Labs ends too," I cut in. "Nathan might not care about me, but he cares about his investments. I did my research on you."

His jaw tightened. I'd hit a nerve. Stellar Innovation was Nathan's newest acquisition, and Scoot had been desperate to impress him. His obsession with Nathan was obvious – business rivalry mixed with something more personal.

Scoot shoved me back hard. I caught myself against the leather couch.

"You know nothing," he snarled, fixing his hair with shaking fingers.

I straightened my blouse. Nathan wouldn't come. We weren't anything to each other anymore. Just two people with history who occasionally ended up in bed when loneliness won out.

"Actually," I said coldly, "we could help each other."

Scoot tilted his head, interested despite himself.

"You think sleeping with him makes me his woman?" I sneered. "I know things about Nathan that would destroy him – scandals that would end him."

Scoot stepped closer, hungry for information. "What exactly—"

The door exploded inward. Nathan stood there, suit disheveled, eyes burning with cold rage.

"Interrupting?" he asked quietly, scanning the room before fixing on my face. "They haven't damaged you too badly. Yet."

My throat dried. Nathan was actually here. In Chicago. For me.

Two bodyguards blocked his path. Nathan calmly removed his watch and tie, tucking them away.

"Nathan—" I started, but Scoot yanked me back against him.

Metal flashed as Scoot pressed a military knife against my cheek, dragging it across my skin. Blood trickled down my face.

"Drink what's on the table, and she walks," Scoot called out. "Refuse, and I cut her face to ribbons."

A glass of whiskey appeared on the center table.

"This is my city," Scoot pressed the knife harder. "Different rules apply here."

Nathan didn't hesitate. He drained the glass in one go, eyes locked on Scoot. He swallowed hard, his throat working, but his eyes grew even colder, as if he'd consumed fuel rather than poison.

"There," Nathan said flatly.

Scoot's smugness radiated. "Enjoy the special ingredients. They'll hit soon."

I broke free and rushed to Nathan. He moved me behind him, fingers gently touching my cut. Something deadly flashed in his eyes.

"It's nothing," I whispered.

Nathan nodded, then exploded into action. The first guard went down with a knee-shattering kick. The second caught a throat punch before he could react.

Scoot backed away, but Nathan grabbed his neck, slamming him against the wall.

"You touched what's mine," Nathan whispered dangerously.

"This is my territory," Scoot choked. "You'll never leave Chicago alive."

Nathan took Scoot's knife and sliced his face, deeper than my cut. Blood poured down as Scoot screamed.

"Get her!" Scoot yelled to someone behind us.

Nathan pulled me against his chest as a metal bar struck his back. He grunted but stood firm. Another swing hit his leg, bringing him to one knee.

"Not his leg!" I screamed, throwing myself over his thigh, knowing about his injury.

Nathan grabbed the bar mid-swing and fought back brutally, clearing a path to the door.

"Take the stairs down," he ordered, gripping my shoulders. "First floor, emergency exit, window you can climb through. Go now."

"What about you?"

"Right behind you." He pushed me out, then turned back to face Scoot.

The door slammed and locked.

I raced down the stairs, hearing violence behind me. With shaking hands, I called 911.

"This is Natalie Morgan," I said breathlessly. "Major drug trafficking at Platinum Lounge on Michigan Avenue. Dealers in VIP rooms right now."

I hung up and pushed through the emergency door, squeezing out a window to the grass outside.

Where was Nathan? Had I left him to die?

A thud made me turn. Nathan had jumped from a second-floor AC unit, landing nearby. Blood stained his shirt.

"We need to move," he said, grabbing my hand. "Scoot's men will be hunting us."

"He's dealing drugs," I whispered. "I smelled meth."

"Makes sense. Come on."

We ran toward the street as police sirens approached.

"Airport?" I suggested.

"Too obvious. He'll have men there."

He was right. At O'Hare International, men in suits scanned the departures area.

Nathan hijacked a passing taxi, shoving money at the startled driver before forcing me inside and taking the wheel himself.

We sped away as two black Mercedes SUVs followed.

Nathan drove recklessly through Chicago's streets, cutting corners and jumping curbs.

"Harbor," he decided after losing one pursuer. "We'll take the ferry to Michigan."

My stomach lurched. "Pull over. Gonna be sick."

He stopped near the

Chicago River, under a bridge.

I stumbled out, vomiting by the water. Everything hit me at once – my Chicago life was over. Everything I'd built, gone in one night.

"Natalie—" Nathan reached for me.

"Don't touch me!" I screamed, slapping his hand. "I finally had a normal life! A good job! An apartment I loved! Friends who knew nothing about our past!"

Tears and blood mixed on my face.

"I was happy without you! Do you understand? Actually happy! Now it's all gone!" My voice cracked. "It's because of you! Always because of you!"