Chapter 68 The antidote
I watched Eloise sleep peacefully beside me, her chest heavy.
I wouldn't hurt a woman, but I would sure as hell break Eloise's neck for Charlotte if it would protect her.
But the bounty on Charlotte's head made it impossible.
I watched as the sunlight peered into the bedroom; it was already morning. I couldn't stop thinking about Charlotte; she must have thought about me all night too.
I hated that I was worrying about her mind.
Eloise whimpered; still sleeping, she moved closer to me and placed her head against my chest. Her strawberry blond hair touched my face, and I gently pulled and brushed it off.
“Eloise,” I said calmly in an attempt to wake her up. “Eloise,” I repeated.
She lifted her head and groaned slightly, “What is it?"
“I want to go home."
It was as if my words wiped the sleep from her eyes. “You want to do what?"
“You wanted me to stay over, and I did; now it's time to go home,” I explained.
She sat up on the bed, her body wavered, she was still sleepy, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “I was thinking you'd live here with me; it's a big mansion."
I sat up and slid out of bed. “Don't be ridiculous."
“Do you want me to move into your home?"
“Eloise,” I scolded, “Let's take it slow."
She stepped out of bed and walked towards me. I grabbed my gold watch from the table and began to hook it around my wrist.
“Taking it slow doesn't mean we can't kiss, right?" She placed her hands on my chest and pouted her lips.
"Yes, it does." I pulled her away.
She gave me a shocked look and scoffed.
Just then I suddenly remembered Becky. How could I have forgotten her? “You stabbed my wife with poison; where's the antidote?" I grabbed my suit and threw it on.
Her brow raised, “She's not dead yet? She sure is a fighter."
“I need an antidote," I pressed.
She ran her hands on her chest; the sunlight from the window glistened on her hair, making it a lighter shade of strawberry blonde. “Maybe if you kiss me, I'll give it to you."
My jaw clenched; I didn't want to kiss her.
“How do I know you saw it?"
Without a word she turned and headed to a wardrobe; sliding it out, she reached into it and brought out an injection. It had a green liquid inside of it. She walked to me and waved it in the air. “Antidote,” she said, leaning on her hips.
I pulled closer. “If this doesn't work, I swear ..."
She tapped her lips with her finger.
I sucked in a breath; if Charlotte were here, she would have asked me if it would save a life.
Eloise smiled with excitement as my lips drew closer, but her smile suddenly fell as the kiss touched her cheek. “Are you sure you want the antidote?" she asked.
I cupped her chin with my hand and drew her lips to mine; she leaned into the kiss, but I pulled away instantly. “You got your kiss; now the antidote." I stretched out my hand.
She pinned it behind her back. “That kiss surely wasn't as good as we both hoped, was it?" She came closer and kissed me; she sucked on my lower lips slowly and passionately until the kiss deepened. As her tongue slid into my mouth, I pulled away.
“Enough,”
A sly smile curled at her lips. “I can never have enough of you,” she commented and licked her lips. “But I guess that will be alright for today." She handed me the injection, and I grabbed it from her.
Immediately I turned to walk out of the room.
“I'll see you soon!" she shouted after me.
As I walked out of the mansion, Marcus was already waiting for me; I had texted him this morning.
I slid into the back seat of the car, struggling to decide if I should go to the hospital or Charlotte first.
“How is my wife?" I asked as I observed the antidote in my hand.
“She's doing alright, sir?" Marus responded.
The car soon sped into the road. Into the road, the morning sun peered into the car. I looked to my side and wished Charlotte was sitting right there with my hands in hers.
“Drive to the hospital," I said calmly.
The car swerved into another street. “Yes, boss."
Soon we got to the hospital. Becky was asleep when I walked into her room; she had drops fixed on her, and her skin was even paler than before. I moved closer, my feet making light thuds. I looked at the green veins on her arm; they had spread, and some were on her neck.
“What exactly did Elosie stab you with?" I mumbled.
I grabbed her arm and got her eyes opened. “Damien,” her voice was low and weak, as if they were her last words.
I pressed her arm tightly until a vein appeared, and her teeth clenched as I dug the injection into it, squeezing the liquid in.
“What is that?" she asked, her chest heaving.
“An antidote—let's pray it works,” I said, caressing the part that I had stuck the needle into with my thumb.
I saw fear flicker in her eyes. “You'll be okay, you know that, right?"
He smiled and shook her head. “I'm going to die, Damein; don't lie to me."
“I won't let it happen, I swear."
A weak smile formed on her lips. “Don't do that,” she said in Russian. She shook her head. “Don't pretend to care about me because you know I'm dying,” which streamed down the sides of her face.
"I said you aren't dying, Becky."
She reached for her shirt and pulled it down; my lips parted as I saw the green veins on her chest. “The poison is spreading,” she said, switching back to English.
“It doesn't matter; I have given you the antidote. You'll survive."
She looked away from me. "Damien, I want my last moments to be real," she swallowed.
“Jesus Christ, Becky, what are the last moments? You are alive, not dying."
“Go to your wife, Damien; I'm fine on my own,” she spat.
"Becky…"
“We both know you don't want to be here,” she cut in.
I slipped my hand into hers. “Becky, my not loving you in a romantic manner doesn't change the fact that I care for you deeply, as a friend."
Just then my phone began to ring. I took it out of my pocket; it was one of my soldiers. I answered and put it against my ear. "This is not the best time."
“There's a lady here looking for Ms. Becky; we stopped her, but she keeps insisting," he reported.
“Eloise,” I growled softly.
“No, she's way younger."
“I want to see her!" a girl's voice shouted from the other end. "Please!" she cried.
My brow raised; the voice sounded familiar