Chapter 38
Sutton had made up his mind. As long as he left, whatever happened here had nothing to do with him.
Annabel watched Sutton head for the door. She didn’t scream or shout, just stared intently. She was waiting for the right moment, the perfect chance to escape!
Sutton’s hand turned the doorknob, pulling the door open… Now! Annabel lunged, sinking her teeth hard into the wrist of the man holding her.
“Aaargh!” The bald man howled in pain, his grip slackening instinctively.
Annabel bolted, shoving past a stunned Sutton and bursting out of the private room.
Footsteps pounded behind her. “Get her!” someone yelled.
Annabel didn’t dare look back, stumbling forward, desperate, not stopping for anything. Logically, the commotion should have drawn attention. But the patrons here were wealthy and influential; no one wanted to stick their neck out over some girl and risk getting involved in someone else’s messy business.
The men were closing in. Annabel’s pleas grew weaker. “Help me…”
Just as her legs were about to give out, she crashed hard into someone’s chest. The familiar scent instantly calmed her racing heart.
Annabel looked up. “You…” She tried to focus, to confirm if it was who she thought it was, but the light behind him obscured his face, and her vision
swam…
Jonathan Turner held the barely conscious girl tight. The unnatural heat radiating from her body made his expression darken ominously. A storm brewed in his eyes, ready to break. Someone dared to drug his woman!
Jonathan scooped Annabel into his arms and fixed his cold gaze on the men who’d caught up. His voice was chillingly calm, yet terrifying. “Did you do this?” he asked.
Reeking of alcohol, the bald man pointed a shaky finger near Jonathan’s face. “Put her down, asshole! She’s the girl we ordered. Ever heard of first come, first served?”
Jonathan’s eyes were devoid of warmth, looking at them as if they were already dead. “Get lost,” he commanded.
That single word sent shivers down their spines, sobering them up in an instant.
Still unwilling to give up the prize he’d almost had, the bald man foolishly stepped forward again. “Do you have any idea who I am? Piss me off and you won’t- Aaargh!”
Annabel was squirming in Jonathan’s arms, and he had no patience for the last words of dead men. He lashed out with a vicious kick, slamming his foot into the man’s stomach with enough force to send him crashing into the wall. The man crumpled, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The others stared, frozen in terror.
A cruel smile touched Jonathan’s lips. “You have a little time to run,” he said softly. “Once I’ve taken care of what’s important, you’re next.”
With that, he carried Annabel away swiftly. No one dared to stop him. They stood paralyzed, sweating, feeling as though they’d just stared Death in the
face.
Jonathan settled Annabel into the passenger seat of his car and made two quick calls.
The first was to Leonard. “Roots & Grains Restaurant. Find everyone who touched Annabel tonight. I don’t want to see them anywhe
The second was to Jillian. “Magnolia Heights. Get there, fast.”
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Chapter 38
Hanging up, he sped off. But then, a soft hand reached out, touching his cheek.
“Easy, Little Wildcat,” Jonathan murmured, his voice tight. “Don’t move around,”
His voice sounds nice, Annabel thought hazily. She whimpered softly, frustrated, and started fumbling with her seatbelt.
Annabel felt like she was burning up. Jonathan felt like cool relief, and she desperately needed it.
Jonathan saw it, his brow furrowing sharply as he pressed harder on the accelerator. Driven by the drug, she managed to unbuckle the belt and leaned heavily against him. “You’re so cool… feels so good to hold you…” she mumbled.
Driven by instinct, her lips parted, revealing small, sharp teeth, and she bit down hard on the source of that coolness–his neck.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, her soft chest pressing against his shoulder. Jonathan’s heart hammered against his ribs. He forced himself to stay calm, but beads of sweat dotted his forehead. “Be good,” he warned, his voice strained. “Don’t.”
“Hiss-” Jonathan sucked in a sharp breath.
The bite sent a jolt through him- part shock, part something else entirely. He nearly swerved the car into the roadside barriers. Screech! He wrenched the wheel back just in time, narrowly avoiding a crash.
But Annabel’s hands were already exploring, moving lower…
Jonathan’s gaze darkened. He slammed on the brakes, then swiftly chopped the back of her neck with the side of his hand.
“Ugh-” She slumped unconscious.
Jonathan took a few deep breaths to steady himself. Looking at Annabel, now limp in the passenger seat, he let out a wry sigh. “Sorry about that, Little Wildcat.”
Magnolia Heights.
Jillian saw Jonathan carrying Annabel and frowned. “Her again?” she asked, clearly annoyed.
“Don’t waste time,” Jonathan snapped.
Seeing Jonathan’s glare, Jillian shut up. Once Annabel was settled in the bedroom, Jillian dismissed the person who had helped carry her in and began
her examination.
“Hmm, what’s this?”
Jillian stared, surprised, at the rose marking on Annabel’s collarbone. She froze for a second, certain it hadn’t been there the last time she’d examined
her.
Last time it was a fever,‘ Jillian thought, ‘so it’s not just about body heat… ‘ Her eyes lit up as if she’d made a breakthrough. ‘Could it be… it only appears when she’s turned on?‘
“Un… comfortable,” Annabel mumbled, pulling Jillian back from her thoughts.
Jillian administered a remedy she’d concocted herself and set up an IV drip for Annabel. Only when she was sure Annabel was stable did she leave the
room.
Jonathan had been waiting right outside the door. “How is she?”
Jillian’s mind was still buzzing about that rose. It took her a moment to focus. “What?”
Jonathan’s eye twitched. He gritted his teeth. “I asked if she’s going to be okay.”
“She’ll be fine,” Jillian replied dismissively.
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Chapter 38
Jonathan frowned, irritated by her vague answer, “What’s on your mind?”
Jillian opened her mouth, then reconsidered. Discussing medical oddities with Jonathan probably wouldn’t lead anywhere interesting, She clamped her mouth shut and just shook her head.
Jonathan just stared at her, baffled.
After Jillian left, she grabbed a cab straight home and holed up in her study. This was the first time she’d found someone other than Jonathan genuinely intriguing.
All through the night, Jonathan stayed by Annabel’s side, watching over her.
When Annabel woke up, she felt surprisingly normal. Seeing her clothes were unchanged, she let out a massive sigh of relief.
‘Isn’t this the same villa as last time?‘ she wondered. She remembered the previous night vividly–Sutton drugging her, how close she’d come to being assaulted. But how did she end up here, with Jonathan?
Annabel got out of bed and headed downstairs just as someone emerged from the kitchen.
Leonard, looking surprisingly domestic, waved her over. “Annabel, hungry? Come eat.”
Annabel looked puzzled. “Did you rescue me last night?”
Leonard quickly shook his head, not about to steal Jonathan’s thunder. “Nope, that was Mr. Turner.”
Just as she suspected.
Annabel’s expression remained neutral. She gave a curt nod and turned towards the front door.
Leonard hurried to block her path. “Hold on, Annabel! Mr. Turner gave strict orders – I have to make sure you eat breakfast before you leave!”
“No, thanks,” Annabel refused coolly and walked out the door.
She had something important to take care of right now.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.