Chapter 26
Victor Baldwin had no intention of letting either Vanderbilt sister escape tonight. He could simply wait for the other one to return, then have his way with both of them!
Vivian struggled briefly before the fast-acting drug took effect. Her limbs went slack, her body collapsing against him like a ragdoll. Victor smirked as he pinned her against the tiled wall. "That's it, baby. Come to daddy." Right there in the dingy club restroom...
Meanwhile, Evelyn knelt before the toilet, fingers clawing at her throat as she forced herself to vomit up every last drop of the spiked juice. She gasped for air, using the grimy walls to pull herself upright.
"Damn it!" Her voice was hoarse. "Both drinks were drugged!"
Not only was Victor after her - he'd targeted Vivian too.
The irony wasn't lost on Evelyn. Vivian had tried to set her up. But Evelyn wasn't about to play the victim. Let Vivian experience the consequences of her own scheming.
Splashing cold water on her face, Evelyn stumbled out of the nightclub. The neon lights blurred as she waved desperately at passing cabs. None stopped.
Her vision swam. The world tilted.
She collapsed onto the pavement, knees scraping concrete.
Nathan Goldmann's car slowed as Oliver pointed. "Sir, isn't that Miss Vanderbilt?"
Nathan's eyes darkened. "Pull over."
The moment his polished Oxfords hit the curb, Nathan stalked toward the crumpled figure. Had this reckless woman gotten herself drunk?
Hearing footsteps, Evelyn lifted her head. Her glassy eyes locked onto his.
The flush across her cheeks, the way her lips parted slightly - it was unexpectedly alluring. Nathan's throat tightened as he hauled her upright. "What the hell are you doing passed out on the street?"
Any predator would see her as easy prey.
Evelyn shook her head violently, shoving at his chest. "Don't... touch me..."
She turned to leave but stumbled. Nathan caught her effortlessly, her body molding against his in a way that made his muscles tense. When Vivian had thrown herself at him days prior, it hadn't sparked this visceral reaction.
He was losing control.
Nathan set her upright, gripping her shoulders. "Miss Vanderbilt, do you think—"
His words died as he noticed the blood dripping from her chewed fingertips. "Have you lost your mind?" he growled, capturing her wrists.
"Please..." Her voice was barely a whisper, stripped of its usual defiance. "Hospital..."
The raw plea cut through him. Something was very wrong.
Nathan swept her into his arms, barking at Oliver, "Drive. Now."
At the hospital...
The nurse adjusted Evelyn's IV before eyeing the two men. She zeroed in on Oliver. "Are you the boyfriend?"
Oliver's eyes bulged. "I—what?"
The nurse scanned the chart disapprovingly. "These performance-enhancing drugs require consent. I understand wanting to spice things up, but they're dangerous."
Oliver's face burned crimson. "No, I've never even—"
The nurse walked off, leaving Oliver sputtering. He turned helplessly to Nathan. "Sir, I—"
"Wait outside."
Once alone, Nathan studied Evelyn's unconscious form. He'd never properly looked at her before - not when every encounter involved claws and fangs.
The steady beep of the monitor filled the silence as he traced the delicate arch of her brows, the stubborn set of her jaw even in sleep. Who was this woman beneath the armor?