He stiffened. “Stay away from her---”
“Or you’ll do what, lover?” Red Widow asked crazily, and then gripped her nape in a brutal grip. Her blue eyes glazed over further as she gasped to catch her breath. When she couldn’t withstand the lack of oxygen any further, she released the clench on herself before meeting his eyes again. “Are you going to beat me? No! You won’t do that. While you’re many things, you’re not the type of man to hurt a woman.”
“You really are crazy,” he muttered with amazement, fully realizing that he was interacting with a deranged individual. Then, changing his tone, he took a different tactic. “Look, Red Widow. Things have gone too far. If I encouraged you and made you believe that we were something more, I’m sorry. Truth is, our association doesn’t go past the few times that I served as your escort.” He made a careful step forward. “Why don’t you put your clothes back on? Walk out of here, and we’ll forget that this little scene even happened---”
“Don’t patronize me, damn it! I’m not crazy!” she raged with unbridled violence. “Unlike that little bitch that you’ve been fucking ad nauseam, I know how to fight for what I want.”
“You better leave her out of this,” he warned in a low tone, treading forward. But, then, he stopped as the room swayed off-balance. Closing his eyes, he shook his head to clear it. Yet, still, it seemed that his thoughts lacked focus. “If you don’t----”
He staggered again.
As he did, she released a gleeful laugh.
Whirling around unsteadily, he stumbled back to the wet bar before crashing into the counter. As he did, the hard impact sent the tumbler and half-empty bottle crashing to the floor. He clutched the edge of the counter and fought to hold on. But, quickly losing grasp, he crumpled to the floor. His words came out in a wheezing breath, and the strange sensations in his head squeezed out any coherent thought. “W-what in the hell did you put in my drink?”
A shadow fell across him as she stopped beside him. “Don’t fight it,” she breathed crazily. “Just let it happen.”
He struggled to rise.
Yet, the mental pressure of impending darkness impeded his actions. As his strength slipped away, he leaned against the counter weakly. Still, he released an angry growl. “Stay the hell away from me.”
This time, her laughter was odd, sounding out-of-worldly in a sense. Even her words seemed to be fading in and out. “She’ll never belong to you…you’re mine…always…”
Those chilling message were the last words that his dark mind could hold.
In a rush, the darkness closed in.
Red Widow stared down at Reign’s unconscious body with triumph. “Finally, the mighty Reign has fallen,” she murmured coldly, nudging his limp body with her foot. “Didn’t I say that you’d regret your actions? Maybe now, you’ll heed my every word.” As the opening door made a slight squeak, she shot an impatient look in its direction. Then, she rose to her full 5’8” stature. “How much shit did you put in his drink? I swear he’s as good as any dead man.”
“Didn’t want to take any chances, Mrs. Jones,” the muscular henchman muttered, crossing the room to her, and then offered the thick terry robe out to her. “Here, I thought that you might want to cover up.”
“No. Put that thing away,” she snapped angrily, stepping around him, and then stomped back to the bed. Then, she proceeded to crawl back under the sheets. “We’re already operating on limited time.” She slipped an anxious look towards the corner where an unconscious Corey lay. “I know that you knocked beach boy a pretty good one. But, who knows how long he’ll be out. We have to get this done and fast. You got the camera?”
“Who needs a fucking camera in this day and age?” the henchman smiled cruelly, whipping out his smart phone. “We’re in the digital age now, baby.”
She scowled at the 350 pound gorilla-sized henchman from the bed. Of course, she’d have to bear all to someone as unappealing as the unsightly pimply-faced creature standing before her now. But, sometimes duty called for extreme measures, and in anything Quincy was as loyal as any mutt. “Quit rambling and put his ass on the bed. Be gentle and don’t hurt him, okay?” Red Widow instructed in a whip-like tone. Then, her eyes narrowed as she noticed the henchman’s appreciative look. “Put your eyes back in your head. Never in a million years would you be able to touch this masterpiece. Now, get to work.”
“Alright, alright,” Quincy mumbled irritably.
Bending down, the henchman lifted Reign from the floor before slinging him across his shoulder. Then, once reaching the bed, he dumped him beside Red Widow. “Here’s pretty boy, freshly delivered.” Then, he looked at her uncomfortably. “Look, I’m down with a lot of things, even murder, but sexual assault isn’t something that I’m comfortable---”
“I’m not going to sexually assault him, you idiot! Believe me, if it were sex that I were after, I’d want him fully alert. All I need you to do is take some damn pictures of us together and that’s it,” Red Widow snapped. “Can you at least do that?”
His face flushed red. “Yeah, I can handle that.”
“Good. Now let’s get on with it.” Her mouth turned into a pout as she stared at Reign. “I’m sorry that it had to come to this, babe,” she said with a tinge of regret and smoothed a hand lovingly along his face. Then, after mussing her auburn tresses in a disarrayed fashion about her face, she cuddled closer to Reign’s unconscious form. “Take a lot of pictures. Make us look good.” A throaty laugh left her as the henchman began taking the snapshots. “I’d love to be there to see that little twit’s face once she gets these shots.” She frowned again. “Speaking of the twit---how’s it going?”
“Benson’s tailing her as we speak,” Quincy mumbled, taking a step back before angling his smart phone, and then took a quick snapshot. “Don’t worry. He’ll scare her up pretty good.”
“Then, with these pictures, we’ll go in for the emotional kill. Once she sees them, she’ll never want to have anything to do with Reign ever again.”
Chapter 19
Bypassing the small crowd near the fountain, Hayven entered the hotel sauna. As she stepped further inside, she was still consumed with a sense of hopelessness. Although Christopher had left hours ago, he managed to dictate her every feeling and thought.
She wiped a hand across her face, and there was no dismissing the puffiness of her eyes. Without a doubt, they were still red and swollen from her endless sobbing. Perhaps, a few minutes here would help alleviate her stress and lift her low spirits, she mulled, clutching the towel and bottled water close to her robed figure.
A thin layer of steam already masked the room and swirled around in lazy circles. Carefully, she made her way across the sauna with her sandaled feet. She shot a fast gaze around, finally choosing the vacated area at the far corner.
There were three other women there, and obviously a bridal group since they were gushing about the impending nuptials that’d take place the next morning.
Sighing, she disrobed, baring the black swimsuit that fit too snugly, she thought with embarrassment, sparing a fast look at the other women.
Of course, she wasn’t as perfectly shaped as they were, and no doubt, they didn’t have stretch marks or blemishes marring their skin either.
But, Christopher hadn’t minded her minor imperfections…in fact, he’d found her perfect…he made her feel perfectly beautiful…
That very thought was proven every time he touched her body…rendered her speechless as he’d made love to her…
But, more than that, she liked him immensely. She enjoyed his company and being around him. Like a magnet, she was drawn to everything that made him…
Yet, with all the things working against them, how could they make them work?
The fresh tears sprang to her eyes, and she fought to push them back. As she turned away from the other women, she hastily brushed the tears away, and thankfully, she was out of earshot. “I have to stop thinking about you,” she whispered quietly, blinkin
g back more tears. “But, how do I do that, especially when you’re the one thing that I selfishly want?”
Already, a fine sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead as she settled on the tiled seat. With all hope, the soothing heat would be effectual in relaxing her tensed muscles and troubled thoughts. Closing her eyes, she propped her back against the wall and fixated her mind on the pleasing atmosphere.
Several minutes later, she yawned drowsily before straightening on the tiled seat. She’d been so relaxed that she’d been oblivious to the other women’s departure, she mulled while looking around.
Standing, she wiped the perspiration from her face. Then, she dabbed the residual moisture from her exposed skin with the large towel. After wiping the moisture from her feet, she straightened with a deep frown. “Goodness, what’s the temperature in here? It feels like its 100 degrees,” she grumbled in protest and reached for the bottled water. After taking a drink, she twisted the cap back on. “I’ve probably been in here long enough anyway.”
After sliding her feet into the sandals, she eyed the robe with a frown. As stifling as the humidity was in the sauna now, she’d likely suffer a heat stroke. But, she certainly couldn’t step out of the place half-nude either, she argued silently, shrugging the robe on anyway. Grabbing the half-full water bottle and towel, she made way for the exit.
Mere seconds later, however, she felt incredibly drained once reaching the door. The air was almost too stifling to breathe in. Still, she fought to haul in a ragged breath, and as a result, a deep hacking cough split from her lungs.
Escaping the blistering heat was her foremost thought. But, as quickly as she grasped the door handle, she snatched her hand away from the stinging hot metal. The throbbing pain shot through her injured hand and up through her arm. “Oh goodness, that hurts,” she groaned, stumbling back, and swayed unsteadily on her feet. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
This time, though, she wrapped the towel around the doorknob before grasping it with her uninjured hand.
She pushed on the handle.
A horrifying surprise filled her when the door didn’t budge. “This can’t be happening,” she said in disbelief, and her panic quickly set in. She banged against the door with her fist. “Somebody help! I’m locked in!”
But, still, she didn’t hear movement on the other side. She jiggled the handle more frantically. “Come on, come on…open…please open,” she prayed fervently, swallowing against the tears in her throat. “Please…open…”
She pounded on the door hard again---thirty or forty seconds straight.
Still, nothing…
“I can’t take this,” she whispered miserably.
The heat was criminally hot.
In streams, the perspiration ran down her face and soaked the cotton robe. Breathing hard and fast, she shrugged the robe off. Yet, it did little to lessen the fiery heat in the sauna. As she looked feverishly around the room, she felt off-balanced, and her mind was so befuddled that nothing made sense. Her throat was parched and dry. At that moment, she’d done anything for just a minute sipping of water. “W-where’s my water? I had w-water…”
Dazed, she looked towards the floor, but her gaze was off-centered, so much so that everything was a total blur. Her panicked cry slipped past her dry lips. “Please…I need water.”
She beat against the door feebly, and now, her weak pleas were barely audible. The scalding tears coursed down her face. “Somebody…help me…”
The hot heat was strangling.
She fought to find a breath.
Sobbing softly, weakened, she slapped a hand against the door again. But, the blinding darkness, it overwhelmed her in a rush. In her fogged state, she made a final plea. “Christopher…help me…”
The darkness seized her last words as she crumpled to the floor.
Chapter 20
The steady beeping sound awakened her from the confused state. As her eyes flew open, she stared at the white ceiling. Her foggy brain fought to find some semblance of reality. The hot tears burned her eyes, and it hurt to even breathe. “Christopher…” she whispered quietly, but not loudly enough to disturb the doctor who spoke in a low tone a few feet away from the bed. “It hurts…”
Turning her head slowly, she looked towards the door.
The doctor was speaking with someone.
Her father…
What was he doing here?
Better yet, where was she?
Although her skin felt like it’d been stuck by a thousand prickly needles, she shifted in the bed before wincing in pain. This time, however, she spoke more forcefully against the pain in her raspy throat. “D-dad…”
Both her father and the physician turned toward her in startled surprise. Her father rushed from the door while the doctor approached at a much slower pace.
The relief spread through her at the sight of her father. Six foot three, lean posture, and at 56 years old, Jonas Grace was still as handsome as ever. The gray tinged the edges of his curly black hair, and his brown eyes were filled with their usual kindness. Immediately, he offered emotional comfort as he reached the bed. When she attempted to rise up in the bed, her father dissuaded her efforts with a gentle hand. “No, sweetheart, don’t over-exert yourself,” Jonas said firmly before staring down at her. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
The huge tears in her eyes threatened to pool over. “Why am I here?” she whispered, grasping her father’s large hand tightly. “And why do I hurt all over?”
Jonas sighed in concern. “You don’t remember?”
“I---I---” she stammered with dismay and brushed at the tears as they splashed against her cheek. But, as hard as she tried, she couldn’t recall any memories. “No, I can’t. Everything is dark.”
“I’m Dr. Turner,” the physician murmured, clutching the medical chart close to his side, and then moved to the right side of the hospital bed. “I’ve been handling your case since you arrived at the hospital last night.”
“I’ve been here all night?” she asked stunned.
Dr. Turner nodded. “Yes. Considering the state that they found you in, it’s not surprising that you’re experiencing temporary confusion.”
Her frown deepened. “Found me?”
“Hayven, you were at the hotel. One of the housekeepers happened upon you in the hotel sauna. It appears that the attendant was unaware that it was occupied. The sauna’s heat was turned up to an excessive level while you were in there, and you collapsed,” Jonas relayed quietly. “You’re very fortunate…”
As her father continued to speak, her mind trailed off.
Hotel?
Sauna?
In a hurried rush, the memories flooded black. Like black and white snapshots, they flashed in succession. She’d been at the hotel with Christopher and they’d talked….they’d parted ways after she’d broken things off….he’d left…she’d gone to the sauna seeking peace….the sauna door had been blistering hot…
“I remember,” she said dazed, looking between her father and the doctor. “I remember everything.”
Jonas patted her hand. “Good. But, we don’t want you to worry about anything. The attendant that was responsible for the sauna control, he’s been placed on suspension until further investigation. It was rather careless on his part not ensuring that the sauna was properly managed,” her father replied, firming his lips. “I have a good mind to pursue further avenues---”
“No, Dad. It’s over. I’m safe,” she said quietly, feeling her earlier trepidation return. Then, sobbing, she clutched her father’s hand more tightly. “All I can remember is it being so hot, and I couldn’t get out.”
Jonas took the spot beside her on the bed, and he was careful as he hugged her. “Shhhh, everything’s going to be okay. I’m taking you home. Your mother and I will take good care of you.”
Home?
Was it really that any longer?
Especially since she’d be leaving behind the one man that meant everything…
>
Sobbing uncontrollably, she hugged her father closer.
“The nurse will bring in something to help you rest, okay?” Dr. Turner said, and his blue eyes crinkled with empathy. “And she’ll give you some pain medication as well. If you need anything, just buzz the nurse’s station.”
Her father gave a firm head shake. “Thank you, doctor.”
Moments later, as promised, the nurse arrived with a small cart, bearing both a sedative and pain medication. Her father stood across the room, talking to her mother on the phone. Earlier, she’d broken down in tears upon hearing her mother’s voice, and she’d wanted to reveal the very thing that was troubling her.
Christopher…
Her eyes welled with fresh tears.
“Here, take this,” the young nurse smiled gently, passing the small paper white cup containing the pills. Then, after that, she passed the cup of water. “It’ll give you the rest that you need.” She watched as she downed the medicine. After she did, she confiscated the two cups. “If everything goes well, you’ll be released tomorrow morning. In the meantime, if there’s anything that you need, just alert the nurse’s station, alright.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
Several moments later, she succumbed to the painkillers and sedatives.
It was roughly 2:15 pm when she awakened again.
Pushing up in the bed, she sat against the pillows before retrieving the handwritten note left by her father.
Gone to the cafeteria to eat lunch and make a few phone calls…please call if you need anything…love Dad…
“I love you, Dad,” she sighed, leaning back against the pillows. “But, I need this alone time to think.” She swallowed against the thick tears. “To think about the one man that I shouldn’t want, but do want. Oh Christopher, I need you.”
She looked towards the hospital phone.
The heat flamed her face.
Apart from calling Club Illusion, she had no other way of contacting Christopher. Even worse, she didn’t even know his last name. Still, too, she mulled, brushing the stray tear from her cheek, they hadn’t parted on the best of circumstances.
Reign on Me Page 24
