A chill shot through him. ’She is in danger.’ The thought crossed his mind, his pulse thundering with dread.
Snatching the device up, he shouted, "Zara." His sharp eyes scanned the area, his legs already carrying him forward.
Jaxon stiffened when he heard Nathaniel’s voice. He had been lingering outside the lounge, waiting to see Zara’s ruin, savoring the anticipation. But the mont he realized Nathaniel was around, the smile on his face disappeared. Fear seized him like ice.
If Nathaniel caught even a glimpse of him, it would be over.
Yanking his hood over his head, Jaxon slipped away quickly.
Nathaniel reached the lounge area and noticed the door was secured from the outside. He paused, glancing left and right, uncertainty clawing at him.
"Zara... where are you?" he whispered. "Where should I even look?"
A muffled cry pierced the silence. "Help..."
Nathaniel’s heart gave a leap. His head snapped toward the locked door. He was certain he had heard her voice coming out of the room. But the door was locked from the outside.
"Zara?" he shouted, louder this ti. "Are you inside?"
Inside the room, Zara’s strength was fading fast, but her will to resist burned stubbornly. When the man’s lips brushed her shoulder, she lashed out in desperation, looping her arms around his neck and sinking her teeth deep into his flesh.
"Argh," he cried out, pain ripping through his throat. But Zara clamped down harder, refusing to let go.
From outside ca Nathaniel’s voice, fierce and frantic. "Zara? What is happening in there?" He ramd his shoulder against the locked door, desperation fueling his action.
The man’s groan turned into a furious snarl. "You bitch." With a savage jerk, he tore himself free, clutching at the bleeding bite mark. His eyes blazed with rage. "Are you looking to die?"
Zara scrambled backward across the bed, pressing herself into the corner. Her gaze was frantic, unfocused, her mind clouded by the drug.
"Stay away from ," she shouted, her voice trembling.
But his fury had consud him. Any thought of "fun" was gone, replaced by the need to crush her defiance. He lunged at her with a roar, pinning her down.
"I’ll kill you," he spat, his hands tightening around her throat as he began to strangle her.
The door burst open, and Nathaniel stumbled into the room. His eyes fell on the scene before him, and a surge of rage shot through his veins. With lightning speed, he closed the distance in two long strides and grabbed the man by the collar, yanking him away from Zara.
"How dare you touch my wife?" he snarled, slamming him to the floor.
The man’s eyes widened, shock and confusion written across his face. "Your... wife?" he stamred. Recognition hit him slowly, draining the color from his face. "Mr. Grant?" he whispered, horror creeping up his spine.
Nathaniel wasted no ti. He leapt at him, fists flying, pounding the man’s face until blood ran freely.
"You..." Nathaniel growled, pointing a finger at him. "You picked the wrong person to ss with. I’ll finish this."
"Uh...It’s a misunderstanding," the man pleaded, covering his face. "Please don’t hit ."
Nathaniel didn’t listen to his plea. He raised his fist yet again to hit him, but froze when he heard Zara’s muffled cry.
Turning his attention to her, he saw her huddled in the corner of the bed, trembling, her torn dress barely covering her. The terror in her eyes twisted sothing deep inside him. In a swift motion, he removed his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders, then untied her hands.
But Zara recoiled violently, pushing him away. "Don’t touch . Stay back."
"Zara, it’s ," he said urgently, reaching for her.
"Don’t..." she shouted, shutting her eyes tightly, shoving his hand away again. "Let go of ."
Nathaniel gathered her into his arms despite her protests, holding her protectively. "I’m Nathaniel, your husband. Look at . It’s ."
When the na reached her ears, Zara dared to open her eyes. The mont she saw who it was, tears stread down her face. But a flicker of doubt still lingered.
Was this real, or just her mind playing tricks on her?
’Maybe I’m imagining this...’ she thought. ’Nathaniel could have gone ho already, maybe with Zane. Why would he be here?’
"Nathaniel, is that really you?" she asked skeptically, wondering if she was hallucinating.
"It’s ," he said gently, cupping her face.
The warmth of his hands, the familiar comfort of his presence, and the protection in his embrace slowly chipped away at the fear gripping her.
"Nathaniel," she whispered, relief and emotion flooding her chest. "You ca."
"I’m here—right here with you," he murmured, pressing her head to his chest. "You are safe now."
Zara finally let herself lt into his arms, her tension easing. But Nathaniel’s gaze hardened as it flicked back to the man still sprawled on the floor, clutching his throbbing jaw.
"I’ll take you ho," Nathaniel growled through clenched teeth. "But first, I’ll make sure this man faces the law."
"No! Please, Mr. Grant," the man stamred, panic-stricken. "Spare . Don’t call the cops—I didn’t know she was your wife. I thought... I thought it was a surprise from my friends."
"What?" Nathaniel’s eyes blazed. "A surprise? You thought my wife was a plaything!" His voice thundered inside the room. "You thought you could touch her and walk away unscathed. Do you even realize who you are dealing with?"
The man trembled. "Please... don’t... I didn’t know—It was a misunderstanding..."
His words only added to Nathaniel’s fury. Without breaking his gaze, he shifted slightly, keeping Zara close and safe.
"You’ve made a huge mistake," Nathaniel growled. "I could crush you right here. But I’ll let the law do it instead."
In the anti, three n rushed into the room, their faces draining of color the instant they saw what had unfolded.
"What’s going on here?" one of them asked urgently. "We were waiting for you there, and you—" His gaze flicked to the couple, and when it t Nathaniel’s icy glare, his words died in his throat.
The man sprawled on the floor groaned, "You told to co to the lounge, so I ca... but it was the wrong woman."
"Who told you to co here?" another snapped. "I sent you a ssage. Didn’t I say to et at the presidential suite?"
"Yes, I saw the ssage," the first replied, spitting out blood as he struggled to his feet. "But soone ca to and said the room had been changed. That’s how I ended up here."
"That’s nonsense. I sent no one," the second insisted.
"Enough," Nathaniel barked, his patience gone. "I don’t have ti for your excuses. None of you will walk away unpunished. I’ll make sure of it."
Cradling Zara protectively in his arms, he strode out, leaving the n staring, terrified and helpless.
Riya’s eyes followed Nathaniel as he vanished down the hallway, with Zara in his arms. Her fists tightened until her knuckles ached, and a fire of frustration and envy roiled within her.
Once again, Nathaniel had ruined her plan, and the sight of Zara being rescued only fanned the flas of her hatred.
"Why does she always have all the luck?" Riya hissed. "Why does he always show up for her?"
A cold, calculating thought slithered into her mind. ’I’ll make sure I win the next ti. I’ll make her pay, and no one will be there to save her.’
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