bChapter /bb6 /b

The events of the previous night came rushing back to her head, and panic sent

?

“W what… how did y you…? She mmered, her voice barely above a whisper, as she was unable to put a proper sentence out

She had lodged into the hotel so no one would find her, but he had, and not only that, he wasfortably sitting in the room, the same one he had made sure she locked.

His lips curled into a smirk, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, “You didn’t think you could drug me, run off, and hide in a ce a this, without me finding youb, /bdid you?”

As he spoke, he rose

Nivera’s pulse thundered in her ears as she scrambled off the bed, pressing herself against the wall “Stay away from me the hissed, though her voice trembled with fear..

Damn, she should bhave /bgotten a gun to protect herself.

The devil chuckled, the sound low and menacing, and it made goosebumps appear on her skin. “After what you pulledst night? Oh, I don’t think so.”

Her eyes darted to the door, wondering if she had a bchance /bof escaping, but he held bup /ba key, twirling it between his fingers

“Locked,” he said casually. “And even if you manage to escape, there bare /bmen downstairs who will capture you before you even step foot outside motel,”

Panic wed at fer chest as her mind braced/b. She had to find a way out.

“Although, I’m hoping you take the hard way out so I can punish you the way I want to.”

“What do you want?” she demanded, trying to steady her voice.

The devil began to walk, his movements slow and deliberate as he closed the bdistance /bbetween them. He towered over her, his presence suffocating.

Despite her being btall/b, in front of the man, she felt short.

“I want a lot from you,” he said, his tone icy. “But let’s start with who you areb, /band why did you think it bwas /ba good idea to drug me?”

Her heart pounded as she met his gaze, No, she couldn’t show she was afraid, bas /bthe devil looked like he bthrived /bon fearb, /bb“/bI’m not bafraid /bbof /byou” shelled.

her voice quivering.

He tilted his head, his smirk widening. “You should bbe /b

Hey sprawled across the plush, king–sized bed in his sprawling mansion, the soft silk sheets caressing his skin as he stretchedrily

The bed was soft just the way bhe /bliked it. The perfect level offort he had been waiting for all damn day

A smirk tugged at Alejandro Garcia’s lips as he sank deeper into the mattress.

The exhaustion that had clung to his bones bfinally /bbegan to lift, the kind of deepb, /bsatisfying rest he had been chasing for werks.

His smile suddenly faltered as ba /bnagging thought crept into his mindb, /bone he had been ignoring for minutes now.

He couldn’t remember driving home. How as that possible when he was in his room, on his bed?

He tried to remember how he got here, but his thoughts were sluggish, muddled

In fact, thest thing he remembered was being at the club his clubs after being called there,

The pulsating music, the dimly lit corridors, the sharp sting of a needle piercing his neck:

His eyes immediately snapped open, and he bolted upright, his heart pounding in his chest.

The luxurious bedroom dissolved before his eyes, reced by the familiar surroundings of his office at the clubs, He was on the sofa,

He groaned, pushing himself up, only to wince as a sharp pain stabbed through his neck.

His hand flew to the spot instinctively, fingers pressing against it. Gosh, it hurt

His jaw tightenedb, /band his expression darkened, his usual charm reced by a cold, calcting re, one that only happened when son

trouble.

“bFinally /bawake, see,” a familiar deep voice drawled from across the room.

Alejandro turned his head sharply, his eyes narrowing as theynded on Martins, his head of security, one whose presence he considered annoying but

one he couldn’t afford to not have around.

The man stood with his arms crossed, his broad frame casting a shadow over the room. His expression was unreadable, but Alejandro could

tension in the bair/b.

“What happened?” Alejandro’s voice was rough,ced with irritation.

“We found you bunconscious /bin the hallway alongside bthe /bdead goon,” Martins said, stepping closer.

“There were no cameras in that area, so it was hard to tell what happened exactly. The doctor we called said you were drugged. It’s worn off mostly bur you might feel a little sluggish for a while.”

Alejandro inhaled deeply through his nose, his bjaw /bclenching as he forced himself to push past the remaining dizziness. He was out? For how long!

“How long

was I unconscious for?”

“It’s already the next day. Afternoon.”

His hands curled into fists. If he’d been unconscious all night and most of the morning, then she had nearly a full day’s head start on him. That didn’t sit

well with bhim /bat

Martins studied him, his brows knitting together. “What exactly happened?”

Alejandro exhaled harshly, his bmind /bshing back to that moment in the hallway.

The way she had turned to him, her quick, precise movements as she injected him, She was no fool Who was she, and who sent her? He had ba /blot bof /b-enemies, so it was impossible to ascertain exactly who it was

I was drugged,” he said simply, not bothering to add any more details, as thest thing he needed anyone knowing was that he had been taken out by a

bwoman/b.

His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white, the anger simmering bbeneath /bthe surface threatening to bol bover /b

“That woman, the one who misbehaved with me at the club,” he growled, his voice dripping with venom. “Do we have anything on bh /b

Martins nodded, reaching into bhis /bjacket and pulling bout /ba slock ck folder. He then handed it to Alejandrob, /bwho snatched it without hesitation

Flipping it open, his eyes scanned the contents–a photo of the woman, her game, and a few sparse details.

It wasn’t detailed like the report he normally received which meant Martins was still working bon /bbit/b, but this would de

“Nivera Elton,” Martins said, confirming what Alejandro was already reading

We’re still gathering more information on her, but she used her credit card check into a motet not far from here. Seems she didn’t go far?

Alejandro’s lips curled into an evil smile, though his eyes remained icy “Good: Let’s pay her a visit

Martins raised an eyebrow. “You sure you’re up for it? That drug..

“I’m fine.” Alejandro snapped, cutting him off. He then stood, his legs slightly unsteady, but he steadied himself with a hand on the arm of the sofa.

“Get the car ready. We’re leaving now”

“Are you sure?” Martins frowned persistently. “You’re still recovering from what you were injected with ”

Alejandro shot him a look that silenced any further protests. “You’re driving”

Martins didn’t argue this time. Within minutes, they were in the car, the city blurring past as Alejandro satin brooding silence.

He ignored the lingering dizziness, focusing solely on the fire burning in his chest.

The drive to the motel was tense, the silence in the car broken only by the low hum of the engine.

Nivera Elton!

The name echoed in his head, each bsyble /bfueling his anger.

She had dared to cross him, to drug him in his own club. No one did that and walked away unscathedb. /b

He should have just fired the gun and killed her instead of wasting time.

When they arrived at the motel, Alejandro didn’t wait for Martins to open the door. He stepped out, his sharp suit a stark contrast to the gloomy surroundings.

The neon sign flickered above him, casting an eerie glow on the cracked pavement, and he strode inside, Martins following closely behind

The dimly lit lobby smelled of stale cigarettes and cheap cleaning products. He couldn’t even remember thest time he stepped foot in such a ce beneath him.

The receptionistb, /bba /byoung

young woman with too much makeup and a bored expression, looked up as they entered.

Her eyes widened when she recognized him, her mouth falling open in shock “M–Mr. Garcia?” she stammered, her voice trembling Wwhat are you doing here?

Alejandro ignored her initial shock, his tone cold and clipped as he spoke. “Nivera Elton. Which room is she inb?/b”

never thought I’d see the famous Alejandro Garcia in a ce like this. What brings you hereb?/b”

Alejandro’s patience snapped. He wasn’t in the mood for whatever the woman was doing.

“I asked you a question,” he pointed out coldly.

Her lips parted slightly at the sharp edge in his tone. She bhesitated/b, then tilted her head coyly.

“I can’t tell you sir as i’ll lose my job.”

“If you tell me, byou /bget to keep your job, or I could get in touch with some people and get this ce shut down for all the safety hazards,” he said smoothly, his voice quiet but carrying a weight that made her swallow nervously,

The receptionist’s brave expression faltered.

“Room number. And the key“

She bit her lip, debating for a moment before sighing “Look, sir, fcan’t just

Alejandro leaned in just enough for his presence to be overwhelming “Yourrey tarting to piss ma

His words were more than enough to get her to cave instantly

Wordlessly, she grabbed a key from behind the desk and slid it across the counter Broom 201,”

could lose my job…”

“Consider yourself lucky I’m not shutting this ce down,” Alejandro interrupted, snatching the key from her hand

He turned on his heel, Martins walking behind him as they headed for the stairs.

Alejandro barely noticed him. His mind was already locked onto one thing

Nivera Elton.

And the fact that in a few short minutes, she would no longer be running and her life from there on would be his to y

The climb to the second floor was quick, his long legs carrying him.

When they reached the room, he didn’t hesitate. He inserted the key, turned the lock, and pushed the door open

The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn. Alejandro stepped inside, his eyes scanning the space. His gazended on the figure lying i breathing slow and even.

Nivora Elton

unaware of the storm that was about to descend upon her

She looked so peaceful, so una

Alejandro’s Ups curled into a cold smile as he stepped closer, his shadow falling over her.

“Wake up, princess,” he muttered, ihis /ivoice dripping with mockery, “Weve aittle chat”

She didn’t wake up, and he looked around, finding a sols. Making his way over to it, he sat in his and waited patently for the sleeping beauty to wake

After all, what was the rushi? /i

bAD /b