Chapter 17
When Lena opened her eyes again, Alan was sitting right across from her on the sofa, cool and composed, like he’d been waiting for her to wake up.
She scrambled off the floor, backing away so fast she nearly tripped over herself. “Alan, what do you want?” Her voice shook.
He let out a cold laugh, picked up his glass, and started walking toward her, slow and deliberate. “What do I want?” he echoed. “You think we have nothing left between us, just because you gave me a child?”
Lena’s eyes darted to the door, but Alan kept coming. “We’re done,” she insisted, forcing the words out. “I had your child. There’s nothing left. Just let me go.”
He shook his head, his smile turning sharp. “Let you go? After what you did to Summer? You scarred her face. You almost had her-” his jaw tightened, “-you know exactly what you did. We haven’t even begun to settle that score.”
Panic flickered across Lena’s face, but then something changed. She pushed herself up, glaring at him. “What score?” she snapped, her voice trembling but defiant. “If you hadn’t let me do as I pleased, I wouldn’t have had the chance to hurt her at all. You think you’re blameless? Don’t kid yourself, Alan. You’re just as guilty as I am. We’re both in this mess.”
For a second, Alan’s eyes darkened with pain. He let out a bitter laugh. “You’re right. I won’t deny it–I have my own sins to pay for. And I will. But before I do, I’ll make sure you pay for yours.”
Lena clearly sensed the danger. She spun around, ready to bolt for the door. “Stop her!” Alan ordered.
A group of bodyguards rushed in, grabbing her and forcing her to the floor. Whatever bravado Lena had was gone in an instant, replaced by pure terror.
“No! Alan, please! You can’t do this to me!” she sobbed, tears streaming down her face. “I gave you a child, didn’t I? Doesn’t that mean anything? Please, just let me go!”
Alan crouched down in front of her, gripping her chin so she couldn’t look away. His eyes were cold, merciless. “A child? You never gave me a child. That baby was Summer’s and mine. You don’t deserve to have my child.”@
Lena shook her head frantically, but before she could protest, Alan forced a glass of water into her mouth, making her swallow every drop.
As soon as the guards let her go, she dropped to her knees, gagging and scratching at her throat, desperate to throw up whatever she’d just swallowed.
on the sofa, looking almost bored. “Even a single sip is enough. The effects will kick in soon.”
“Don’t bother,” Alan said, sitting full
Lena’s face drained of color. She tried to lunge at him, but her body was already betraying her–her skin burning hot, her breathing ragged; a low moan escaping her lips. She knew instantly what he’d done. He’d drugged her. And not just with anything–with something to make her lose control.
Alan watched her come undone, lips curled into a satisfied smirk. He clapped his hands, and a group of disheveled, filthy men were dragged into the room. Lena recognized every face–her so–called friends, and the thugs she’d once hired to hurt Summer.
“What are you doing?” Lena gasped, her voice thick with horror and the effects of the drug.
Alan crossed his legs, watching her with a cold detachment. “Didn’t you like chasing after men? Tonight, you’ll have your fill.“V
Before Lena could even scream, the drugged men lunged at her. Chaos erupted in the room, her screams swallowed by the storm outside.}
Thunder cracked, lightning flooding the room with harsh white light, just for a second illuminating Lena’s terrified, ghost pale face.
Alan walked to the door, opened it, and let the wind and rain slam into him. He calmly popped open his black umbrella.§
At the top of the steps, he paused and looked back at his head bodyguard. “Get it all on video,” he said, voice flat.
By the time Alan’s black Mercedes was tearing through the pouring rain, his mind was somewhere else entirely. He tapped his fingers on the window, phone pressed to his ear.
“Any news?” he demanded.
Every answer was the same: nothing.
The longer the storm raged outside, the heavier his heart felt.
Frustrated, he hung up and closed his eyes, lost in thought for a long, heavy moment. Finally, he opened them again and dialed another number.
The person on the other end sounded exhausted. “Mr. Clark, you should just give up. The Jefferson family–they’re way out of our league. If they want to hide someone, you’ll never find her, no matter what you do.“%
Alan’s voice was ice–cold. “Shut up. I’ll find her even if it kills me.”
Without another word, he shot a look at his driver. “Turn around. We’re going to the Jefferson estate.”
Chapter 18
