drug-induced reaction." Sebastian sat on the couch, talking on his cell phone with hi

"What did the

ing on the hospital bed, her delicate form covered by a soft wh

her to wake up. They n

state him to learn about her condition. Should I

for her to recover. Otherwise, I'll br

done. Come back home," Anton said sternly. "Your mother and I didn't get a

en them, making Anton fur

hand over this responsibility to anyone else. I promised her I

e her savior, you're wrong. She could en

er siege. Nikolai is after you. The fact that he knows all you

owledged the veracity of his father's claim that Nikolai Siege

ai became another symbol of terror. His network of contacts

n could even get a word in, Sebast

*

e eve

tal bed and instinctively took of

the man had his back turned to her. He stood by the window, lost in t

ot up in surprise. "You made it out aliv

r, pl

sed her a glass of water. He stared at her intensely, his

she reached out to place the glass bac

ank

pped under Sebastian's weight as he sat beside her, and she noticed hi

aving me." She spoke softly

d nonchalantly. "Let me call

r closed with a click. The balcony attached to her room caught her attention. Her sens

, breathing in the refreshing air and e

he cars rush by on the busy street. Then something clicked. She revolved and statio

ars again, and she looked u

me to re

to rescue me? Are you

quiet, and le

to rescue me, he would have made it a p

ng around as her mind explo

ovese men!' She rec

do I iden

wear emerald rings

e man who had just left the room, vividly recalling the gentle touch

enovese army.' Her heart raced as

*

tion at the emergency staircase. "We should leave. She is alive, and

Nate's. "If you say, I'll take care of her and bring her back. Staying in New Orleans is not safe for you.

I refuse to gamble with her well-b

stian noticed the subtle gestu

u like

a look that was a mix of disbelief and

, assemble the team, and rescue her. However, you acted independently without consulting your father or getting su

ife. It's a payback.

n, and his guard cautiously peeked inside. "

te's attention, and he arched an eyebrow a

are they? Another enemy of Genovese? Did he come to my rescue intendin

Sebastian's arrival made her gasp sharply. Her eyes locked on him. "I'v

s!' Her ear

the coffee table next to the patient's bed. Janet stayed still, her eyes

an

the couch across from him. "Well, I spoke to your doctor,

been forever since she had last savored a satisfying meal,

ah

ail that Sebastian didn't miss. "That's Barbeque

e." Janet smiled. She plated the dinner a

ank

d down-to-earth, sharply contrasting her father's ruthless demeanor. Meanwhile, Janet's rea

mbarrassment as she caught him staring at her. In response, Sebas

your n

m. "Hey, I was thinking...." He paused for a moment, then scrutiniz

re you

ld say anything, Sebastian interrupt

she noticed was the absence of the emerald ring. As he walked out of t

aving dinner with me?" Her

ust concerne

rig

y finished dinner in silence. "I spoke with your doctor. You'r

Sebastian left the room. She chugged a glass of

and as time passed, her hands developed welts and blisters. She looked at her re