Chapter 4: Night Visit

Luke’s POV

I heard James said, "Mr. Carter, Red Falcon want ten billion dollars to treat Ms. Quinn."

“Ten billion dollars?” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. The number should have shocked me and made me pause. Instead, I said "Done" without hesitation. For Sarah, any price was worth it.

I ordered, “Make the arrangements.”

The memory of that night in Chicago nightclub struck me. My drink had tasted weird, but by the time I noticed something was wrong, the club was already spinning like a crazy merry-go-round. Next I was face-down on the damn marble floor, feeling an intense heat spreading through my body.

Then a girl turning me over, and through the fog I caught a distinctive scent - something medicinal but oddly sweet, mixed with a hint of blood. Her voice cut through the haze. "Are you OK?"

She stumbled me to a quiet place and began to examine my body. Her hands were small, and when she touched me, she made my hot body comfortable. I struggled to maintain my consciousness and said, "Call a doctor for me."

Her voice seemed to come from far away. "You've been drugged, sir. There's no other way to get rid of it but to..." But to what? I found that my hands were already tightly gripping the soft girl, and my lust was clamoring to possess her. Finally, I spoke, my voice unusually hoarse, "Then help me, good girl." I pressed her down and kissed her on the lips. "Open your mouth," I commanded. Her mouth was so sweet that I frantically plundered her air.

In the next time, I thrust into her, making her completely mine. Hearing her painful and comfortable moans, I let out a joyful laugh. “It’s comfortable, isn’t it?” She trembled under me, like a poor kitten. So cute.

When I woke up, it was the next morning, and the girl was gone. I'd been so sure it was Sarah when I found her weeks later, carrying that same unique medicinal scent. She'd been taking some kind of prescription medication since childhood. For three years, I'd carried that debt, protected her and cared for her.

My phone buzzed again: [No suspicious activity detected.]

No shit. I gripped the phone so hard I thought I might crack the screen. I'd just agreed to pay ten billion dollars to Red Falcon who might not even show up. But I had no choice.

---

Sarah's sobbing hit me the moment I entered the room. She collapsed into my arms, her whole body shaking. "Luke, someone tried to kill me—"

"Don’t be afraid," I whispered, already pulling out my phone to call security. "Lock down the hospital. Nobody leaves without being searched."

The bruises on Sarah's neck made me freeze. These were clean, precise marks, placed with surgical accuracy. The kind of thing only someone with medical training would know how to do.

The thought hit me like a punch to the gut. Tara knew exactly where to press to cause pain without leaving permanent marks. I'd seen her hands work with that same precision for three years, treating patients, handling surgical tools...

No, Tara might be angry, but she wouldn't...

Would she?

Sarah's breathing gradually steadied against my chest, her fingers clutching my shirt like it was a lifeline. Through the window, Manhattan's lights sparkled on.

"I won't let anyone hurt you," I promised, stroking her hair. The words felt hollow even as I said them.

Because I didn't know what Tara was capable of anymore. Three years of marriage, and I was just now realizing I probably never knew her.

The night pressed against the windows, dark and full of questions.

---

Tara’s POV

The nurse's uniform itched against my skin as I moved through the hospital corridors. It was easy to slip past Luke’s precious guards.

My hand tightened around the vial of Sarah's blood in my pocket. One quick analysis, and I'd know exactly what we were dealing with. The portable spectrometer hummed as it processed the sample, and I found myself holding my breath.

When the results popped up on my phone screen, a string of curses slipped out before I could stop them. "Son of a bitch," I whispered, staring at the chemical composition. This was my formula. It was called Mesmer, a special poison. Someone had stolen Mesmer and used it on Sarah.

I went back to her room in rage before I could think better of it. She lay there looking like a sleeping princess, all pale skin and perfect features. My fingers twitched with the urge to mess up that pretty face.

"Cut the act," I said, watching her breathing change.

Her eyes snapped open, fear replacing the fake serenity. It was real fear this time, not the manufactured kind she'd shown in the warehouse.

She called out, "Who—"

My hand shot out, clamping over her mouth. The feel of her pulse racing under my fingers sent a thrill through me. "One sound," I breathed, "and you'll never make another. Nod if you understand."

She nodded frantically, tears welling in her eyes.

"Now," I said, slowly removing my hand, "let's talk about that poison in your system."

"I don't - I don't know anything," she gasped. "Please, Luke will—"

The sound of my palm connecting with her cheek was deeply satisfying. "You’re  always hiding behind Luke like a scared little girl."

My fingers found her throat, applying just enough pressure to make her eyes go wide. "You know what's funny? I wasn't planning to kill you tonight. But you're making it really tempting."

"Who sent you?" she choked out, clawing at my hand.

I laughed - a low, ugly sound that surprised even me. "Wrong question, princess. You should ask who am I."

She still looked confused. "No... you can't..."

Then I heard footsteps in the hallway. It must be Luke. The way his left foot hit slightly harder than his right, the measured pace that meant he was worried but trying to hide it.

I released Sarah just as the door handle turned, already moving toward the shadows. Her scream was perfectly timed. "Luke! Someone tried to kill me! The nurse—"

I was through the connecting door before he could fully enter, Sarah's theatrical sobs fading behind me. My heart was racing, from pure adrenaline.

Let her tell him. Let him post more guards, beef up security, try to protect his precious Sarah. None of it would matter.

Because now I had something more important to investigate. Someone had stolen Mesmer, wanting Sarah dead almost as badly as I did.

As I was about to leave, I heard Luke's gentle voice coming from behind me. He was comforting the frightened Sarah as if they were a couple.

I walked to the back door of the hospital, where Peter was waiting for me in the car. I said directly, “Sarah was poisoned by Mesmer.”

I could clearly see the shock on Peter's face. He asked curiously, “Boss, it turned out to be your legendary work, but wasn't it destroyed by you along with the secret recipe three years ago?”

I shook my head. “There is also the last one, in the Harrison family. Let’s meet Howard. I haven't seen him in three years.”

Peter checked his phone and said, “But Mr. Harrison went on a business trip to Chicago.”

“Then buy me a plane ticket,” I said.