Page 25
Chapter 25 of "The Secret" begins the action: The Town Car couldnât get me to the club fast enough. Adrenaline surged through me... Discover the next part!
The Town Car couldnât get me to the club fast enough. Adrenaline surged through me as I fantasized about putting my fist through Gavinâs face. But when I got there, I couldnât find him or Tori. They werenât outside, they werenât at the bar, and they werenât on the dance floor.
I scanned the room, looking for Dmitriâs shaved head.
At least he wasnât hard to spotâhe was over six-foot-four and built like a brick wall. He was standing off to the side, barely blending in to the crowd, his eyes focused on something near the bathroom. My eyes followed his gaze, just as his expression became focused and concerned.
Thatâs when I spotted Tori.
She was weaving through the crowd, but not in her usual, graceful way.
No, she was stumbling and reaching out for stability. Something no one around her would offer. They all ignored her, despite the obvious physical distress she was in.
My blood boiled as I pushed through the crowd, needing to get to her.
Something was obviously wrong. How could no one be helping her?
I watched helplessly as she stumbled, her movements slow and uncoordinated. Was she that drunk? She seemed intoxicated, but Iâd seen her drunk beforeâand it was nothing like this. I couldnât imagine my wife drinking to the point of practically passing out in a crowded club.
It wasnât until I got closer and saw her slumped on the floor that I realized she wasnât drunk at all. She was barely conscious, her eyes glazed over. Totally incapacitated. It was obvious sheâd been drugged. Someone must have put something in her drink.
As I pushed my way toward her, my heart pounding, my anxiety spiking, I was beyond livid. I was ready to murder the person who had done this to her.
I scanned the crowd, looking for Gavin. The asshole who had apparently roofied her and abandoned her in the middle of the dance floor. There was no sign of him, so I focused my attention back on Tori, on reaching her before something happened.
âGet the fuck out of my way,â I ordered the people around me, all of whom were too busy laughing and grinding on each other to pay attention to the woman slumped on the floor.
When I finally reached her, our eyes locked for a brief moment before she passed out completely, her head rolling back against the tile.
âTori,â I yelled, my voice getting lost in the heavy bass pounding through the speakers. âTori!â But she was out cold.
Dropping to my knees, I cradled my wife in my arms, holding her against me. Her breaths were shallow against my neck, and I thanked god I had gotten here in time. I was sick to my stomach. I should never have let Tori out of my sight. It was too dangerous for her to be out without me. Even Dmitri hadnât been able to keep her safe.
This was what my secrets had wrought.
With a growl, I stood up and pushed through the mass of moving bodies, Dmitri at my side as I carried Tori through the crowd. She felt so small and delicate tucked up against me, and despite the emergency I couldnât help but savor it. It had been weeks since Iâd touched her.
But those feelings of relief at finding her, and any comfort I felt as I held her, were all washed away when I saw Gavin heading our way. Immediately I passed Tori over to Dmitri, who could handle her with one arm as I pushed my way over to Gavin.
âWhat the fuck did you do to my wife?â I demanded, grabbing him by his shirt and yanking him toward me.
âGet your hands off me,â he shot back, but he couldnât wrest himself out of my grip.
âWhat did you give her?â I needed answers. I was about five seconds away from beating the shit out of him in front of an entire club full of people.
âI didnât give her a damn thing,â Gavin said. âNothing she didnât want, anyway.â
I released him to gesture at Toriâs prone body, still draped over Dmitriâs arm.
âDoes this look like alcohol to you? She wasdrugged. And youâre the one whoâs been feeding her drinks all night. Donât lie to me again, asshole. Is this how you get women in bed?â
Gavin glanced over at Tori, his expression softening. Then he got up in my face, his eyes cold and flat. âLook. I donât know what the fuck is going on here,â he said. âBut the thing is? I wouldnât have to roofie her to get her in bed with me. Can you say the same?â
My fist came up, but before I could slam it into his smug face, Dmitri blocked me.
âLetâs get her out of here, boss,â he said, gesturing to Tori, who was pale in his arms. There was a light sheen of sweat across her forehead, and her breathing was still shallow.
I looked back at Gavin, whose face still looked like it deserved a good punch. Or twenty. But Iâd deal with him later. Dmitri was right. I had to get my wife home now. Take care of her.
âThis isnât over,â I told Gavin.