Justified

  “You have my word,” he says.

  I hang up and go to my suitcase to pull out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, getting dressed quickly before zipping up my bag. Then I pull my phone out and head down to the lobby of the hotel. As soon as I reach the front entrance, I call Wesly and quickly let him know that I’m on my way back to the US and I will be calling Mr. Yakamora. I’ll need to explain that I had to leave Japan immediately and any business we need to discuss can be taken care of via conference call.

  I won’t be leaving Chloe again, even if I have to handcuff her to me.

  “Can I take your coat?” the flight attendant asks.

  I hand it to her and pull out my phone from my pocket when it begins to ring. “Yes?”

  “Sir, I wanted to give you an update. The doctor has her on an IV, and they are running a few more tests, but they believe she was drugged with Zolpide and she had an allergic reaction to it.”

  “Who the fuck was close enough to her to drug her?” I demand.

  “Sir, I’m not sure,” Ricket says quietly.

  “Can I speak with her?”

  “She hasn’t woken up yet,” he says almost under his breath, and a ball of hot rage fills my chest.

  “Call me the moment she wakes up,” I hiss, running a shaky hand through my hair, “and for fuck’s sake, find out what the fuck happened!” I shout, clicking off the phone.

  By the time we land in New York, my anxiety level has tripled. Chloe still hasn’t woken up and there is no evidence on the tapes showing that anyone had the opportunity to drug her.

  It takes an hour to make it from the private airstrip in Westchester to the hospital in downtown Manhattan, where Chloe is. As soon as I pull up outside of the hospital, Ricket is there to meet my town car. Without a word, I follow him into the hospital, and as soon as I step off the elevator, my hackles rise. Maxine is standing in the hall with a man I have never seen before.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask her as soon as I get within speaking distance.

  Her head turns towards me and she smiles. “I thought it would be best if I met you here,” she says quietly and starts to reach out her hand to touch me.

  I instantly pull away. “You thought wrong. You can go,” I tell her, taking a step towards Chloe’s room, but the man who was standing with her steps in front of me, blocking my path. “I suggest you move aside,” I tell him.

  “Do you now?” he asks and steps in front of me again when I try to move around him.

  If I weren’t exhausted from traveling and worrying, I would lay the kid out, but as it stands, he may be able to get one over on me.

  “Sir, this is Chloe’s boyfriend,” Maxine says from beside me, and I turn to look at her then back at him.

  “The only man in Chloe’s life is me. Now get the fuck out of my way,” I bark.

  He opens his mouth and begins to speak, but one of my men steps in, wrapping his hand around the guy’s arm. He starts to struggle but quickly stops when my man leans down and says something to him.

  I turn towards Chloe’s room then stop and look over my shoulder. “Bernard.”

  My bodyguard stops and turns to look at me as well as the guy. “Yes, boss?” he asks, looking back at me.

  “I want to know everything about him, and make sure he understands he is not allowed to even breathe the same air as Chloe again,” I tell him.

  He lifts his chin and starts to lead the guy away.

  “Now, you,” I say, turning towards Maxine before heading into Chloe’s room. “If I find out you’ve somehow had a hand in all this shit, you will pray I end you.”

  “Nolan,” she whispers, and I shake my head.

  “Get out, now,” I snarl.

  She jumps slightly before quickly turning and walking away. I take a breath and stretch my neck before stepping into the room where Chloe is.

  The TV is on, blue light casting a glow around the room. My eyes go to the bed, and I take my angel in before stepping towards her. The blankets are tucked around her, her hands at her sides. Her eyes are closed, her dark lashes lying over her cheekbones. Her hair is up, and I can tell she styled it by the way the curls are still holding in her normally straight hair. I walk towards her and see that one of her hands has an IV attached. It feels like it takes forever to make it the ten steps to her side. My hand instantly goes to her face, and my fingers travel down her jaw when I see a large bruise there.

  “Jesus, Angel. What the fuck happened?” I whisper, looking her over. I can’t believe this happened to her. I slip off my shoes and climb into the bed with her, being careful not to move her too much as I wrap myself around her.

  “Nolan,” Chloe says as I feel her fingers travel though my hair.

  I smile and open my eyes a crack. As the events of the last twenty-eight hours come back to me, the smile disappears and my eyes open completely, meeting Chloe’s concerned ones.

  “Angel.” I swallow, gently pulling her closer so I can press my lips to her forehead.

  “Why am I here?” she whimpers, and I can hear the tears in her voice.

  I pull slightly away from her so I can look into her eyes. “You got sick and passed out in the bathroom of the club.”

  “I told them I didn’t want to drink,” she says faintly, making me instantly annoyed with the people she had gone out with. I should have known better than to trust anyone with her care.

  “It’s okay,” I say, sitting up on the side of the bed while pressing the call button for the doctor. Then I slip on my shoes.

  “Are you okay?” she asks, and the touch of her hand causes me to let out a sharp breath.

  I’m so maddened by the thought of what could have happened to her that I could kill. I turn towards her and push my own personal demons aside. She needs me now, and I cannot let my own emotions overrule that.

  “Fine, Beautiful,” I tell her, running a hand over her hair.

  “Sir,” Ricket says, which is followed by someone else’s, “You’re awake.”

  When I turn my head, an attractive man a few years younger than I am walks in wearing a set of dark-blue scrubs.

  “I’m Alex, Chloe’s nurse.” He smiles, looking at Chloe a little too long before his eyes meet mine at me.

  “We’re fine, Ricket. Thank you,” I say, watching him leave before turning to look at Alex.

  “I’m going to get the doctor. Do you need anything before that?” he asks Chloe, taking a step closer to the bed.

  “I need to use the restroom,” Chloe says softly, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

  “I can help you with that,” he says, but I block his way.

  “You just get the doctor. I’ll make sure she makes it to the restroom,” I snarl, and a smile twitches his lips, making a growl vibrate my chest.

  “Let me just unhook her IV. That way, it’s a little easier for you,” he says.

  I want to tell him no, but I know that, logically, that doesn’t make sense, so I reluctantly step aside so he can get to Chloe. It only takes a second for him to get her unhooked, and then he leaves the room.

  “I can walk,” she complains as I pick her up and carry her into the bathroom.

  “Not yet,” I tell her, helping her to the toilet. I stand at my full height over her, and her eyes narrow.

  “You don’t need to wait in here with me. I’m fine,” she says.

  I sigh, shaking my head. “Until the doctor says otherwise, you’re not to be left alone.”

  “I hate when you get bossy,” she grumbles.

  I shrug. She can find it annoying all day long, but it won’t change anything.

  After she finishes in the bathroom and I help her wash her hands, I carry her back to bed just in time for the doctor to walk into the room followed by Nurse Alex.

  “Miss Kasters,” Chloe’s doctor says, coming to stand next to the bed, “how are you feeling?”

  Chloe looks from the doctor, to me, then back again. “A little out of it,” she frowns.

  The doctor
nods and looks down at the tablet in her hand. “That’s understandable. Your blood results came back, and it appears you had quite a bit of the drug Ambien in your system.”

  “Isn’t that sleeping medication?” Chloe asks, and I take her hand in mine.

  “Yes, but it’s also used as a predator drug.”

  “Do you mean like a date rape drug?” Chloe asks, and her nails dig into my skin.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” the doctor replies softly.

  “Did I…” Chloe whispers then pauses to look at me.

  The fear and confusion I see in her eyes has me moving so I can hold her face between my hands. “No, Beautiful,” I reply on a hoarse whisper. “You passed out in the bathroom at the club, but no one touched you.”

  Her eyes close, and I pull her closer to me, placing my lips to her forehead.

  “No one touched you,” I repeat against her skin.

  She nods, and I sit back.

  “I know this is very upsetting, but everything seems to be fine now.” The doctor smiles softly at Chloe.

  “How long must she stay here?”

  “I would like to monitor her for the next two hours. If she doesn’t show any signs of having a concussion, I’ll release her.” She looks from me to Chloe and lowers her voice. “I need you to let me know if anything changes over the next seventy-two hours. You have been asleep for a long time, but we believe that it was due to the amount of Ambien in your system.”

  “Maybe it would be best if she stays here,” I state, not wanting to risk something happening to her while out of the hospital.

  “I’m fine,” Chloe says, and I look at her then back at the doctor.

  “Are you sure it’s a good idea to send her home?” I ask, watching a smile twitch her lips as Chloe cuts me off with, “I’ll be okay.”

  I let out a breath and look at my angel. I despise that this has happened, and I don’t know how I’m going to function. Since I met Chloe, I have felt the need to protect her. Now, with this turn of events, I feel that urge getting stronger.

  “If the doctor says you should stay, you’re staying,” I state, leaving no room for an argument.

  “She already said I could go home,” Chloe says, and I hear a chuckle from either the doctor or “Alex the Nurse” and ignore it.

  “Maybe we should get a second opinion,” I grumble under my breath.

  “Nolan, that’s ridiculous,” she states, rolling her eyes.

  I begin to wonder if she hasn’t really hurt herself. I can’t remember Chloe ever being so defiant.

  “She just told you I’m okay. If anything changes, I can come back.”

  “Okay,” I say and then look at the doctor. “I’ll need the number for an at-home nurse.

  “Nolan,” Chloe chimes in.

  “No,” I assert, swinging my head in her direction. “If you’re coming home, we’re doing it my way.”

  She must understand from my tone that this is not something I will budge on, because she instantly jerks her head in an up-and-down motion.

  “Now, if that’s everything, she needs her rest until you release her,” I bark, looking from Chloe, to her doctor, and then to Alex.

  I know it makes no sense to be angry, and I’m not mad at Chloe—I’m mad at this situation. Being who I am, I’m used to having control, and this situation is completely out of my hands. I know I won’t be able to rest easy until I find out who tried to hurt my angel.

  “I will be back to bring you your discharge papers. If things look good when I get back, I’ll sign you out.”

  “Thank you,” Chloe says. Then she looks at me and raises an eyebrow, causing me to press my lips together. “Nolan,” she whispers and elbows me in the ribs.

  I look at the doctor and mutter a quick, “Thank you,” before watching her and Nurse Alex leave the room.

  The moment they are out of sight, Chloe looks at me.

  “What?” I ask, putting her feet up on the bed.

  “You were so rude,” she huffs, flopping back onto the pillow.

  “Careful,” I bark, and her eyes go wide, causing me to flinch. “You were drugged. Your face is bruised and you have been unconscious for the last twenty-four hours, so don’t look at me like you’re surprised I’m reacting this way.”

  “I know,” she sighs, and my eyes meet hers, “but I’m okay.”

  Her hand comes up to run along my jaw. My hand covers hers and I turn my head to kiss her palm. I know she’s right, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I nod and finish tucking her into bed before kissing her forehead and going out into the hall to talk to Ricket.

  “Sir,” Ricket says as soon as he sees me walk out of Chloe’s room.

  “Where’s Bernard?”

  “He—”

  “I’m here,” Bernard announces, walking around the corner.

  “Any news?”

  “Not yet.” He shakes his head, looking towards Chloe’s room. “How’s she doing?”

  “Better,” I tell him, running a hand down the back of my neck.

  “So, no news on who the guy was either?”

  “When I spoke to him outside, he said he was Chloe’s boyfriend from high school.”

  “Why the fuck is he showing up here now?”

  “Said he got a call from someone saying she was in the hospital. He told me he and Chloe have kept in contact over the years and he has always thought of her as his girl, so he wanted to make sure she was okay.”

  The words “his girl” ring in my ears and I try to steady my breathing as my hands clench into fists.

  “I want you to find out everything on him down to what he ate for breakfast this morning, and I don’t want him anywhere near Chloe. I don’t even want him to catch a glimpse of her.”

  “My men will be keeping a close eye on him.”

  “Make sure,” I growl before turning on my heel and heading back to Chloe. I know it’s not my men’s fault that this happened, but fear of the unknown has me lashing out. I just need some answers sooner rather than later.

  Chapter 3

  ‡

  “What are you doing?” I bark, walking into the bathroom, where Chloe is submerged in the tub with her eyes closed and mounds of white bubbles surrounding her.

  “Taking a bath,” she answers, not even opening her eyes.

  “You could drown,” I tell her, walking to her and picking her up out of the water, not caring when my clothes become soaked by doing so.

  “Put me down, Nolan.”

  “No. You’re going to bed,” I say, ignoring her struggles as I grab a towel with one hand before leaving the bathroom and carrying her to the bed, where she was supposed to be while I went to make a few phone calls.

  “You are being ridiculous. First, you carry me around like a doll, and now, I can’t take a bath?” she cries, glaring at me.

  “It was safer for me to carry you.” I shrug and start to dry her off, but she pulls the towel from my hand and starts whipping it at me, causing me to dodge her while trying to take it from her without hurting her in the process. “Chloe, stop. You’ll hurt yourself,” I say, finally getting the towel from her hands.

  She reaches down to the end of the bed and grabs the blanket, pulling it over herself before crossing her arms over her chest and letting out a long huff.

  “You’re supposed to be resting.”

  “I was resting.” She rolls her eyes, suddenly getting out of bed.

  “Now, what are you doing?”

  “I need something to sleep in,” she mutters, walking past me to the dresser, opening my top drawer, and grabbing a shirt out.

  “Are you hungry?” I ask, watching her slip my T-shirt over her head. I stand there hard as a rock as the shirt slides over her perfect tits, past the soft roundness of her stomach, and then down to cover her bare pussy.

  “I’m still not hungry,” she says when her head turns and our eyes meet.

  I watch as longing flashes in her eyes, and she starts towards me slowly.

>   “Angel,” I warn, and her step falters slightly before she continues her path. This time, the sway of her hips has my cock begging to reach her.

  “I missed you.” Her voice drops and her hand goes to my chest, causing my already hard cock to become almost unbearable.

  “You need your rest.”

  “I need you,” she hisses, her hand at my chest traveling down my stomach, cupping me, her small fingers trying to wrap around my cock through the material of my pants.

  “No.” I take her hand and wrap my arm around her waist, gently pulling her closer to me. “You’re not well.”

  “I’m fine,” she moans, and by the noise she’s making and the slight movement of her thighs, I know she’s running hot.

  “I decide when you’re well enough to fuck,” I whisper near her ear, and she whimpers as my hand slides around then down her stomach. “Do you want to come?” I know I can’t fuck her like I crave to, but I never want her to want for anything, even if it’s just an orgasm.

  Her cheek moves against my chest, and she mewls as my fingers slide between the lips of her pussy.

  “Poor Angel,” I say, feeling how swollen she is as my fingers begin to slowly circle her clit then move down over her entrance.

  Her hips begin to move with my hand, and she’s so wet that my fingers are sliding with no resistance.

  “Did you miss me?” I groan, sliding two fingers deep inside her, pressing against her G-spot. I can feel pre-cum coating the tip of my cock and know I’m making a fucking mess of myself. “Answer me,” I snarl when she doesn’t answer.

  “Yes,” she cries as I begin to fuck her fast with my fingers.

  I can feel her pussy getting tighter and hotter, and I know she is going to come, but I need her taste. I walk her backwards to the bed, making sure to keep my grip around her waist, my fingers never losing their rhythm. Once I have her to the bed, I gently lean her back onto the mattress, covering her body with mine.

  I lift my head and look down at her as her eyes open and she looks up at me. There is so much hunger, so much desire in her eyes that I lower my mouth over hers just so I can break eye contact. I know what I want to do right now, but I force myself to take control of the urge to be deep inside her. Once I get my fill of her mouth, I gently move down her neck, using my free hand to lift my shirt she’s wearing and expose her breasts.