Chapter 121: Bring Her To Me

"On it."

"And Marco...by morning, I want Isabella brought to me. I don’t care what story she’s prepared. I’m going to interrogate her myself. And I’m going to find out the truth."

"Understood. What about Enzo?"

"Let me handle my brother." Dimitri’s voice turned cold. "You focus on Isabella. Get me proof that she’s responsible. Get me evidence. And get me her. Everything else, I’ll take care of."

"Yes, sir."

Dimitri hung up, looked down at Eve.

She stirred in her sleep, her hand reaching for him.

He took it, laced their fingers together.

"I’m sorry," he whispered. "I’m sorry I didn’t protect you. Sorry I let this happen. Sorry you had to suffer because of someone’s obsession with me."

Eve’s eyes fluttered open. "Dimitri?"

"I’m here."

"The heat.....it’s starting again..." Her voice was drowsy, slurred. "I thought...I thought maybe it was over..."

"How long has it been since you were dosed?"

"I don’t know. Three hours? Four?"

"Then we have two more hours. Maybe three." He pulled her closer. "I’ve got you. Whatever you need. I’m here."

Eve’s hand slid down his stomach, found him already hardening again.

"How are you...we’ve been...I thought you’d need..."

"I’ll always be ready for you." He kissed her softly. "Always."

What followed was slower. Gentler.

The desperate edge had faded slightly, replaced by something deeper.

Dimitri made love to her like she was precious. Breakable.

Even though he knew Eve was neither.

She came apart in his arms, whispering his name, her body trusting him completely.

And when she fell asleep again...this time for longer...Dimitri held her and made a silent vow.

Whoever had done this would pay.

Isabella. Enzo. Anyone involved.

They would all pay.

Because no one hurt Eve and walked away unscathed.

No one.

***

POV: EVE

Eve woke to sunlight and the feeling of being completely, utterly spent.

Every muscle ached. Her body felt like she’d run a marathon.

And Dimitri...

Dimitri was still beside her, awake, watching her with worried eyes.

"Hey," she whispered.

"Hey yourself." His hand smoothed hair from her face. "How do you feel?"

"Tired. Sore. But..." She took stock. "Normal. The heat is gone."

"It’s been about seven hours since you were dosed."

"Seven..." Eve’s eyes widened. "Dimitri, did we...all night..."

"Yes." He kissed her forehead. "And it’s fine. You needed help. I gave it to you. That’s what partners do."

Eve felt tears prick her eyes. "I’m sorry. I know that must have been..."

"Don’t." His voice was firm. "Don’t apologize for something that wasn’t your fault. You were drugged. Someone did this to you. And I’m going to find out who and make them pay."

The words should have frightened her.

Instead, they made her feel safe.

"Do you know who?" she asked.

Dimitri hesitated. "I have suspicions. Marco is investigating. I’ll know more soon."

"Was it..." Eve stopped, not sure she wanted to know.

"It was meant for me." Dimitri’s voice was hard. "The waiter was told to dose my drink. But I gave it to you. So whoever planned this...they wanted me drugged, not you."

"Why?"

"I think you can guess."

Isabella.

Of course.

Who else would want Dimitri drugged with an aphrodisiac?

Eve closed her eyes, felt anger burn through the exhaustion.

"When you find her," Eve said quietly, "I want to be there."

"Eve...."

"I’m serious." She met his eyes. "She drugged me. Put me through hell. Made you...made us..." She stopped, couldn’t even articulate what the night had been. "I deserve to face her."

"You do. But first, I need proof. I need to make sure it was her. And then..." His eyes went cold. "Then I’ll bring her to you. And you can decide what happens to her."

"You’d let me decide?"

"She hurt you. So yes. Your choice. Your justice."

Eve kissed him softly. "I love you."

"I love you too. More than anything." He pulled her closer. "Now sleep. You’ve been through hell. You need rest."

"What about you?"

"I’ll sleep when I know you’re safe. When whoever did this is caught. When justice has been served." His voice turned lethal. "Until then, I hunt."

Eve should have argued.

Should have told him to rest, to let Marco handle it, to stay with her.

But she understood.

Someone had hurt her.

And Dimitri wouldn’t rest until they paid for it.

So she curled into his chest, let his warmth surround her, and drifted back to sleep.

Safe, protected and loved.

***

POV: DIMITRI

Dimitri waited until Eve’s breathing evened out into sleep.

Then he carefully extracted himself from the bed, pulled on clothes, and stepped into his office.

He called Marco.

"Status."

"Fingerprint analysis came back. We found a partial match on the atomizer. Not enough for legal proof, but enough to narrow suspects. Running cross-reference now."

"And Isabella?"

"Still at the hotel. No movement. But boss...I found something else. Enzo’s car was seen on traffic cameras three blocks from the hotel at 10:23 PM. Right around when Isabella would have arrived."

Dimitri’s jaw clenched. "So he did help her escape."

"Looks like it. And there’s more. The waiter’s phone had three hundred dollars deposited into his account at 9:17 PM. Cash app transfer. The account was a burner. But the IP address traced to a location near Table 47 at the time of transfer."

"So someone sitting near Table 47 paid the waiter. Right before he dosed my drink."

"Yes."

"Isabella’s table."

"Yes."

Dimitri closed his eyes, felt fury burn through him.

His ex-fiancée had drugged his drink.

His brother had helped her escape.

And Eve had suffered because of both of them.

"Bring her to me," Dimitri said, his voice absolutely cold. "This morning. I don’t care what preparations she’s made. I don’t care what lies she’s ready to tell. Bring Isabella Russo to the warehouse. And Marco..."

"Yes, boss?"

"Make sure she knows what’s waiting for her. Make sure she’s terrified. Because when I’m done with her..." His voice dropped to something deadly. "She’s going to wish she’d never heard Eve’s name."