Chapter 212
“Tough enough to be your lifesaver,” I said, seizing the opportunity, my heart racing as I gathered my courage. I sat up straighter, ignoring the stab of pain in my arm. “Which means you owe me, asshole.”
“Do I now?” His voice was amused, but there was wariness in his eyes.
“Delete them,” I said firmly, my jaw set in determination. “The photos
you took of me. Delete all of them. Every. Single. One.”
Drake’s eyebrow arched higher. “A rescue with conditions? That
doesn’t sound very heroic of you.”
“Heroic?” I scoffed, letting out a harsh laugh that hurt my chest. “I
never claimed to be a fucking hero. I’m just a woman who’s tired of
being blackmailed by a controlling dickhead.”
Drake studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. My
skin crawled under his scrutiny, but I refused to look away this time,
meeting his gaze with defiant eyes.
“You’ve been planning this little speech, haven’t you?” he finally said,
his lips quirking. “Waiting for the right moment to cash in your good
deed?”
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Chapter 212
Heat rushed to my face, spreading down my neck. My hands clenched
the blanket so tightly my knuckles turned white. “That’s not-”
“It’s exactly what you’re doing,” he interrupted, but his voice lacked
its usual edge. “Fine. Stay in the hospital, recover properly, and when
we’re discharged, I’ll delete them. I keep my word.”
I narrowed my eyes, suspicion coiling in my gut like a venomous
snake. “Just like that?” My voice dripped with disbelief.
“Just like that.” He closed his eyes, effectively ending the
conversation.
I lay back, processing his unexpected agreement, my mind racing
through all the possible angles, all the ways this could be another
trap. My arm throbbed painfully, a reminder of the ordeal we’d
survived. After a few minutes of silence, I reached for my clothes,
intending to check myself out. Hospital bills were expensive, and I
didn’t have insurance that would cover an extended stay.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Drake’s voice stopped me. My
shoulders tensed automatically at his tone.
“Home,” I said without looking at him, still rummaging for my
clothes. “Not all of us can afford luxury hospital stays, your
highness.”
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Chapter 212
“The entire team is here,” Drake said, his voice matter–of–fact. “And
Wright’s men are outside. You walk out of this hospital, and you’re a
moving target.”
I paused, my fingers gripping the thin hospital blanket. A cold dread washed over me, settling in the pit of my stomach. “What do you
mean?” My voice came out smaller than I intended.
“You think Samuel will let this go? You were in the wrong place at the
wrong time. You heard something you shouldn’t have, and you saw
his men try to kill us.” Drake’s eyes were hard. “They know what you
look like, Elsa. They’ll find you easily.”
A chill ran down my spine, raising goosebumps along my arms. I
hadn’t considered that. In my rush to get away from Drake, I’d
forgotten the very real danger waiting outside. “Shit,” I whispered,
sinking back onto the bed.
“They were waiting for us,” I said slowly, piecing it together, my
fingers absently tracing the edge of my bandage. “That wasn’t a
random attack. They came prepared.”
“Yes.”
“This is your fault,” I accused, anger flaring hot in my chest. I sat up
straight, pointing a trembling finger at him. “We were all collateral
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Chapter 212
damage in whatever game you’re playing with Wright. You goddamn
bastard!”
Drake’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching visibly. “He tried to kill me
because I took you out of that bar. I saved your life.”
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Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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