Page 183 of My Sweetest Temptation

Tabi.

I could see the vulnerability in Tabi’s dull eyes, and the way her body trembled. What the hell was Tabi doing here? Who brought her here?

"What the actual fuck is she doing here?" Lo’s words mirrored my thoughts.

His jaw tightened as he ripped off his jacket and stepped into the cramped container. "Tabi, it's me, Lo. I'm going to cover you up, okay?" he called out, his voice strained.

Tabi remained silent, her gaze fixed intently on Lo.

He moved slowly until he closed the distance between them and draped his jacket over her frail body.

Kneeling beside her, he removed the heavy chains from her wrists and ankles. "Come on," he murmured. "You're safe now, Tabi." He slid his arms underneath her legs and climbed to his feet. “I won’t let them hurt you again,” he promised, lifting her into his arms and pulling her closer to his chest.

I stole a glance in the rearview mirror, my heart tightening at the sight of Tabi's head resting against Lo's shoulder.

Tabi hadn’t uttered a single word when we left the warehouse. The moment we climbed inside, she fell asleep.

I couldn't shake the memory of those needle marks on her arm. It was clear she had been injected with some type of drug. And then the bruises. God knew what they did to her.

"We need to find her son, Nico," Lo whispered, breaking the heavy silence that filled the car. I turned my gaze to him, but I couldn’t meet his eyes.

"I know," I responded quietly.

After the shocking revelation from Walsh, I immediately gave the order to find and detain Davina.

"What's the plan, Nico?" Luca inquired as I brought my vehicle to a halt in the driveway.

Steeling myself, I gazed into the night, my mind racing as I prepared to confront Davina and find Tristan.

"The usual treatment for traitors," I spat out, my voice cold like ice.

Lo, already knowing the inevitable outcome, still probed, "And after we get what we want?"

"I kill her," I stated bluntly. Without another word, we exited the car, our footsteps echoing on the pavement as we approached my house that now looked like a war zone.

I led the way through the front door and down the hallway, where two guards stood outside my office door.

Jacobi and his nurse met me halfway there, his expression grave. “Nico,” he greeted me, his gaze shifting to Tabi's limp body cradled in Lo’s arms.

“Please take her to the medical room immediately,” I told him. “She was injected with some type of drug. And…she may have been assaulted.”

Jacobi and his nurse exchanged a glance, their expressions tinged with pity.

“Please look after her.”

“Of course,” Jacobi replied, his smile strained but still reassuring.

Lo carefully transferred Tabi into the doctor’s arms, and we walked past them toward my office.

"Liam?" I asked one of the guards.

"He's in your office, boss," he replied.

I nodded.

Lo and Luca trailed behind me as we stepped into my office. I clenched my hands into fists, my eyes narrowing as a red haze of anger clouded my vision. With an animalistic roar, I spun and unleashed the fury building inside me on the nearest object. A chair flew across the room, crashing through the window. Shards of glass sprayed across the floor. My breath came in ragged gasps, and the weight of my mistake crushed me. I sank to the chair, my head in my hands, fury and despair drowning me. The acid of resentment burned in my stomach as I replayed the hurtful things I'd said to her.

I deserved this pain.

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