Page 27 of King’s Promise

I dismiss the last thought; she’s not the type to cheat, she’s a straight arrow, except for tonight. I don’t like being played, not by a rival and definitely not by my fiancée.

Pavel receives a text instructing us to go to the back of the club. I see her first, bent over a table. I would be filled with relief if I wasn’t so angry.

I place my arm on hers, scaring the patrons at the table. Obviously, they aren’t with her. “Look for her friend,” I yell with a malevolent voice.

Anya’s eyes are glassy, and she’s slow to react.

“The girl hasn’t been found. The men are on it.”

“We need to get her home, she’s been drugged.” I sweep Anya into my arms, worried over her health, but assume it was a club drug which will make her woozy, and the effects intensify with alcohol. I have a doctor on call if needed. I don’t want an inquiry into our new club.

“How much did you drink?”

Her head is limp in my arm, “Little, little, tiny …” her voice trails off.

I’m in panic mode even though I need to be calm. I’ve never been responsible for a woman before and it’s gut wrenching worrying over what she was given and who meant to harm her. I’ll slice and dice any man who put a hand on her.

Pavel opens the back door of our vehicle and I place Anya inside, run to the other side and crawl in next to her. I click her seatbelt around her even though I’m holding her to my chest, tightly. As a precaution, I keep her head upright.

“I feel so…sick,” she murmurs weakly, laying her head on my shoulder.

“What did you drink?”

“Martini.” Saliva is seeping out of her mouth as if it’s numb. “I’m thirsty.” Her words are mumbled, as if she’s high, slow to process, and limited.

“We’ll be home soon, keep talking. Who did you meet tonight?”

“Dar…ci.”

“Is she from school?”

“Um.”

“Stay awake, I need to make sure you’re breathing.”

“I’m tired. I want to sleep.”

“I know.”

“Is she okay, boss?” Pavel checks on us from the rearview mirror, concern on his face.

“So far, call the doctor to meet us at the house. I suspect it is Rohypnol, it should wear off in a few hours. But we need to make sure. She might need an antidote.”

Anya is the key to bringing the Petrov and Volkov Bratva together. Our merger will accomplish what our fathers always desired, a large-scale underworld organization between them, working together and growing their business into a worldwide enterprise.

“Right.” Pavel calls our personal doctor on Bluetooth and fifteen minutes later we’re home.

“Oh, my God, is she okay?” Katerynia flies down the stairs upon our arrival. No doubt the doors crashing open could be heard upstairs.

“Hopefully,” I reply with a menacing glance. “Pavel, have the house guard take her home.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Is she okay?” Katerynia yells again as she comes to her sister’s side.

“She will be. And if you ever play games like this again, there will be hell to pay!”

“I’m sorry, she wanted to go out,” she replies as Pavel grabs her arms and escorts her back to Anya’s room to gather her belongings and turns her over to another guard in the house to drive her home.

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