Page 43 of Tempting My Billionaire Master

My stomach plummeted. They couldn’t have—

I grabbed Patrick’s arm, panic seizing my voice. “You have to let him go! He needs to get his daughter!”

Patrick’s face contorted in disbelief. “Chloe, are you out of your mind?” Patrick shot back, his voice rising with frustration. “I’m getting real tired of your bullshit!”

“Please, Patrick, just listen—” I cried, pushing past him out the door. But instead of Gordon, I found Damon in handcuffs, surrounded by deputies with guns drawn.

“Damon!” I exclaimed, relief flooding through me as I ran to hug him. He looked bewildered, confusion written all over his face.

“Chloe, what’s going on? I was looking for you near the library, like you told me to, and then these cops just showed up and arrested me!”

Susan and Patrick followed, the former peering at Damon in confusion. “This isn’t the right man. The killer had a scar on his face.”

The deputies looked at Patrick and he nodded. One of the policemen uncuffed Damon and his hands wrapped around me.

As I held Damon, my dear friend and only connection here to my past life before Ethan, I felt a sense of closure wash over me. Maybe now I could finally leave Ethan behind.

Chapter Sixteen

Ethan

My eyes fluttered open, blinding white light flooding my vision, the sterile scent of antiseptic stinging my nose. The piercing beep of the heart monitor slowly broke through the fog in my mind. My body felt like it had been run over by a truck, and my shoulder throbbed with a pain that I could only describe as white-hot, a dull throb radiating out from it. My throat was parched and my head pounded like a drum. Where was I? What had happened? My muddled mind struggled to piece together the fragments of memory. The woods. Gunshots. Gordon. Chloe.

Chloe.

I had to find her, had to make sure she was safe.

An oxygen mask was strapped to my face, the air hissing in and out. My fingers brushed against the cold plastic of an IV tube connected to my hand, linking to a bag of clear fluid hanging from a metal pole.

I forced myself to focus on my surroundings. The room I was in was spacious and sterile, the walls painted a soft cream color. Sunlight streamed through the partially opened blinds, casting shadows on the linoleum floor. A small table stood nearby, holding a glass of water and a vase of flowers. It wasn’t hard to deduce that I was in a private hospital room.

I winced as fragments of memory flashed through my mind and the last thing I remembered was finding a road and talking to Chloe.

Chloe.

Panic seized my chest and I bolted upright, heart monitor letting out a flurry of alarmed beeps. Ignoring the pain, I ripped off the oxygen mask and IV and the rest of the machines around me erupted into a chorus of alarms, but I ignored them.

I threw off the thin blanket and discovered I was wearing a patient robe. Each movement sent jolts of pain through my body, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. All that mattered was finding Chloe.

Sitting up on the bed was a struggle, but I managed to push myself up on shaking arms. My bare feet hit the cold floor, and I willed my shaking legs to support me as I stood. Finding her was all that mattered.

I took a trembling step forward and suddenly the world tilted and spun, my legs nearly buckling beneath me. I steadied myself against the bed. I would crawl over hot coals to get to her if I had to.

The world began to spin after a couple more steps. My vision blurred and my legs threatened to give up. I closed my eyes for a moment and took several deep breaths, trying to steady myself. When I opened them again, the room had stopped spinning, and I pressed onward.

Every step sent a stab of pain through my injured shoulder, but I gritted my teeth and stumbled toward the door. My head pounded in time with my heartbeat, spots dancing at the edge of my vision. After what seemed an eternity of shuffling forward, I reached the door.

The bustle of a hospital greeted me as I stepped into the hallway. Doctors and nurses shuffled past me in a blur of white coats and scrubs, their voices melding together in a cacophony of medical jargon and hurried conversations. The scent of antiseptic and latex hung heavily in the air, an ever-present reminder of the sterile environment I found myself in. Despite the constant movement around me, no one seemed to notice the injured man hobbling through their midst.

My gaze frantically searched the corridor but I didn’t see Chloe. Panic and adrenaline coursed through my veins, giving me strength as I picked a direction at random and started walking.

I would search every inch of this hospital if I had to. I would walk to the ends of the earth to find her. To know she was safe.

“Mr. Hamilton!” A nurse’s voice called out from behind me, a mixture of concern and admonishment coloring her tone. “You shouldn’t be on your feet! You need rest and care.” She grabbed my arm but I instinctively shook it off.

“Where’s Chloe?” I demanded, turning to face her. My vision swam momentarily before refocusing on the worried expression etched across her face.

“I don’t know who Chloe is,” she replied, her eyes darting between my face and my shoulder. “But you need to get back to your bed.”

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