Page 36 of Winter Glam in Amsterdam

"No, I don’t want to go to the hospital," I hear Summer's croaky voice behind me and quickly whirl around.

Two paramedics are kneeling on the ground in front of her, seemingly trying to convince her to come with them, but she energetically shakes her head.

"Okay," one of them finally sighs as I stride over. "But we're going to have to draw some blood for testing, okay?"

"That's fine," she assures them. I put my hand on her shoulder, and she looks up, giving me a small, thankful smile, before turning back to the paramedics. "I just don't want to go to the hospital. I'm fine, I promise."

The two paramedics shoot each other a knowing look before one of them jumps up to retrieve a bag from the ambulance that's parked in front of the hotel, blue lights flashing and all.

Just as they start disinfecting her arm to draw some blood, a police officer clears his throat next to us to get our attention.

I give her a reassuring squeeze as he starts to fill us in on what’s going on while one of the paramedics pushes a needle into her vein. She only grimaces, staying brave as they take two vials, then press something against her arm and put a band-aid over the puncture wound.

"Ma’am, we’ve got the gentleman’s statement, and we also had a look at the security footage. It's clearly visible that the bartender slipped something into your drink before serving you," he explains, and Summer pales.

“We are currently investigating whether you are their first victim, but seeing as he has worked here for months and other guests have seen his accomplice in the bar on more than one occasion, that seems unlikely."

He seems exasperated as he nods towards the back corner, where the bartender and blondie are currently arguing with three officers.

“That means we will take him in and he will be prosecuted, following a thorough investigation from us. Ma’am, even though we have the security footage, we would like to take your statement as well; do you feel well enough to do that?”

She nods, hiding a yawn behind her hand, and recounts the evening. I do my best to keep a neutral expression, it’s not going to help this case in any way if I show my anger, but my blood boils hotter with every word she says, knowing how her evening is ending.

The cop thanks her, then hurries to help his coworkers in restraining blondie and the bartender.

“Are they seriously trying to run?” Summer asks in a whisper as I sit down next to her again. I take a look over my shoulder, then start to chuckle.

“Oh, they absolutely are. And blondie just got tackled to the ground by two officers.”

“Serves him right,” she whispers, and for the first time since I interrupted her conversation with blondie, I see a small smile on her lips.

Finally, the police and paramedics announce that they're done, the two culprits already in the back of two police cars.

"Will they even do anything with us being from abroad?" I whisper to Adam when he sits down next to me.

"I don’t know," he admits with a shrug. "I guess we'll find out. Even if it only scares the shit out of them, I'll take it as a win."

"True," I nod in agreement.

"Do you have someone to stay with you tonight?" one of the cops asks Summer as the lobby begins to calm down again. Her eyes dart around the room, until she grimaces and hides another yawn behind her hand.

"I can call my brother," she mumbles, but the cop doesn’t seem too impressed with that answer.

"Reed already called him," I tell her.

I know she didn't want us to call her family, but Adam figured it would be even worse to have them walk into this chaos completely unprepared.

"They're on their way, but probably still half an hour out. I can stay with you until they come."

The cop pins me with a hard stare that makes me gulp.

"We’re family friends," Adam explains, pulling out his phone, furiously swiping. "Here are some old pictures for proof. I promise we have her best interest at heart."

Without a doubt, he's pulling up images from the charity match back then. Selfies we made with her brother. Then he reaches for Summer’s phone and shows them the lock screen, which is a picture of their family—Summer, Luca, and their parents grinning widely into the camera.

“Ma’am, are you okay to stay with them?” He addresses Summer, who is once more fighting to keep her eyes open.

“Yes. Of course.”

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