Page 136 of Sweet Deception
My breath caught. Shot?
“Oh my God! Where are you?”
“Vale Hotel. Room 808,” he said, his voice rough with pain.
“Hold on, Nate, I’ll...” The call ended.
I stood abruptly, my pulse racing.
“Zoya!”
She arrived within seconds, her sharp gaze scanning my face. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Nate,” I said, already reaching for my shoes. “He’s hurt. He was shot, and he needs a nurse.”
Zoya’s expression hardened. “Which Nate?”
“He was here the other day.”
“And why is he calling you of all people?”
I hesitated. “I... I don’t know.”
Zoya folded her arms. “Where exactly is he?”
“Vale Hotel.”
Her eyes narrowed. “So he wants you to come to his hotel?”
“I have to help him...”
“No.” Her tone was firm. “Anna, you can’t. Gleb won’t be pleased when he hears about it, and you know that. Don’t abuse the trust he’s given you.”
I swallowed hard. “But what if he doesn’t have anyone else?”
“He’ll find another way,” she said simply before walking away.
Doubt gnawed at me.
I picked up my phone and dialed Gleb. He didn’t answer, but barely a minute later, my phone lit up with his name.
“Sorry,” he said. “I had to excuse my clients.”
“I didn’t mean to disturb you, but... it’s Nate. He called me. He’s been shot and needs a nurse.”
There was a pause. Then, “I’ll send someone.”
“Did he call you?”
“Twenty-five times,” he muttered. “I was busy. I’ll send a nurse to him. Talk later.”
The call ended before I could say anything else.
Almost immediately, my phone rang again. Nate.
“Is the nurse coming?” he asked, his breathing ragged.
“Gleb is sending someone.”
