Semua Bab The Seduction Clause: Bab 41 - Bab 43

The fear was still there, a cold knot in the pit of her stomach, but it was no longer paralyzing. It had been replaced by a hardened, chilling resolve. The attempted assassination in her hospital room had made one thing brutally clear: she couldn't rely on anyone for her safety. The police, the FBI, even Julian—they were all a step behind Elias. His reach was too long, his methods too cruel.She was going to need to take the matter into her own hands. She wasn't going to wait to be discharged. She ripped the IV from her arm, ignoring the sting of the needle and the fresh blood welling up. When a nurse rushed in, Celeste was already on her feet, pulling on the hospital gown over her bruised body. She firmly informed the staff that she was leaving against medical advice, signing the necessary forms with a steady hand.She didn't have her phone, so her first stop was a payphone outside the hospital. She had to hope her old contact numbers still worked. She put in a call to Dom, using a s

Nate returned with a stack of fresh towels and some of his own clothes—a pair of soft gray sweatpants and a worn-out t-shirt. He set them on the edge of the bed and gestured to the adjoining bathroom. "The shower's all yours. Take your time."He then offered her his bed, a gesture that was both simple and profound. Celeste looked at him and said, "You can stay in here, Nate. We've shared a bed before."He shook his head gently. "I know. But I'll take the couch tonight. You need as much space as you can get to heal." His words were soft but firm, and she knew he was talking about more than just her physical injuries.They agreed to table everything else for the night. The confessions, the questions, the danger—all of it could wait until morning. They would figure out a game plan then. As Nate turned to leave, Celeste said one last time, "Nate, this could be dangerous for you."He only nodded, a quiet understanding in his eyes. "I know," he said, and left her to sleep.Celeste sank into