Semua Bab The Don’s Dangerous Addiction: Bab 21 - Bab 27

Julian was being held in a private care facility less than a ten-minute drive from the villa.Calling it a "facility" was a stretch; it was an independent building under Dominic's name. Men in black suits patrolled the perimeter, and two black SUVs sat in the courtyard, engines idling, with people inside.When Drake led Avery in, the hallway was deathly silent, save for a nurse pushing a medicine cart. The wheels let out a faint, rhythmic squeak against the linoleum.The room was on the second floor. From the window, she could see the courtyard below. Julian was leaning against the pillows, looking peaceful in his sleep.Avery sat by his side for a while. He looked so still, so untouchable.Drake stood at the doorway, checking his watch every few minutes."Why move him?" Avery asked."How is this safer than the safe room at the villa?"Drake stiffened, his jaw twitching, but he offered no answer.Realizing she wouldn't get an answer, Avery took one last look at Julian and walked out.

Avery was woken by Dorothea's small hand patting her face."Mommy, the sun's already up. Way up."She snapped her eyes open and glanced at the clock.11:40.She had slept for nearly twelve hours.Dorothea was already dressed, her rabbit tucked under one arm and an unwrapped strawberry candy clutched in her fist."Mrs. Cooper said if you don't get up soon, I'm going to eat all the cake myself."Avery touched her daughter's hair. Her throat was so dry she could barely push the words out. "...I'm up."She washed up as fast as she could. She put on a turtleneck, the collar snug against her throat, hiding the red marks left from yesterday's struggle in the ruins.The moment she sat down at the table, Mrs. Cooper told her that Dominic had locked himself in the study since early morning. No one was allowed in except Drake. Aside from the occasional sound, it was so quiet it made her chest tight."Mommy, that uncle is broken today."Dorothea was crouched on her chair, twisting one of her rabb

When Avery opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Dominic's Adam's apple, inches from her face.The taut line of his throat shifted slightly with each steady breath. She realized, with a jolt of panic, that at some point she had wrapped her arms around him, her fingers still clutching the fabric of his shirt. Beneath the thin layers of their clothes, the heat of their skin felt heavy, almost viscous, tangling them together.The sheer intimacy of it made her brain short-circuit. She instinctively recoiled."Awake?"His voice was a sandpaper rasp. Dominic didn't open his eyes; instead, he tightened his hold, his strength sheer and arrogant as he crushed her back against him, erasing the inch of space she had just fought to gain.Avery collided with his rock-hard chest, her senses flooded by his scent—bitter pine and burnt shadows."Dominic, let go," she hissed, her heart hammering so hard it felt like it would shatter her ribs.Only then did Dominic open his eyes. They were shot t

"Twenty million! From Mr. Devereux in the second-floor box!"The auctioneer's voice cracked, fueled by pure, unadulterated adrenaline. He flourished his gavel, eyes darting across the room like a bookie whipping a coliseum crowd into a frenzy."Twenty million once! Do I hear any more? This is a landmark in Obsidian City's medical research history—the final legacy of the Claire Laboratory...""Thirty million."Dominic spoke. He raised his paddle slightly, his jaw set in a hard line. His voice wasn't loud, yet it hit the room like a boulder dropped into a still pond, triggering a wave of hushed gasps.His right hand remained clamped around Dr. Claire's fingers. His signet ring felt like a brand of ice—so cold it burned—threatening to embed itself into her flesh."Thirty-five million!"Behind the floor-to-ceiling curtains of the private box, Victor lazily raised his paddle again. He was half-shrouded in shadow, swirling a glass of red wine, his posture as casual as a man poking a trapped