SWNOVELS Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Newman suddenly hit the deck, his head landing on Athena’s legs, scaring the bejeezus out of
her.
She tried to kick Newman off with her foot, her pink, soft toes poking his handsome face.
Athena saw Newman’s face turn to the side, his eyes shut, brows furrowed tight. Athena’s eyes went wide, like a spooked kitten.
What was up with this dude? He was fine just a second ago; how’d he pass out all of a sudden? It didn’t seem like he was faking it. Athena’s foot was practically in his mouth, and there wasn’t a peep from the guy who’s usually Mr. Clean.
His face was burning up, sweat still trickling from his skin, soaking his hair.
“Hello? Newman? Beast Newman?!?”
Athena’s eyes narrowed a bit. Newman wasn’t about to drop dead on her watch, was he? She moved her foot away and leaned down slowly.
Blood was oozing from a wound on the man’s left chest. She leaned in close to his chest and heard a strong and steady heartbeat, breathing a sigh of relief.
Phew, he wasn’t dead. The last thing she wanted was to end up in the slammer because of Newman.
It was clear as day: Newman had fainted. Athena thought about hauling him back to Cozy Retreat, but then she realized, wouldn’t bringing a battered Newman back be like walking into a lion’s den?
How would she explain his injuries then? If they found out she was behind the cuts, Newman’s crew wouldn’t just sit on their hands!
Before he woke up, Athena could end up getting the chop from his gang! Her demeanor grew sharp, her beautiful eyes tinged with caution. She had to clean up the mess left by the man who’d passed out. And she still had to help Newman get dressed.
She sluggishly hoisted the unconscious man out of the car. His weight was almost too much for her. She staggered toward the villa with Newman on her back.
“Ms. Dempsey, what’s going on here?”
Linda was taken aback when she saw Athena carrying Newman inside, not to mention spotting the patchy bloodstains on Newman’s shirt.
“Just finish up the dishes and take off, Linda,” Athena said.
Linda didn’t ask any questions; she just nodded and went on her way.
Athena dumped Newman in a room on the first floor of the villa. She fetched a bucket of water and went out to clean up any traces inside the car.
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The less people knew about the car fiasco, the better, so the cleanup was all on her. As Athena wiped the blood off the leather seats, she felt like a hitman scrubbing down a crime scene!
Back in the villa, she grabbed a thermometer to check Newman’s temperature, 38.5” C. He had
a fever.
She couldn’t let word get out that she’d hurt Newman. If she called the Dempsey family’s personal doc to treat him, and the doc asked how Newman got the drugs out of his system, what would she say?
Athena frowned, lips pressed, and whipped out her phone to video call someone she trusted. Soon the screen lit up, showing a man with delicate, classic features, pale skin, and captivating eyes, like a seductive fox. He asked, “Athena? What’s up?”
“Cedric, can you check why this guy’s chest wound won’t stop bleeding?” Athena aimed the phone’s camera at Newman’s chest.
Her brother, Cedric Dempsey, now the head honcho at Arcadia’s top medical research institute. To stay in a low key, he had changed his name. There was this big name in the medical world, Adonis, and he could tackle any tough case, but never treated the rich and famous. That was the weird rule every Healer Hall doc had to follow.
Five years ago, to treat Athena for poisoning, Cedric broke that rule and got banned from setting foot in Stardale City.
Cedric peered through the screen at the man’s chest and let out a curious chuckle, “A man? Athena, who’s the injured party?”
“Just a bodyguard,” Athena replied.
“A bodyguard? Nice physique.” Cedric teased.
Then he instructed Athena, “Point the camera at his face; I want to see his complexion.”
As Athena did, Cedric’s expression hinted at something deeper, “He looks hot. No wonder your want me to check him out.”
Athena rushed to clarify, “I’m not shallow! He can’t stop bleeding from a chest wound, and I don’t want a death on my hands. That would be bad juju! Cedric, please help me figure out how to stop the bleeding.”
After giving Cedric a run–down of Newman’s condition, minus the drugging part, Cedric directed her, “Get the drug test kit and reagent number 7 I’ve left you, to test his blood for chemical components.”
On it, Athena dashed upstairs to grab the test paper and a vial of powder, drew a bit of blood from Newman’s chest, dropped it into the powder, and soaked the test paper in the mix.
After a bit, Athena showed the paper to Cedric, who recognized it instantly, “Someone slipped him some love potion, but it’s mostly metabolized out of his system by now.”
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Athena looked away, avoiding Cedric’s gaze. Cedric leaned in closer to the screen, asking. “Sniff the paper; what’s it smell like?”
Athena sniffed the drug test strip, “I’m getting a woody scent.”
After a pause, Cedric walked Athena through using other drug test powders to examine Newman’s blood.
“He might be a long–time user of Scorpion. Athena, is this guy really just an average bodyguard? Scorpion isn’t cheap, it costs a pretty penny to get it custom made. Judging by how deep into poisoning he is from the test strip, he’s been popping Scorpion for years, over three at least.”
Athena then asked, “Is Scorpion a kind of medicine? What’s it for?”
“The stuff’s potent; it’s used to treat cold diseases. Both you and Kevin have a mild case, but Scorpion is way too hardcore for you guys. I wouldn’t let you touch it, especially Kevin who’s still a kid – he definitely shouldn’t be taking Scorpion directly.”
Cedric gazed at Newman’s handsome, scattered features and frowned, “By the looks of him, he doesn’t seem like someone suffering from a cold disease. A normal person takes one hit of Scorpion, and their blood starts burning, making them lose control.
Decades ago, Scorpion was the go–to drug for rich folks looking to get their kicks. But once. they figured out that long–term use shaved years off people’s life, nobody in those circles dares to abuse it anymore.”
With a chuckle, Cedric added, “If he’s just an ordinary bodyguard, then this dude’s probably some rich tycoon’s plaything for fun and games. Athena, you’re better off ditching this sleazebag. We have plenty of good resources.”
Chapter 44