Rush

Chapter 10

Look at you, all high and mighty. Don’t you get it, Nick? Mr. Sean Slater’s locked down the Slater Inheritance. Grovel now, and maybe I’ll let you off the hook. Just give up Alicia quickly, or you’ll be six feet under next to Daltonl” the leading man threatened.

Back in Dalton’s heyday, no one would’ve had the guts to crash his place at night like this, let alone sass Nick. But those days were toast. This night spelled the start of a new era for the Slaters, and everything Dalton had built was fading fast.

Nick chuckled like a movie villain, “You really think you got the upper hand? Boys, take them down!“–His words were like a starter pistol, and a bunch of bodyguards leaped into the fray. The air crackled with the threat of a throwdown.

Meanwhile, Alicia just finished giving Dalton a shot, clueless about the ruckus downstairs. She was about to book it outta there when Dalton’s eyes flew open and he grbed her wrist tight. “What the. heck?”

Alicia’s eyebrows knitted as she tried to yank her wrist free but Dalton wasn’t having it. The more she pulled, the grumpier Dalton looked.

Before he ended up in that coma, he caught Evan screaming his head off–the doctor had totally botched fixing his leg, and it all went–south from there. Dalton was a ticking time bomb. But he was awake like it was no big deal now!

Thinking back, he found it hard to believe that he should wake up from the coma after a long time. No way, not unless someone had been fixing him up on the low. The first time he came to, Alicia was right there. Sure, it was all so sudden, and he had heaps to wrap his head around, so he didn’t give it much thought. But now, here she was again. Is that really just luck? Dalton started to get suspicious.

Alicia’s heart did a full sprint in her chest. She thought cautiously, ‘Can he find something? No way -he was completely out when I treated him. And even if he harbored doubt, I wouldn’t tell him the real story. All she wanted was to ditch this scary dude and high–tail it outta there. “You’re bonkers, Dalton! You’re crushing me; let go!” Alicia winced.

Dalton’s eyes were like ice, and his face got way too close for comfort. “I’m giving you one shot to come clean. Were you trying to whack me?” With no one else around, it was either she was there to save his skin or to put him six feet under.

Alicia was totally floored. Kill someone had never crossed her mind, but Dalton was throwing around murder talk like he was living in some crazy crime show! And the look in his eyes said he wasn’t just talking–he meant business. “I–I didn’t, Dalton. I swear-”

He cut in with a frosty voice, “Scared of me, huh?”

“Who won’t be freaked out by a guy as intense as you?‘ Alicia rebuked but she was too scared to even hod.

1/2

Chapter 10

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and then the doorknob jiggled. Alicia’s stomach did at nosedive. She’d locked the door to keep everyone out during the treatment, and before she could unlock it, Dalton had snapped awake. To him, that locked door spelled trouble.

Dalton shot a death glare at the door and growled, You played me!”

Before Alicia could spit out her side of the story, Nick burst in. He stopped short seeing Dalton’s eyes open, and then he was all grins. “Mr. Slater, you’re back with us!” He’d had this gut feeling about the locked door; if Sean’s crew had shown up first, it would’ve been bad, so he’d kicked it in. But Alicia? Why is she here? Nick’s head was full of questions.

“What’s the racket?” Dalton let go of Alicia like she was a hot potato.

Nick gave him the lowdown, “Sean heard you were on the ropes, so he sent his goons to snatch Mrs. Mayer for some reason. They’re yapping about him taking over the Slater Group too. And Ellen’s caught up in some mess. Don’t sweat it, though, Mr. Slater, we bagged all of Sean’s guys. So, what do we do now?”

Dalton’s lips twitched into this slick smirk. “Fake my death. Tell Sean I kicked the bucket. The paperwork for the shares is in my study. If he’s so eager, he can come and get it.”

“Got it, Mr. Slater,” Nick said and bolted.

Dalton turned that icy stare on Alicia, “Whose team are you on anyway?” Nick’s update got Dalton thinking, ‘Sean zeroed in on bringing Alicia to the Slater Manor. But Sean barely knew Alicia, so why was he so desperate to have her there? There is just one answer–it has to be a setup. Alicia is probably Sean’s inside hitter, here to take me out.

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