Chapter 4

The Maybach rolled smoothly into the private, underground VIP garage of The Mark Hotel. The tires squeaked faintly against the polished concrete.

The driver jumped out and opened the door. The damp, cold air of the garage rushed in. Adelia pulled Axel's massive black coat tighter around her chest.

Axel stepped out first. His leather shoes hit the ground with a heavy, authoritative thud. He didn't look back to see if she was following. He walked straight toward a private elevator tucked in the corner.

Adelia forced her shaking legs to move. She followed him.

A red light blinked on the elevator's security panel. Axel pressed his thumb against the glass scanner. It beeped, turning green, and the metal doors slid open silently.

The elevator shot upward at a terrifying speed. The sudden loss of gravity made Adelia's stomach cramp violently. She leaned back, pressing her spine against the cold metal wall of the cabin, her face turning pale.

Axel caught her reflection in the mirrored doors. His eyebrows pulled together. He reached out and pressed a button on the panel, slowing the elevator's ascent.

The doors dinged open at the penthouse level.

Adelia stepped out. The thick, hand-woven carpet instantly absorbed the sound of her heels.

The hallway was dead silent, a sanctuary of absolute privacy that Axel demanded. He owned the entire floor, a fortress hidden above the city.

Axel pushed open a set of carved wooden double doors.

The penthouse suite was massive and dimly lit. Floor-to-ceiling windows displayed the dark, sprawling view of Central Park.

Axel pulled off his suit jacket and threw it onto a leather sofa. He yanked his tie loose. For a split second, his broad shoulders slumped with exhaustion.

Adelia stood frozen in the entryway. The heavy coat slipped off one of her shoulders. She didn't know where to look or where to sit.

Suddenly, the sliding door to the inner lounge was pushed open.

Kian Vance stumbled out of the private bar area, uninvited and entirely too comfortable. Axel had given Kian the access code months ago, a mistake he was now regretting. He was holding two crystal flutes of champagne. A lazy, mocking smile was plastered across his face.

Kian stopped dead when he saw Adelia. His eyes dragged up and down her ruined dress and Axel's oversized coat. His smile twisted into something dark and amused.

He let out a loud, piercing whistle.

"Well, well," Kian laughed. "The ice king finally brought a girl to his sanctuary. And she's not even from our circle."

Axel shot Kian a look so lethal it could cut glass. Kian's smile froze, but the malicious curiosity in his eyes only burned brighter.

"Get me a glass of water," Axel ordered Kian. He turned and walked into the master bathroom. The heavy door clicked shut. Seconds later, the sound of the shower running echoed through the suite.

Kian walked over to the marble wet bar. He turned his back to Adelia.

He stared at the two glasses of champagne in his hands. A sick, twisted idea formed in his brain. He wanted to see the untouchable Axel Arnold lose control.

Kian reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny paper packet. He dumped the white, odorless powder into one of the glasses. The powder dissolved instantly into the bubbles.

He turned around and walked over to Adelia. Condensation dripped down the side of the crystal glass.

"Drink this," Kian said, his voice dripping with fake kindness. "Axel told me to give it to you. It'll calm your nerves."

Adelia's throat was burning with thirst. She trusted Axel's inner circle. She reached out and took the glass. The cold crystal made her fingertips tremble.

She tipped her head back and drank half the glass in one swallow. The golden liquid burned down her throat, leaving a faint, bitter aftertaste on her tongue.

Kian smiled. He took the empty glass from her hand and set it on the glass coffee table. It made a sharp clink.

Five minutes later, the edges of Adelia's vision began to blur. The bright city lights outside the window smeared into long, twisting streaks of color.

Her heart started hammering against her ribs. Her blood felt like it was boiling. A strange, terrifying heat ignited deep in her stomach and spread to her limbs.

She tried to stand up. Her legs felt like they were made of wet sand. She collapsed backward, sinking deep into the soft cushions of the sofa.

Kian saw her eyes roll back slightly. He moved in immediately. He grabbed her bare arm. His fingers felt like burning iron against her skin. A wave of intense nausea hit her.

He dragged her up, half-carrying her limp body toward Axel's private bedroom. He pushed open the heavy door.

The room was pitch black. Moonlight spilled across the massive king-size bed.

Kian threw Adelia onto the mattress. She bounced slightly against the expensive linens.

He backed out of the room and pulled the door shut. He twisted the lock. The loud click of the deadbolt sliding into place echoed in the quiet room.