Chapter 158

Lucas's POV

The door exploded inward with a thunderous crash.

"What the f*ck!" Ian jerked back from Serena, shock flashing across his face.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" My roar was barely human as I lunged forward, vision blazing red. Ian's eyes widened in terror, frozen for a split second too long.

"Lucas? How-how did you find me?" Ian's shock turned to panic. I didn't bother responding.

I seized him by the throat, ripping him off Serena with savage force. His body slammed into the side table, sending the lamp crashing to the floor. Before he could recover, I was on him, straddling his chest as my fist connected with his jaw.

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!" Ian's screams echoed off the walls.

"I own this entire hotel now," I snarled, my voice low and dark. "My men have this floor surrounded. No one's coming to help you."

Blood sprayed from his mouth, spattering across my knuckles. Another blow crushed his nose, cartilage giving way with a sickening crunch. My perfectly styled hair had fallen forward, and I kept shoving it back with bloodied fingers, not caring about the crimson streaks it left across my forehead. His left eye was swelling shut, skin splitting under each impact. Dark bruises bloomed across his features.

"Please... stop!" Ian choked out between blows, blood and saliva bubbling from his lips. His pleading only stoked my fury higher. This monster dared to beg after what he'd done?

He tried crawling backward toward the window, fingers scrabbling desperately at the carpet. His hand caught the heavy curtains, yanking them down with a screech of tearing fabric as I dragged him back. The curtain rod crashed down, adding to the chaos of broken furniture and shattered glass.

"Boss!" Miles grabbed my arm. "You'll kill him!"

I hurled him aside with a snarl, barely registering his body hitting the wall. Nothing mattered except destroying the man beneath me.

"Boss, please!" Miles' voice cracked with desperation. "Think about Serena! She needs you right now!"

The words jolted me back to reality. My rage dissipated like smoke as I stumbled off Ian, tripping over the broken furniture. I rushed to Serena's side, my voice shaking. "Serena? Are you alright?"

She didn't respond. Her pupils were dilated, gaze unfocused as she stared past me into nothing. Her breathing was shallow and irregular, body trembling.

I spun back to Ian, kicking him viciously in the ribs. "What did you give her?"

A cruel laugh bubbled up through his bloodied lips. "Screw you."

Blind rage swept through me again. I grabbed the broken lamp from the floor and smashed it across his body.

"Take him to the police," I ordered Miles, my voice raw. "Make sure he never sees daylight again."

"I'll handle everything, sir. Get her out of here."

I crossed to the bed in three long strides, my hands gentle now as I reached for her despite the trembling fury still coursing through me. Her clothes were torn, buttons ripped away... if I'd been even minutes later...

The thought threatened to send me back into a killing rage, but Serena needed me calm. I shrugged out of my coat, wrapping it carefully around her before lifting her into my arms. She felt so small, so fragile against my chest.

"I've got you," I whispered, cradling her close as I strode from that hellish room. "You're safe now."

I helped Serena into the back seat and quickly returned to the driver's position. Suddenly, I let out an involuntary groan as Serena leaned forward from the back seat, her head pressing against my neck. The heat from her fever-ridden body was overwhelming. In her drug-induced state, she was completely delirious - her burning skin pressed against mine, her hands erratically grasping at my shirt.

I forced myself to take steady breaths, maintaining iron control. Every muscle in my body tensed as I focused solely on driving. The situation was maddening, but I wouldn't take advantage - not when she was clearly not herself, affected by whatever drug they had given her.

Her hands had already torn several buttons from my white dress shirt in her fevered state. I kept my eyes resolutely on the road, gripping the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white. If this helped ease her discomfort, I would endure it.

Finally reaching Tribeca Towers' underground parking garage, I carefully extracted myself from the driver's seat, earning a disappointed whimper from Serena. The sound was filled with a vulnerability that tore at my self-control. After taking a moment to compose myself, I opened the door and lifted her into my arms.

The elevator ride was excruciating. Serena became even more restless in my arms, her burning hands now completely destroying what remained of my shirt buttons, exposing my chest. I kept my breathing measured and controlled, focusing on getting her safely to her apartment.

When Eleanor opened the door, her eyes widened at the scene before her. I strode past, carrying Serena directly to her bedroom. As I tried to set her down, she wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer...

"Get out!" I managed to say to Eleanor, my voice rough with restraint.

Eleanor hesitated at the door. "Be gentle with her," she pleaded anxiously before finally closing it behind her.

I would need to call a doctor immediately. Whatever drug was in her system needed to be dealt with properly.

I kept my breathing measured as I dialed Dr. Thompson's number, never taking my eyes off Serena. Her skin was flushed, pupils dilated, and her usual composed demeanor had given way to something foreign and concerning. Within minutes, I heard the doctor's swift footsteps in the hallway.

"Elevated heart rate, disorientation, altered mental state," I reported in clipped tones, stepping away from the bed to speak with him. My jaw clenched as I watched Dr. Thompson examine her symptoms.

"It appears to be a psychedelic substance," he informed me quietly by the door. "I have a sedative prepared if her vitals become more unstable. The effects should naturally subside within hours, but she needs constant monitoring."

"I'll stay," I said firmly. "Wait outside with the medication in case it's needed." The doctor nodded and left, closing the door softly behind him.

I positioned myself in the furthest corner of the room, settling into a chair where I could keep watch. Every fiber of my being wanted to comfort her, but I knew maintaining distance was crucial right now. Her fevered calls tugged at something deep in my chest, but I remained rooted in place, speaking only in calm, steady tones when needed to reassure her.

Hours crawled by. I focused on her breathing patterns, marking each subtle shift as the drug worked its way through her system. My only movement was to occasionally text Miles to handle any urgent business matters - everything else could wait. Nothing was more important than seeing her safely through this.

"It wasn't your fault," I found myself saying quietly when her agitation peaked again. "I'm here, and you're going to be fine." I kept my voice steady, a counterpoint to the turmoil I felt watching her struggle.