The Ex-Con Who Conquered the World novel Chapter 64

By now, Dawson was out of options. All he had left was the name.

"Mr. Burgess? Never heard of him." Stefan didn't even look up. "I don't care who you drag up from that joke of a gang. Anyone who comes at me ends up on the floor."

Stefan cut him off with a swing. The pipe connected with Dawson's right knee.

CRACK.

The sound of bone splintering made even the men on the floor wince.

Dawson's scream bounced off the walls. He collapsed, writhing, clutching his leg. "You—" He gasped for air, then spotted one of his men frozen by the door. "What the hell are you standing there for?! Go! Get Mr. Burgess! NOW!"

The man snapped out of it and bolted.

Stefan didn't chase him. Didn't care. His attention had shifted—Eliza was in trouble. He could feel it. The way her body was reacting. The flush on her skin. The way she could barely hold herself up. They'd dosed her with something.

He walked over.

Scarlett scrambled backward, legs shaking, face pale. She pressed herself against the wall like she wanted to disappear.

"Stefan..."

Eliza's voice came out soft, unsteady. She tried to stand, to meet him halfway. But her legs gave out.

Strong arms caught her before she hit the floor.

A soft sound escaped her lips as she fell against him. Her body pressed into his—and it was like touching fire. Burning hot.

Stefan felt it immediately. The heat coming off her skin. The way it stirred something restless in his own core. Her face was flushed, her eyes half-lidded, her lips parted, breath coming in warm, uneven waves.

Low. Disgusting. Using something like that on a woman.

He needed to move fast. Before the drug took full control. Before she lost herself completely.

He channeled true energy into her body. Gentle at first, then steady. The energy pushed through her meridians, forcing the foreign substance out.

Sweat beaded on her skin. Her breathing slowed. The unnatural heat began to fade.

When Eliza opened her eyes again, the fog was gone. She was clear-headed—and pressed against Stefan's chest. Her cheeks burned. But she didn't pull away. "Stefan..." Her eyes welled up. "Thank you. If you hadn't come—if you hadn't—"

She couldn't finish. She didn't want to think about what would have happened.

Stefan looked at the red mark on her cheek. "I'm sorry." His voice was quiet. "This happened because of me. And I was too late."

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