Chapter 75 A Drumbeat Heart

"This wasn’t a business decision," Luna Seraphina said. "Someone called in a serious favor, and your father decided it wasn’t worth starting a war over one spoiled Hale girl."

"She drugged an employee in one of our hotels."

"I know. I already tore him a new one."

Then Luna Seraphina’s tone changed.

"Still, this is the first time you’ve gone this far for a woman who supposedly means nothing to you."

Alpha Killian said nothing.

Luna Seraphina continued.

"I asked you a question the last time we spoke."

Her voice softened.

"Do you have an answer for me now, Killian?"

"I have my answer."

Alpha Killian ended the call just as Eira walked into the executive office.

She wore an oatmeal sweater, a matching skirt, and rimless glasses. Her olive coat hung over one arm, and she carried two paper bags in the other.

She still looked a little pale, but she was steady.

When their eyes met, Alpha Killian’s heart kicked hard against his ribs.

Eira gave him a polite nod, then placed the bags on Natalie’s and Miles’s desks.

"I kept the snacks mild. I wasn’t sure how much heat you could handle."

Natalie looked inside and grinned. "You’re spoiling us."

"Don’t get used to it."

"No promises."

Miles thanked her and caught Alpha Killian watching from his office. He quickly looked away.

A moment after Eira sat down, a message appeared on her screen.

Killian: My office.

She picked up a file and went in.

"The trip summary and follow-up schedule," she said, placing it on his desk.

Alpha Killian flipped through the brief, well-organized report.

"What happened to my written apology?"

"Still denied."

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Worth a shot."

He closed the file.

"Sterling House is issuing a formal apology and a guest-safety payment for what happened last night."

"The hotel didn’t drug me."

"It happened under our roof. That makes it our problem."

Eira started to argue, but Alpha Killian cut her off.

"Accounting already has your direct deposit information. The payment will hit your account today. Any restitution from the Hales will be handled separately."

His tone made it clear the decision was final.

"Thank you," Eira said.

Then she hesitated.

"When are you free for dinner?"

Alpha Killian looked up. "Dinner?"

"I owe you one. You saved my life."

"Anytime." The answer came a little too fast.

He leaned back and added casually, "Just send me the details."

"I will." Eira turned to leave.

"Wait."

Eira looked back.

Alpha Killian studied her pale face. "Go home if you start feeling sick."

"I’m fine."

"You nearly drowned less than twenty-four hours ago."

"But I didn’t."

Stubborn. Completely unreasonable.

Somehow, he liked that about her too.

Eira returned to her desk and worked through the rest of the afternoon.

Shortly before five, her phone buzzed.

Wire received: $300,000.

A message from Alpha Killian followed.

[[Sterling House paid half. The Hales paid the other half through their attorney’s escrow account. Neither payment requires you to withdraw your statement or give up your legal rights.]

Eira stared at the amount. [Thank you, Alpha Killian.]

The typing bubble appeared, vanished, then returned.

A minute later, his reply came through.

[There’s something else. Sterling House settled its civil claims against the Hales for the damage to the hotel. We won’t pursue a separate lawsuit.]

He sent another message before she could respond.

[That does not affect your police report or the criminal investigation.]

So that was what he had been reluctant to tell her.

Someone with enough influence had convinced the Sterling family to settle. Alpha Killian clearly did not agree with the decision, but he had made sure it would not take away Eira’s right to keep fighting.

She typed back:[Understood.]

--

Alpha Killian stared at her one-word reply.

It felt cold. Too cold.

The message bothered him for the rest of the afternoon.

When the workday ended and Eira left without coming into his office again, he finally did something he had never done before.

He took a screenshot and sent it to Lila.

[What does this mean? Is she mad?]

Lila replied with an angry emoji, followed by a voice message.

"Seriously? You want me to read one word with zero context? What am I, the FBI?"

Alpha Killian did not answer.

Another message appeared.

[Also, Dad wants you home for dinner.]

[Not happening.]

[Okay, so what’s going on? Did Dad screw something up?]

[I’m busy. I need to check on something at my place.]

Eira’s soaked paintings and letters were still drying there. He wanted to see if they could be saved.

Alpha Killian grabbed his coat and headed for the garage.

His car had barely pulled onto the street when he spotted another vehicle near the curb.

Alpha Sebastian’s.

Alpha Sebastian had one hand around Eira’s wrist and was shoving her into the passenger seat. She tried to pull free, but he forced her inside and slammed the door.

Alpha Killian saw the red marks on her wrist.

His expression turned cold.

By the time his driver reached them, Alpha Sebastian’s car was already speeding away.

"Follow them."

The command came out almost like a growl.

"Yes, Alpha Killian."

--

Inside Alpha Sebastian’s car, Eira pulled at the door handle.

It would not open.

She turned on him. "Did you turn on the child lock?"

"You wouldn’t get in the car."

"So you thought kidnapping me was the next best move?"

"Don’t be dramatic. We need to talk."

"You could’ve called."

"You stopped answering me."

Alpha Sebastian looked exhausted. His shirt was wrinkled, and dark circles stood out beneath his eyes.

"Isabella is out on bail," he said. "Sterling House settled with us. All you have to do is tell the police you may have misunderstood what happened."

"I didn’t misunderstand being drugged."

"There’s no proof Isabella knew what was in that drink."

"Then who put it there?"

"I’m trying to find out."

"No, you’re trying to make the investigation go away."

Alpha Sebastian’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.

"I can’t just demand Sterling House’s security footage."

"The police can. That’s why my statement stays."

"Do you have any idea what this could do to me?" His voice rose. "My wife gets drugged at a Sterling hotel, and Killian Sterling is the one who carries her out and takes her to a clinic. If that hits the press, Hale Group will be a laughingstock."

Eira looked out the window.

There it was. His company. His name. His pride.

Never what had happened to her.

"If you’re that worried about bad press, maybe your sister shouldn’t have drugged me."

"She made a mistake."

"She set me up for an assault."

"You don’t know that."

"I was there, Sebastian."

He struck the steering wheel with his palm.

"This affects both of us. Our company, our name, our future."

"There is no our future."

The words came out calm and clear.

Alpha Sebastian glanced at her sharply.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

"Don’t." His voice dropped. "I don’t want to hear that."

He pulled up at a red light and grabbed her wrist.

Eira winced.

Alpha Sebastian noticed but did not release her.

"I know you’ve had a rough couple of days," he said, forcing his voice to soften. "Let me fix this."

Eira stared at him.

Alpha Sebastian kept going, mistaking her silence for interest.

"You wanted the house when I asked you to quit your job, and I gave it to you. This time, you get a car. Think of it as an apology."

He reached toward her hair.

Eira turned away before he could touch her.

His hand stopped in midair.

It was a small movement, but it hit him hard.