Chapter 23

Grace knew the two men would keep pestering her if she didn't go along. She decided it was smarter to figure out their intentions.

"Please follow me," Dominick said, practically glowing when she agreed.

As Grace approached, her eyes settled on Colton, and a faint frown tugged at her mouth.

Turned out it really was the guy knocking on death's door.

Dominick was just about to introduce them when Ryan Clark, Colton's friend, suddenly yelled, "Colton! Are you having another attack?"

Colton clutched his chest without warning. His skin lost color, his lips turned bluish, and he struggled to breathe.

Grace's face shifted. She reached into her pocket,pulled out a small blue vial, tapped out a deep brown pill, and held it toward them. "Make him take this."

Ryan squinted at the odd-looking pill, his mouth twitching. "You serious with this?"

She had to be kidding,right?

Grace stayed composed. "Don't believe in it?"

Colton took the pill from her, rubbing his thumb across the surface, catching the sharp, clean scent of herbs.

"It's not something you can just buy," Grace said calmly. "Don't underestimate it."

Her certainty made them hesitate.

Ryan leaned in, murmuring, "Don't take it."

A pill like that, who knew what it could do if it went wrong?

Grace gave a short, humorless laugh and reached out her palm. "If you're scared, then give it back to me."

It was rare for her to offer anything like this; now she almost looked like she was pleading with them.

Colton didn't flinch. He tossed the pill into his mouth.

The pill melted the instant it touched his tongue. A wave of warmth surged through his limbs, chasing off the chill that had settled in his bones and easing the stabbing pain in his chest.

He shut his eyes briefly, then opened them again,blinking in disbelief. "It works."

He hadn't felt this relieved since the poison effects began.Now,heat radiated through his body.

Ryan turned to Grace, stunned. "What was that pill you gave him?"

Grace's lips lifted slightly. Her tone was easy."The kind that keeps him breathing."

Color slowly returned to Colton's cheeks, and the tightness in his muscles began to release. He drew in a long breath, the cold that had wrapped around his chest finally retreating.

Ryan's brow furrowed, his voice low. "Your attacks are getting worse. At this rate, even Dr. Q's treatment won't be enough. We've got to find that doctor, fast."

At the mention of Dr. Q, something unreadable crossed Grace's face, but she covered it up in an instant.

Colton looked over at her, his voice still unstable."Sorry for the trouble, Miss Miller. How did you pick up on the poisoning that day?"

Grace didn't blink. Her reply came cool and clipped."I've got eyes."

Ryan studied her, probing. "Spotting that so fast,you must know your way around medicine?"

Grace rolled her sleeve back down, her tone flat. "I know a little."

Colton could tell she was keeping her distance.

He offered a nod of thanks. "Appreciate your help.Would you care to join us for dinner?"

Grace shook her head. "I've got to head home."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away.

"Hey!" Ryan stood frozen, watching her leave,completely thrown. Was she playing some kind of game, or just out of her mind?

Every debutante in the city bent over backward to catch Colton's attention. And Grace? She bolted like she'd been shot at.

Colton watched her retreating figure, his thoughts unreadable.

Dominick leaned in slightly. "What next?"

Before Colton could respond, a sudden tension gripped his face. A strange heat flared through him,sweat breaking out across his back. The sensation came without warning-sharp and overwhelming.

Ryan noticed the shift right away. "What's going on?"

He smacked the steering wheel. "It's that pill, isn't it?No wonder she vanished!"

Colton's jaw tightened. He loosened his tie, his fingers moving stiffly.

What had started as a gentle warmth was now burning through him like wildfire. But the strangest part was his legs, they itched and ached, like something was crawling beneath the surface.

"Drive to the hospital," Colton said hoarsely, a vein throbbing at his temple.

Ryan slammed his foot down. The SUV shot forward,tires screeching against the pavement.

In the mirror, Ryan saw Colton's complexion deepen to a shade of red that screamed distress.

"Hang on, we're nearly there," he muttered, his voice strained, silently blaming Gace a hundred times over.If anything happened to Colton, she'd answer for it.

"Hold on." Colton suddenly lifted a hand, his voice filled with shock. "I can feel my legs."

Ryan whipped his head around. "You serious?"

Colton lifted his shirt, those poison-triggered bumps were fading,vanishing right in front of them.

It was amazing.