Sweet Temptation

He shook his head, dragging himself from the brink of utter insanity. He was losing his mind and self all at the same time.

Instead he concentrated on her fragile vulnerability. She needed him right now.

“I’m here, Angel girl,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”

He leaned down to brush his lips across her brow. She emitted a tiny sigh and seemed to relax, but she didn’t awaken.

Micah turned to Nathan, his gut so tied in knots he felt like puking. “Who drugged her?” he bit out.

“I have no idea,” Nathan said wearily. “One minute she was fine. Julie and I left her to dance, and the next thing I know she’s falling down at my feet.”

Micah swore viciously. “What has the doctor said?”

“They’re doing lab work. We’ll know more when they get the results back, but from all appearances he said it looks like a date rape drug.”

“Son of a fucking bitch.”

It was all he could do not to put his fist through the wall. He collected himself and glanced over at Julie, who sat on the other side of Angelina’s bed, her face pale and creased with worry.

“You okay, doll?” Micah asked gently.

She gave a short nod, but her eyes filled with tears. And on Julie, tears were not a good thing.

Alarmed, Nathan snatched her out of her chair and settled her on his lap.

“What’s wrong, honey?”

“It’s my fault,” Julie said in a miserable tone. “I talked her into going out with us. This never would have happened if I hadn’t strong-armed her into going.”

Nathan pressed his lips to her temple. “Stop talking crazy, Julie. You did a good thing by asking her to come with us. She needs friends right now.”

His words hit Micah right in the chest. Nathan was right about that much. Angelina was alone in a new city, no friends, and Micah had begrudged her his because he was too much of a goddamn coward to face his past.

“You did a very good thing, Julie,” Micah said quietly. “Nathan’s right. She does need friends, and you guys are the absolute best.”

Julie smiled tremulously at him. The door opened, and Faith and Gray shoved in, followed closely by Connor.

“How is she?” Faith asked anxiously.

“Still out like a light,” Julie said.

“If anyone asks, I’m her sister,” Faith said. “The only way they’d let us back was if we were family.”

Nathan and Micah both stared at her like she’d lost her mind. Julie snickered openly, and Gray just looked at the ceiling, his lips twitching suspiciously.

“Um, Faith. What side of the family exactly does Angelina spring from?” Julie asked with barely veiled amusement.

Faith flushed. “It was all I could think of on short notice. Don’t tease me. I’ll say she was adopted like I was.”

Gray squeezed her shoulders while Connor walked to the other side of Angelina’s bed, a deep frown on his face.

“What the hell happened?” he demanded.

Micah stared at his friend through narrowed eyes. He didn’t want Connor near her. Didn’t want him to touch her. His fingers curled into tight fists when Connor gently touched Angelina’s cheek.

“Date rape drug,” Julie said in a weary voice. “Someone slipped it into her drink.”

The door opened again, and this time Damon and Serena appeared.

“How many damn people did you call?” Nathan grumbled at Julie.

The room was getting crowded. They’d be lucky if they didn’t all get kicked out, and they probably would the next time a nurse made a pass through the room.

“This could have been any one of you,” Gray said in a low voice, his stare encompassing first Faith and then passing on to Julie and finally Serena. “I shudder to think of what could have happened on your last girls’ night out.”

Nathan went pale. “Hell, he’s right. I walked into Cattleman’s and all three of you were flat on your backs on the floor giggling like fools. Anyone could have drugged your drinks and you would have never known.”

The girls all exchanged uneasy glances. Damon’s face had drawn into a thundercloud.

“They would have had protection if a certain someone hadn’t blown off the driver for the night. It won’t happen again, Serena mine.”

“Shit,” Julie breathed. “This is seriously going to cramp our fun.”

“We just want you to be more careful,” Gray said diplomatically. “No more going out alone and getting shit-faced. At least one of you is going to have to stay sober and look out for the others.”

The girls all nodded.

“How long has she been out?” Serena murmured as she moved closer to the bed. “Will she be all right?”

“Doctor says so,” Nathan replied. “He wants to watch her. Wait for her to wake up and monitor her for a while.”

“You don’t have to stay,” Micah said, turning to include the entire room. “I’m going to stay with her. You should all go home and get some rest.” He looked at Julie. “Especially you, doll.”

“We’d rather stay until she comes around,” Faith said stubbornly. “She shouldn’t be here alone.”

“She won’t be alone,” Micah said patiently. “I’m not leaving her.”

“She should have friends around her,” Connor said in a low voice.