A Dance with Danger

Chapter sixty-Six

**Estelle's POV**

The music pulsed around us, a constant, intoxicating rhythm that seemed to vibrate deep in my chest. Tiberius’s hand was firm on my waist as we swayed together, lost in the moment. The world outside the dance floor seemed distant, the lights flashing above us like bursts of color, and for a moment, I felt like it was just the two of us.

Eventually, the song shifted, and Tiberius guided me off the floor. We moved toward the VIO area, where a few tables had been set up, and I could hear the hum of voices mingling with the music in the background. He ordered us something to eat, the warmth of his presence a grounding comfort beside me.

But as we made our way to the small lounge area, I felt the alcohol settling heavily in my stomach, pulling me down. My head swam slightly, and I tried to push it aside, hoping it would pass. It wasn’t a lot to drink, but the weight of the night was starting to make itself known.

I excused myself, needing a moment alone, to gather myself. My feet carried me toward the ladies' room, the club’s noise becoming a distant echo. I stumbled slightly, my balance wobbly, and Tiberius, ever the protector, stayed close behind me, his presence like a weight against my back.

“I’ll be right back,” I said softly, though I wasn’t sure if I believed my own words.

As I rounded the corner, my body felt unsteady, the floor beneath me tilting slightly. I reached for the wall to steady myself, and that’s when I felt a hand on my arm.

“Estelle, you okay?” Tiberius’s voice was soft but laced with concern.

I looked up, catching his gaze. His eyes were a shade darker than usual, brows furrowed as he studied me, clearly worried. His face softened for a moment, but the tension was still there.

“I’m fine,” I said, forcing a smile, but it felt weak. “Just need a minute. I’ll be right back.”

I watched him hesitate, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he searched my face, but before he could say anything, a soft voice interrupted.

"Let me help her to the ladies' room, Mr. Kavouris."

I turned toward the sound of the voice, finding a young female waiter standing nearby. She had a respectful smile on her face, her eyes downcast as she glanced at Tiberius. The tray in her hands gleamed under the club lights, and I felt an odd sense of unease at the sight of her.

Tiberius hesitated, his gaze flicking between me and the woman, and then back to me, his lips pressed into a tight line. I gave him an apologetic smile, trying to reassure him.

“I’ll be fine,” I said softly. “I’ll be right back.”

He didn’t look convinced, but after a moment’s pause, he nodded.

“Don’t be too long,” he said, his voice low, a hint of possessiveness in his tone.

I nodded and turned toward the woman, who now led the way down the hall toward the restroom. The further we walked, the more distant the thumping of the music became, as if the noise were being sucked away, leaving us in a strange silence. It felt like we were moving deeper into the building, but the hallway was well-lit and bustling with people. I didn’t think much of it, my vision slightly blurred, but I kept moving forward, trying to steady myself.

We reached a door I hadn’t noticed before, and the woman stopped, her hand still gripping my arm, guiding me toward it. The unease I felt grew, a slight prickling at the back of my neck, but I couldn’t put my finger on why. The air seemed heavier now, and the woman had become almost unnervingly quiet.

Suddenly, she turned toward me with an almost jerking motion, her face shifting from polite professionalism to something colder, something unfamiliar. My body tensed, but before I could react, she moved quickly, slamming something against my mouth.

A sharp, chemical smell assaulted my senses, burning my nose, and panic surged through me. My breath caught, but before I could scream or push her away, the world around me began to tilt. The floor seemed to drop away, and my vision blurred. My knees buckled, and I fell into her, but everything was starting to fade.

The last thing I saw before the darkness swallowed me was her eyes—cold, emotionless, and calculating.

Then, there was nothing.

---

I woke to the sound of muffled voices, my head throbbing with a dull ache. I opened my eyes, blinking against the light that filtered through what seemed like a dimly lit room. My throat felt dry, and I had no idea where I was or how I’d gotten there.

The air smelled faintly of mildew, mixed with the metallic scent of blood and something… wrong. My heart pounded as I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my head, and I winced, clutching my temples.

“Estelle.”

I heard the voice before I saw him—Tiberius’s voice, rough and low, like a growl. My body jerked instinctively toward the sound of his voice, but my limbs felt sluggish, as though they weren’t responding properly.

“Estelle, stay still.” His voice was commanding but laced with concern.

I tried to focus, but the world around me spun. My vision blurred, and I couldn’t remember how I got here, or what had happened. My throat burned, and I instinctively reached for it, trying to clear the dryness that clung to it.

“Tiberius… what’s… what’s going on?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He was by my side in an instant, his strong arms lifting me slightly, supporting my weight. His eyes were dark with anger and something else I couldn’t place, and I noticed his jaw clenched tightly, his usual calm demeanor replaced with something fierce and urgent.

“You were drugged,” he said, his voice tight. “You don’t remember?”

I shook my head slowly, the fog in my mind making it hard to piece together anything. I tried to think back, to remember how I’d gotten here, but the memory was a void—empty and black.

“I… I don’t remember,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I don’t remember anything.”

Tiberius’s expression hardened, his eyes flashing with something dangerous. He was furious, but there was a depth of worry that was almost palpable.

“It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that you’re safe. Do you understand me?” He gripped my shoulders, forcing me to look at him, his gaze intense.

I nodded slowly, trying to ground myself in his presence, but the confusion swirling in my mind only grew. “But… how did I… how did I get here?”

“You were taken,” Tiberius said through gritted teeth. “I’ll tell you everything, just—” He paused, his gaze flicking to the door, as though he were considering something. “Not now. Right now, I need you to rest. You’re safe.”

I felt his arms tighten around me as he helped me back into a lying position, his fingers brushing the hair away from my face. My head felt heavy, my body disconnected from the reality around me, but I focused on his voice, hoping that hearing him would help clear the fog that surrounded me.

“Rest, Estelle. You’ll be okay,” he murmured, his lips brushing my forehead.

But I couldn’t shake the fear gnawing at me. What had happened? Who had done this? And why couldn’t I remember?

I closed my eyes, willing the darkness to make sense of it all.

But nothing came.