Chapter 65

The phone's shrill ring shattered the silence of the night. Nathan Black stirred, his hand fumbling for the device on the nightstand. The caller ID flashed Serena Cole. He swiped to answer, his voice rough with sleep.

"Serena?"

"Nathan, I—" A fit of coughing interrupted her. Her voice, usually so poised, was now fragile and strained. "I'm sorry to call so late, but I don't feel well. Could you come over? Please?"

Nathan sat up, the sheets pooling around his waist. "You're sick? I'll call an ambulance."

"No!" The refusal was sharp, desperate. "I hate hospitals. I just—I need you here."

Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. On the other end, Serena exhaled shakily, then coughed again. "Never mind. It's nothing serious. Just an old problem that flares up sometimes. I can manage. Go back to sleep."

But she didn’t hang up.

Nathan’s jaw tightened. After a beat, he said, "I’ll be there in twenty minutes."

A soft, relieved sigh. "I’ll wait."

The call ended. Nathan swung his legs over the edge of the bed, the cool air of the room brushing against his skin. He reached for the lamp, flooding the space with warm light.

Evelyn Hartley, already awake, propped herself up on one elbow. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulder as she studied him, her gaze sharp despite the late hour. "Where are you going?"

Nathan didn’t look at her as he pulled on a shirt. "Out."

"To see Serena?"

His fingers stilled on the buttons. "She’s unwell. I’m just checking on her." The moment the words left his mouth, he frowned. Why was he explaining himself to her?

Evelyn’s lips curled into a knowing smile. "If she’s sick, shouldn’t she call a doctor? What are you going to do—wave a magic wand?"

Nathan shot her a glare. "Go back to sleep."

He strode to the closet, yanking out a jacket. When he turned, Evelyn was already dressed, slipping into her shoes with deliberate ease.

Nathan’s eyes narrowed. "What are you doing?"

Evelyn met his gaze, defiance sparking in her eyes. "I’m coming with you."

"Why?"

"Because," she said smoothly, "someone needs to make sure you don’t get played."