Chapter 16 Get In Line
Krystal peeked around a doorway, panting. Her chest rose and fell as she glanced behind her. “Is he still following me? Did I shake him off already?” she whispered, leaning against the wall, breath shallow. “What did I ever do to deserve this kind of karma?”
But just as she caught her breath, a familiar voice growled near her ear.
“You know exactly what you’ve done.”
Krystal’s head snapped toward the voice—Lorenzo.
Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and pinned her against the wall, his tall frame looming over hers. His grip on her shoulders was firm, his eyes burning with fury.
“You came into my home, tried to hurt someone under my roof, and now you think you can run?”
She writhed in his grip. “Let me go!”
He didn’t budge. Her face behind the mask twisted in pain at the pressure on her arms. He loosened it just slightly, but didn’t let go.
Under her breath, she cursed, “Why won’t this damn Cactus leave me alone? Sooner or later, I’m going to poison him myself.”
He narrowed his eyes, his voice sharp and low. “I thought you were a real doctor. But you’re just a fraud, aren’t you? How many people have you scammed?”
Krystal exhaled sharply, frustration flaring in her eyes. “I’m not a fraud.”
“If that’s true, then why hide your face with this damn mask all the time?” he shot back, reaching for it.
She turned her face away quickly. “Don’t you want Esther to be treated?”
He sneered. “Oh, now you remember her? You nearly killed her, and now you’re lying to me again.”
Krystal rolled her eyes and pushed his hands off her shoulders. “If I weren’t a real doctor, would I be stupid enough to walk into your house and treat her under your nose?”
Their eyes locked.
“She said I was fake. She cried a little, played the victim, and you believed her just like that?” Krystal snapped. “You know her better than I do. Does that sound like someone who wants to be cured?”
Lorenzo’s mind flicked back to the incident where Esther had accused Krystal of spilling coffee on her, pretending to be hurt. A lie. But he didn’t let it show.
“She has no reason to lie,” he said coldly.
Krystal scoffed, folding her arms. “Does she really want to be cured, or is she milking the situation for a reason?”
Lorenzo froze. The memory of Esther’s repeated proposals, the desperate need to keep him close—flashed through his mind. His gaze darkened.
“You seem to know a lot about my life,” he growled.
Krystal stiffened for a second, then shrugged with practiced indifference. “Just good at reading people. Now that you know, I’m leaving.”
‘I need to get away from this Cactus!’ she thought, turning away.
But Lorenzo grabbed her arm and yanked her back roughly.
“You really think I’m going to let you go after a few bullshit theories?”
His voice dropped low and threatening. “I paid you a hell of a lot of money to treat her. Then she cries and says you tried to kill her, and you vanish. Where’s your proof that she lied?”
Krystal took a deep, frustrated breath and turned to face him squarely. “Since I took money from you, Mr. Moretti, I’ll surely cure the patient.”
He didn’t let go. His voice turned to steel. “How the hell am I supposed to trust you? Prove it. Come with me. Treat her. And once she’s fine, I’ll let you go.”
“Then take me there and let me finish the treatment,” she snapped. “But let go of my arm, damn it.”
Lorenzo stared at her for a second, letting go of her arm, then began to turn.
But the next moment, Krystal lunged from behind, slipped something between his lips. Her fingers pressed on the side of his throat instantly, forcing his throat to gulp with practiced ease.
He gagged as she forced him to swallow the pill.
He roughly pushed her off his body, and spun around, furious.
“What the hell—”
But his body suddenly went limp.
His knees buckled, and he slid down the wall, then collapsed onto the ground—paralyzed.
Krystal stood over him with a smug look. “You really thought you could control me?” She kicked his thigh. “In your dreams, asshole.”
Lorenzo’s eyes blazed. Rage flickered across his face, but he couldn’t move or speak.
Krystal grinned, pulling out her phone. “The mighty CEO of Velare Hotels, brought down to his knees like this. This deserves to go in the record books.” She snapped a few photos. “I should frame it.”
Lorenzo twitched, making her jump back, startled. “Damn—he can still move after that pill?”
Footsteps echoed down the hall.
“Shit,” she hissed and darted away.
Xander rushed around the corner, spotted Lorenzo, and helped him up. Lorenzo’s limbs were slowly responding again, and he pushed off the wall with fury burning through him.
“I’ll make her pay for this,” he snarled. “CHASE HER!”
Krystal sprinted out onto the street, her lungs burning. But she could hear Lorenzo behind her—closing in fast.
“Shit!” she gasped, forcing her legs to move faster. Her heart pounded in her chest. ‘I can’t let him find out where I live. No matter what.’
At the last moment, Krystal veered off and sprinted toward a different address. She managed to lose him—just for a second. Taking full advantage, she ducked into a familiar house and rushed inside, breath ragged.
"I'm so damn tired,” Krystal panted under her breath, slamming the heavy entry gate behind her with a sharp thud. “Two damn kilometers, and I still couldn’t ditch these bastards.”
Sweat clung to her brow, her legs ached, and every breath burned her lungs.
Her fingers trembled as she pushed herself forward, heels scraping against the stone path of the front garden.
Behind her, Lorenzo and Xander were closing in fast—she could hear the crunch of gravel under their shoes, growing louder with each desperate step she took.
Clutching her side, she pushed her aching body harder, half stumbling through the front yard. Her heart pounded like a war drum. When she reached the porch, she slammed her fist against the door, gasping for air.
It swung open, and Damion stood there in a loose T-shirt and sweats, clearly not expecting anyone—least of all her. His brows shot up at the sight of Krystal on his doorstep, hair wild, eyes wide with panic.
Kara appeared behind him, her eyes widening in alarm at the sudden commotion.
Krystal didn’t wait for questions. She shoved past them both, her shoulder brushing Damion’s, and slammed the door shut with a loud thud that echoed through the hallway. She leaned back against it, chest heaving, as she stared at them.
“It’s an emergency,” she gasped, holding her stomach. “Really urgent. Kara, can you hide? Anywhere—attic, basement—I don’t care. Just make sure no one is able to find you.”
Kara nodded quickly, caught between confusion and fear, and turned on her heel, rushing up the stairs without another word.
Krystal turned to Damion, eyes wild. “There’s no time to explain. Lorenzo’s right behind me. If he comes, don’t tell him I’m here.”
Damion blinked. “Wait—didn’t you two already get divorced? Why the hell is he still chasing you like a lunatic?”
Before she could answer, the doorbell rang.
Krystal’s breath caught. Her pulse spiked.
She didn’t speak. Just spun around and darted deeper into the house, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway like a hunted animal.
Damion stared after her for a split second, then sighed and opened the door cautiously.
There stood Lorenzo, tall and furious, chest rising with controlled breaths. His black coat was half-open, wind tugging at the hem. His eyes narrowed the second he saw Damion.
At once Lorenzo’s body went rigid. His eyes narrowed in surprise. “You? What are you doing here?” Lorenzo asked coldly.
Damion raised an eyebrow, arms folding across his chest with a calmness that bordered on smug. “I should be asking you that. This is my house. Why are you knocking on my door in the middle of the night?”
Lorenzo’s gaze flicked to Xander who was standing behind him. He stepped forward quickly. “Mr. Moretti, I really saw her run into this house.”
Lorenzo turned back to Damion, voice cold. “I’m looking for someone important. I need to check inside. Do you mind?”
Damion didn’t move. He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed tightly, his jaw ticking. His tone came out dry, with a touch of warning. “Yeah, I do.”
But Xander brushed past him with a firm shoulder bump and walked right in, his eyes scanning the space.
“Hey—!” Damion snapped, shoving off the frame and spinning around to follow. “Get the hell out of my house!”
Footsteps thudded against the wooden floor as Lorenzo stormed in behind Xander.
Xander and Lorenzo moved quickly, checking every room like they owned the place. Lorenzo marched down the hallway, opening doors, looking under beds, pulling back curtains—his eyes sharp, scanning every corner.
Lorenzo opened a hallway closet, his eyes cold and calculating. “Are you hiding someone?” he asked without looking back, his voice quiet but dangerous.
“This is my damn house!” Damion growled, his fists clenched. His patience was burning thin. “Get out of here before I call the security to drag you out.”
Just then, soft footsteps echoed from the stairs.
Krystal appeared at the top, her bare legs peeking out from beneath an oversized T-shirt that hung just above her knees. Her hair was tousled like she’d just rolled out of bed, and she blinked down at them like the noise had pulled her from sleep.
“Damion?” she called down, rubbing her eyes. Her voice was laced with feigned sleepiness. “Who’s at the door?”
Lorenzo froze mid-step. His entire body stiffened. His gaze shot up to her, and for a long second, he didn’t move.
Then his jaw locked. His hands balled into fists at his sides. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Krystal tilted her head slightly, her expression cool and collected. She crossed her arms casually, not caring about her bare legs or his reaction as she started coming down. “That’s funny. I was about to ask you the same.”
Lorenzo’s stare sliced between her and Damion. Something dark flickered in his eyes.