Deep in You (Phoenix #1) Read Online Free Page A

were my personal sealed wine and your martini at the bar. Let’s assume for the sake of argument that it’s the martini.”
    “Okay,” she mumbled.
    “Focus, Lily. I know the bartender, and I doubt she tried to drug you. Tell me about the guy you were with. Mr. Retirement Fund.
    “I… I don’t know. I can’t…”
    “Lily, did you turn your back on him at any point?”
    “No.”
    “Did you get up for any reason?”
    “No. Of course not.”
    “Not even to go to the bathroom?”
    “I’m not a complete idiot. I know not to… to…”
    Her pale complexion lightened further. I tightened my grip around her in case she was about to pass out. If she passed out again, I would call for an ambulance, to hell with what the press would think.
    Her mouth moved but no sound came out. Her bloodshot eyes darted up to meet mine. That’s when I realized she wasn’t fainting. There was guilt written all over her face.
    “Tell me.”
    “I’m such an idiot. I… I–”
    My lips tightened, drew into a thin line. I wanted to yell at her, to curse at her. But it wouldn’t help. Damn it! I had a qualifier coming up, and that meant I’d be tested. Who knew what that asshole had drugged her with? My career could be destroyed.
    I didn’t know what to do. I wondered if I should just go ahead and take her to the hospital so we could find out what we were dealing with. I shook myself; that was a terrible idea. I should call Sam. At least he knew how to be discreet.
    That thought flooded me with guilt. This wasn’t about me. If she wanted to find this guy and press charges, I needed to help her.
    The fact that we woke up at all was a good sign, but now what? Call the cops, fill out reports, interviews, deal with the press… a shiver ran down my spine. Xander Phoenix, victim of a date rape drug. I’d never live it down. Also, there was the fact that some of them are used as enhancements for competitions. Illegally, but still usable. Some would never believe I had nothing to do with it. I’d be the next Lance Armstrong.
    I stared at Lily, still leaning into me. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”
    “I don’t know. Do you think I should?”
    No. “Yes. You probably want to press charges, and that means getting a full medical workup.”
    “What will happen then?”
    “The hospital will call the police. We’ll have to give statements. They’ll start an investigation.”
    “I don’t want that.”
    “You don’t want this guy to be caught? Off the streets?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t want them to know how stupid I was. He seemed okay. I thought I could trust him.”
    “You aren’t the first he’s done this to, I’m sure.”
    “I can’t. I don’t want my life pulled apart for everyone’s amusement. I’d be a laughingstock. Especially since… never mind. That’s not important. What is important is that I feel better already. There has to be a better way.”
    I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t try to talk her into doing the right thing when I really just wanted this whole problem to go away myself. I nodded. “Okay.”
    I’d get Sam over here and find out what was going on. I helped her into a chair, then fished out my cell from the wad of clothes on the floor at the foot of the bed. After tapping out a quick text, I tossed it onto the bedside table.
    “If we aren’t going to the hospital, looks like you’ll be staying with me for a little while.”
    “No need. We can call a cab.”
    “Do you have a roommate?”
    She started to shake her head, but froze, a look of pain and fear on her face. “No. Well, yes. I do, but she’s not… um… she’s not there right now.”
    “Then you should stay. I need to make sure you’re okay. Hell, I could use the company. You can keep an eye on me, too.”
    “You seem fine.”
    “I probably am. If I am right and it was the martini, I only had a sip. Still, my head isn’t quite right, so better safe than sorry.”
    She lowered her gaze.