Chapter 273

Gavin’s POV

My hands shook as I stared at my phone.

Drugged?? Monty named the first file. I looked at the hospital door behind me, knowing that on the other side of that door was a woman I didn’t trust. Eliza was off getting that paternity test done, and I was about to have more answers than I could imagine with just a click of a button.

Was I ready to know the truth about that night?

With a deep breath, I clicked on the video. It started with Rachel and me arriving at the bar. I was on my phone, trying to find a ride for that night, and then I set my phone down on the bar countertop. I asked the bartender's attention and ordered myself a scotch while Rachel ordered a classic martini with an olive.

We talked while we waited for our drinks, and my phone remained untouched on the bar. The bartender brought over our drinks, and I took a sip of the scotch while maintaining a conversation with Rachel, who seemed to be speaking animatedly about something. I couldn’t remember the conversation we had, which meant I was barely paying attention to what she was saying.

After a few minutes, I got up, excusing myself to the bathroom. I forgot my phone on the counter, and I didn’t realize it had lit up with a message. However, Raechel seemed to have noticed.

I watched her look around for a moment, making sure I wasn't in sight, before she grabbed my phone and typed something into it. After a minute, she was sliding the phone into her purse.

I remembered looking for my phone that evening during my drunken stupor, but I never imagined that Rachel had stolen it.

I clenched my fists tightly as the video continued.

Rachel took a small baggie out of her purse and a pinch of whatever powder was in it. She glanced around briefly before she sprinkled it into my scotch and then stirred it with her finger.

The bartender was completely oblivious of her actions. By the time I returned, she put the baggie back in her purse and acted as if nothing had happened. She continued her story as I continued to drink the scotch.

The video ends.

“What the actual fuck?” I muttered, my brows furrowed as my body trembled.

Rachel drugged me that night; that’s why I got overly drunk after just one scotch. It wasn’t the alcohol; it was whatever Rachel drugged me with.

In the next video, Monty labeled: Call for help.

I pressed play on the video and watched as Rachel excused herself. I was past the point of being gone, and I could see the bartender was worried about me. I was practically sleeping on the bar countertop when Rachel walked away. I felt furious that she would just leave me there; what kind of game was she playing?

I lifted my head and said something to the bartender. He nodded, though that worried expression remained on his face. He grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and handed them both to me. I was surprised I was able to write down anything. I wished I could enhance the video a bit more to see what it was I was writing, but the bartender took it and nodded.

He went to the phone and called someone.

Who the fuck was he calling?

The video ended.

The next video was called: Help arrives.

The time of the video was 15 minutes after the last one.

I pressed play, and to my shock, I watched Judy run through the busy crowds to get to the bar. She said something to the bartender, and then she assessed me. I seemed to be coherent enough to speak to her, though I don’t remember what was that is said. My heart was pounding in my chest when I saw the worried look on her face and the fact that she was looking around frantically, maybe looking for Rachel?

The bartender had said something to her, and Judy looked grateful for a moment. A couple of men came out of nowhere and let out a low growl as I watched the video. What the fuck were they doing, grabbing me like that?

Soon, they were leaving the bar with me, and Judy trailed behind.

The video ended.

A message from Monty came through next.

Monty: This next video is hallway footage. It took a while to find the exact camera, but I finally got it. This one is outside of your hotel suite.

I pressed play on the video, already deep in the rabbit hole.

The video began, and I watched as those men continued to drag me through the hall with Judy keeping pace behind us. She walked up to the door, my suite door, and she said something. I lifted my thumb for her, and she realized it was a thumb lock. She used my thumb to unlock the door, and the men dragged me inside. A minute later, the men were leaving, but Judy remained.

The video ended.

I fucking knew she was with me that night; I cursed under my breath. I should have tried harder to get her to admit it. I also felt a strange lightness in my chest. I was with Judy… I was kissing and touching her… not Rachel.

There were a couple more videos to watch, though, and I worried about what they contained.

The next video was titled: What was Rachel up to?”

I swallowed, pressing play on the video, and I saw it was a camera outside another hotel room. The door opened, and Rachel, a man I didn’t recognize, walked out. He was shirtless, and he had a smug smile on his face. I looked closer and saw a glimpse of raven black hair lingering in the doorway and a familiar silk red nightgown.

Was that Rachel?

The video ended.

Monty: That footage was hard to find because I wasn’t sure what I was looking for. But as I was watching all of the footage from that night, I saw the red nightgown in the doorway, and it kind of ties together with the next video.

I pressed play on the last video.

Rachel was sneaking down the hallway in her red silk nightgown; her black hair splaying down her narrow back as she knocked frantically on my suite door.

After a few minutes, Judy answered the door, looking a bit annoyed and disheveled. I watched the two of them going back and forth, and slowly, Judy’s face started to fall. My heart shattered watching her expression.

Not before long after, Rachel was rushing into the room and Judy was stepping out. Judy stared at the closed door for a long while before she turned and left. The video perfectly captured her crestfallen face and the tears that she tried to keep away.

The video ended.

What the actual fuck did I just watch?

I texted Monty.

Me: Was that everything?

Monty: Yup. It seems you were with 2 women that night. I’m not sure what happened in your suite, though, so there’s still a chance you could have slept with Rachel.

I didn’t sleep with Rachel. I know in my gut that I didn’t sleep with her.

Me: I need to find out who that man was and what relations he had with Rachel that night.

Monty: In one of the videos I watched, I saw him walking into the suite himself. He had a resort uniform shirt on, so I think he works somewhere at the Grand Casino Hotel. I didn’t bother sending it to you because I didn’t find it relevant. But if you must know who he is, I’d start there.

I shoved the phone back into my pocket without responding. I walked back into he hospital room to find Rachel scrolling through her phone. She looked up when she saw me.

“I have to step away,” I told her. “But I’ll be back later.”

She studied my face for a moment, a small crease between her brows.

“You’re leaving?” she asked, sounding sad. “When is later?”

“I don’t know yet,” I told her. “It’s just business. You understand, right?”

She bit her lower lip and nodded slowly.

“I guess so,” she sighed.

I nodded, giving her a forced fake smile before turning and leaving. I needed to find out who the fuck that man was and what relations he had with Rachel.

Surprisingly enough, it was easy to find out the information I needed. The casino was strict and monitored each employee while they were on the clock. I only had to find out who wasn’t on the clock around that time and narrow it down. I worked tirelessly with the hotel manager, and a few hours later, I had a picture and a name.

Jeremiah Rodrigues.

What’s worse? He was a human.

My intimidating aura made getting a confession out of him easy. Apparently, she sought him out, and her beauty and charm made it impossible for him to resist her temptations. She gave him a hotel suite room number and key and told him to meet her there.

So, he did.

He explained how they had unprotected sex; she assured him that she was protected, and they didn’t need to worry about anything else. She rocked his world and then kicked him out right after.

I noticed there was a resemblance between me and Jeremiah, which is probably why she wanted him specifically.

I felt sick to my stomach knowing I was being played for a fool.

As the day wore on and evidence started to pile up, I received the call I was waiting for.

“Eliza,” I greeted. “Do you have news for me?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “Do you want to hear it in person, or over the phone?”

“I’m just finishing up here,” I told her as I was leaving the Grand Casino Hotel. “I have a ton of evidence against Rachel. She screwed a human just before coming to my suite.”

There was silence on the other end, and then I heard Eliza sigh.

“Well, that explains that then.”

“What do you mean?”

“Rachel’s baby has human blood mixed with some wolf blood,” she explained, making me freeze. “Which makes this baby half human. Alpha, this baby isn’t yours.”