oak door echoed in the room, c

ds. She stared at the crescent-shaped bloody in

ood up. Her face was a blank, emotionless mask. She reached in

She reached out and squeezed Alivia's sh

e of her head. She leaned over the bed and began t

man hooked up to the machines. A complica

o had slipped a burner phone and a stack of cash through the crack in the do

New York for one reason: to use her hand

nlight into his pupils. Her touch was incredibly soft

the darkened hallwa

room was not fully soundproofed; through the glass, he could hear muffled, unintelligible mu

her fingers brushed against his grandfather's cheek. That sickening, para

V line taped to Theodore's bruised hand. Her knuckle

dore's index f

iolent, sp

the IV line and leaned down, bringin

tremble. His jaw worked weakly. A faint

ar right next to his mouth to catch th

r past his vocal cords

ha.

eath of air, but the two syllables

e body went rigid. The breath was

*But he saw Alivia lean in. He saw the exact millisecond her face contorted in absolute, naked horror. He saw he

s brain instantly ignite

ed the heavy door open and

way with his forearm, not even looking at her. He marched s

ld, boring holes

llis demanded. His voice w

mmingbird trapped in her ribcage. Her brain scrambled,

her face. She pulled the

eeting Collis's furious

hly. Her voice didn't waver. "He is vocalizing meaningles

lls

d around Alivia's wrist. He squeezed. The grip w

harp hiss of pain

rward, pulling her f

st her skin. "I saw the way you looked. He said a n

was excruciating, bu

e let a look of utter di

Your mistress? I don't care. I am a dual‑board‑certified physician-critical care

jerk, Alivia ripped her

the end of the bed. She slammed it har

oom. "Look at the swelling in the frontal lobe. It causes auditory an

chest. He looked back at the heart monitor. The jag

s shifted back to Alivia. They were cold, c

t stared at her, letting her