y footsteps sounded like a ticking clock. They formed a tig

. Ellis has moved you to the Long Island estate

body in front of Emmie. "Stand down! I

ed Alistair hard in the chest. The old man stumbled

utched the heavy envelope to her che

he couldn't let them drag her out screaming.

, tasting blood on he

her voice low. "Stay with him. I

nto his radio. "Mr. Ellis, we have her. The Long Island

, half-dragging her into the elevator. The doors

tween two guards. Her hands shook uncontrollably

ocument. The letterhead be

osis: Stage IV Lung Cancer.

l. Her lungs stopped working. Huge, hot tears spille

e refused to make a sound in front of Daxton's men. Her hea

cal weight pressing down on her chest. Over an hour later, the SUV finally turned through the massive iron gates of the Ellis es

sleeve. She shoved the papers back into

onto the gr

was parked near t

rms, he carried Hortensia. His movements were incr

Daxton's broad chest, a weak, pa

riven straight into Emmie's eyes. A wave

took a deep breath and march

llen eyes and the envelope in her hands.

. She swallowed every oun

se. Use the Ellis medical foundation. Get

e bone marrow transplant today. I wil

cough against Daxton's chest. She s

ectively around Hortensia. H

wasted on a dying old man," Daxton said. H

to delay the surgery again, Emm

around her, carrying Hortensia up the

ront doors

ed her hair. Her fingers crushed the edges of the enve