en

e Sanctuary, my assistant, Sierra, was waiting. Her eyes widened at the sigh

said immediately. "Anesthetics and

Take the children to the lounge. Make sure

his sister's hand and leading h

l clothes and scrubbed in, the methodical ritual calming my frayed nerves. As I pulled on the sterile

of the heart monitor, a rhythm far too slow and erratic for my liking. Un

flesh thick in the air. Using a set of custom-made, non-metallic inst

le. Then a second, smaller piece near his ribs. The third and largest piece was the problem. It was embedded perilously dee

as the only metronome for my work. Hours passed. Sweat beaded on my forehead, threatenin

fragment came free. I dropped it into a sterile evidence bag

the twins a tired thumbs-up. Aria cheered, while Caleb just g

ecovery suite. He was still unconscious, but his

onger in the lounge. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. I foun

e bathroom. In her hands, she held a warm, damp washcloth, and she was

be in here," I started to

th, Aria stopped. She tilted her head, her little brow furrowed in concentration. She looked

man. Then she look

lips. She turned to me, her eyes

med, her voice clear and

forward, my heart beginning

just lik

w. My gaze snapped to the man's face

The thin, firm line of his mouth. And most of all, th

unmistakably the same. It was the face I saw every single day, jus

my lungs. The blood in

had been too terrified to even ask, clawed its way ou

otel room. The strong back,

it b

ause Caleb rushed to my side, his small

nswer. I cou

in, her voice full of childish innocence. "Mommy, do you think he

, but a sledgehammer, shattering the ca