ead throbbed, and my face felt swollen and tight. I was in a hospital bed. Not th

erything," she said. "Your mother has been moved to a privat

er me, so potent

were here?" I ask

s security... dealt with the situation. You

dealt with" meant. I

, his face grim. He sat by my bed, his hand hoverin

id, his voice quiet. "I sho

whispered, my throat

ortable with the gratitude. He

his was it. The on

espite the pain. "There' s something

d to warn them before the collapse. About how they needed a scapegoat and chose him. I told

a crime he didn' t commit. You have influence. Your family...

of my pride. It didn' t matter. Nothi

unreadable. When I finished,

en' t just loan sharks. These are powerful men. My fam

tating. The one lifeline I

ed, my voice desperate. "Yo

dow. "I' ll see what I can find ou

ath sentence. As he left the room, the hope that had flic