CHAPTER FIFTY ONEDeclan stared at the open car door. The interior light spilled out onto the wet pavement, catching the raindrops like tiny sparks. The voice inside belonged to someone he recognized instantly. Mr. Hale, his father’s old advisor. Gray hair slicked back, suit still perfect even in the downpour. The man who used to hand him envelopes of cash and call him “young master” with a straight face.“Get in before you catch your death,” Mr. Hale said. No warmth. Just command.Declan hesitated. Every instinct screamed run. But his legs felt like stone. The ring on his finger suddenly burned hot. He climbed in. The door shut with a heavy thud. Leather seats smelled expensive. Heat blasted from the vents. For the first time in days the cold left his bones.Mr. Hale didn’t look at him. He stared straight ahead as the driver pulled away from the curb. “You look like hell.”Declan wiped rain from his face with his sleeve. “What do you want?”“Orders from above. Your father is… concern

CHAPTER FIFTY THREEDeclan sat in the back of the car with Zara beside him. The city lights streaked past the windows like falling stars. Her hand rested light on his knee. Warm. Steady. He wanted to believe in that warmth more than anything. But the tiny flip phone in his pocket felt like ice against his skin. Tell her the truth. Or I will.He kept staring straight ahead. The driver said nothing. Just drove smooth toward her place. A high-rise apartment building glowed ahead. Security gates opened without a word. They pulled into underground parking. Elevator ride silent except for soft music playing from hidden speakers.Inside her apartment everything looked soft and expensive. Big windows showing the night city. White couches. Flowers in vases. Smell of vanilla candles. Zara kicked off her shoes. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll get us something to drink.”Declan stood in the middle of the room. Felt small. Dirty even though he was clean. He watched her move to the kitchen. Gracef

CHAPTER FIFTY FiiveThe door rattled again. Harder this time. Wood cracked around the lock. Declan stepped in front of Stefan’s bed. No weapon. No backup. Just his body between whatever came through and the man he still loved. Stefan tried to sit up. Groaned from the pain. “Declan. Get out. Go.”Declan didn’t move. “I’m not leaving you.”The handle twisted. Metal scraped metal. Then a shoulder slammed full force. The door flew open. The tall man from the warehouse stood there. Raincoat dripping. Gun in his hand. Behind him the shorter one. Face twisted with anger. Blood on his shirt from the earlier fight.“Thought you could hide?” the tall man said. Voice low. Dangerous. “Hospital security is a joke. Paid the guard at the stairwell fifty bucks to look the other way.”Declan raised his hands slow. “You don’t have to do this.”The tall man stepped inside. Closed the door behind them. Locked it again. “Too late for talking. Boss wants loose ends tied. All of you.”Stefan coughed. Blood

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVENDeclan stood in the empty hospital room staring at the bloody sheets and the ring on the pillow. His ring. The one he dropped in the lobby. Now placed here like a cruel joke. Zara gripped his arm so tight her nails dug in. Neither moved at first. The alarms still wailed down the hall. Nurses shouted. Footsteps pounded everywhere.A doctor rushed in. Face red. “We lost him for two minutes. Security pulled him out during the code. He’s in the secure wing now. Under guard.”Declan turned fast. “Who took him?”The doctor shook his head. “No one knows. One second monitors flatlined. Next second the bed was empty. We thought he coded. But cameras show two men in scrubs wheeling him out fast.”Zara’s voice came out sharp. “Where is he now?”“ICU lockdown. Police everywhere. No visitors until cleared.”Declan felt rage boil up hot. He pushed past the doctor. Ran down the hall. Zara followed close. They reached the secure doors. Two officers blocked the way.“Family only,”

CHAPTER FIFTY NINEDeclan sat in the dim hospital room watching Stefan sleep. The machines beeped steady now. Soft rhythm that kept his heart from stopping completely. Zara stood by the window. Arms crossed tight. Staring out at the city lights like they held answers she didn’t want to find.Declan’s mother had left an hour ago. Promised to come back at dawn with fresh clothes and coffee. She hugged him long before she went. Whispered she was proud. For the first time he believed her.But Zara hadn’t moved. Hadn’t spoken much since the surgery doors closed.Declan stood slow. Walked over. Stood beside her. “You okay?”She didn’t look at him. “No.”He waited. Knew pushing too hard would make her shut down.She took a shaky breath. “I lied to you.”The words landed heavy. Declan felt his stomach drop.She turned. Eyes red. “Not about everything. But enough.”He stayed quiet. Let her speak.“The charity,” she said. Voice barely above a whisper. “The cuts from donations. I said I just fou