The machine next to my bed kept beeping and screaming.
My eyes felt like heavy stones when I tried to open them. Fear and metal tasted in my mouth.
I muttered, "Turn it off," but nothing came out.
My hand was squeezed. Like a promise, warm fingers encircled mine.
A deep voice said, "She's waking up." "Can you hear me, Isabella?"
That voice. That voice was familiar to me. My heart did amusing things because of it.
I opened my eyes. It was too bright in the hospital room. The edges of everything appeared blurry.
Above me, Kieran's face became clear. His blue eyes were troubled and exhausted.
"Hey there," he murmured. "Welcome back."
I gazed at him. I then glanced down at our clasped hands. Little circles were being made on my skin by his thumb.
My voice sounded like sandpaper as I asked, "Why are you here?"
"Where else would I be?"
I didn't really want to, but I made an effort to remove my hand. It felt safe to touch him. similar to a storm's anchor.
Kieran remarked, "The doctors said you fainted because you haven't been eating." "When was the last time you ate a real meal?"
I was unable to recall. Lately, everything had been so crazy. Sophie. the financial issues. collaborating with Kieran. Food had slipped my mind.
I lied and said, "I'm fine."
Kieran's tone hardened as he said, "No, you're not." "You're trying to manage everything by yourself, and you're scared and tired."
"I don't require assistance."
"Help is needed by everyone."
A food tray was brought in by a nurse. My stomach rumbled loudly at the smell.
The nurse smiled and said, "Good, you're awake." "Before you depart, you must finish this entire tray."
She placed the food on my bedside table. Pudding, juice, crackers, and soup. It appeared to be the world's greatest meal.
Kieran assured the nurse, "I'll make sure she eats."
"I can feed myself," I blurted out.
However, my head spun like a carnival ride when I attempted to sit up. Kieran held me steady.
"Let me help," he said softly.
"No."
"Stop being stubborn, Isabella."
"I'm not obstinate."
He was grinning as he said, "You're the most stubborn person I've ever met."
I was too weak to argue further. Too hungry, too.
"Fine," I replied. "But only this once."
Taking the spoon, Kieran dipped it in the soup. "Open up."
It was embarrassing. A mature woman being given infant formula. However, Kieran was being really kind, and the soup tasted fantastic.
In between spoonfuls, I questioned, "Why are you being nice to me?"
"Perhaps because I wish to be."
"However, we are meant to be adversaries."
"Says who?"
I considered it. "My father, your father, the newspapers, everyone."
"What do you say?"
I had no idea how to respond to that. I was unable to recall why I was supposed to despise Kieran as I looked at him now, with his gentle eyes and cautious hands.
"I don't know," I muttered.
"That's sincere."
He gave me more soup. I felt stronger with every spoonful. More human.
"Kieran," I finally said.
"Yes?"
"Where is Sophie?"
His face darkened. "Gone."
"Goddamned?"
"No one knows where she went; she left the hospital while you were unconscious."
My heart fell. "When I fainted, did you see her?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
Kieran paused. "After saying she was sorry you were hurt, she vanished."
"That's it?"
"She also said to let you know that she has always done everything in her power to keep you safe."
"Protect me from what?"
"I'm not sure."
My eyes began to well up with tears. "Why did she pretend to be dead? Why did she give me the impression that I was alone?" "I just want to understand her."
"Perhaps she'll let you know when she's ready."
"What if she never gets ready? What if she vanishes forever?"
Kieran took both of my hands in his and put down the spoon. "Then we'll locate her."
"We?"
"Remember, partners?"
He said it in a way that warmed my chest. As if I wasn't as isolated as I had assumed.
"The Morrison Project," I blurted out. "Tomorrow is our presentation day."
"Handled already."
"What do you mean?"
"I informed Morrison Industries that you were ill over the phone, and they rescheduled the meeting for next week."
I gazed at him. "You did that for me?"
"Obviously."
"But Sophie's company may outscore us now that they have more time to get ready."
Kieran's eyes grew intense as he said, "Let them try." "We possess something that they lack."
"What?"
"Your ability to realize your father's true vision."
"How do you know I have talent?"
"Because I've seen your work; the drawings you created at my office were excellent."
My cheeks became hot. "You really think so?"
"I am aware of that."
We exchanged something. There was a connection that electrified the air. My eyes fell to his, and his to mine.
The door exploded open as we were leaning in toward one another.
A man in a police uniform hurried in and exclaimed, "Isabella!" "Thank God you're all right."
I recoiled from Kieran. "What are you doing here, Officer Martinez?"
"Your apartment was broken into, and everything was destroyed."
My blood became icy. "Everything?"
Officer Martinez appeared solemn as he said, "Furniture overturned. Windows broken. Papers scattered everywhere." "The odd thing is that nothing was taken."
"I don't understand."
"They searched every closet, drawer, and hiding spot in search of a specific item, but they left expensive items like your computer and TV."
"What were they trying to find?"
"We hoped you could let us know."
I gave Kieran a look. Anger tightened his jaw.
"This must be related to Sophie," he stated.
Officer Martinez took out a notebook and asked, "Your sister?" "What makes you think that?"
"She has been operating their father's business covertly and deceiving Isabella for years. Now, she is attempting to steal his last project."
"That's not proof," I uttered feebly.
"Isabella," said Officer Martinez cautiously, "there's more. We found fingerprints at your apartment that match someone in our database."
"Fingerprints of Sophie?"
He paused and said, "No. Someone else entirely." "A man named Marcus Webb, who is wanted for fraud in three states, is the owner of the prints."
I felt like I was being punched in the stomach by the name. Webb, Marcus. Sophie's high school boyfriend. The one who vanished and broke her heart.
"Oh no," I muttered.
Kieran said, "You know him?"
My thoughts were racing: "He dated Sophie years ago. Before she supposedly died." "What if she's not the bad guy here? What if he's been controlling her all along?"
"What if she's in danger?"
Officer Martinez shut his notebook. "Your sister's life could be in jeopardy if Marcus Webb is involved, so we need to find her quickly."
I tried to get out of bed as soon as he left. My legs were still unsteady, though.
Kieran inquired, "Where do you think you're going?"
"To locate Sophie."
"You're barely able to stand."
"I don't care. She needs help. She's my sister."
Kieran took a firm but gentle hold on my shoulders. "You must regain your strength before we can locate her."
"There's no time..."
His voice was urgent, "Listen to me, Isabella." "You need backup and a plan if Marcus Webb is as dangerous as the police believe."
"I need my sister!"
My face was now wet with tears. Everything was breaking down. Sophie was in danger. My apartment was ruined. And I was useless, confined to a hospital bed.
Kieran drew me into his embrace. I was too exhausted to push him away. Too afraid. Rather, I sobbed while pressing my face against his shoulder.
He whispered into my hair, "We'll get through this." "I swear."
"How can you guarantee that?"
"Because no matter what happens, I won't abandon you."
I took a step back to examine his face. "Why? Why are you so concerned?"
His phone buzzed with a text message before he could respond. His face turned white as he gazed at the screen.
I said, "What is it?"
As he showed me the message, his hands trembled. "It's from Sophie."
*Aid me. Marcus has me imprisoned in the former Fifth Street warehouse. If you don't bring him the actual Morrison blueprints by midnight, he threatens to kill me. I'll die if you don't come alone. Avoid calling the police.
I reached for the phone. "We must leave. Now."
"This might be a trap, Isabella."
"She's my sister, so I don't care."
"And who saves Sophie if Marcus kills us both?"
That hadn't occurred to me. But I couldn't stand by and watch Sophie get hurt.
I said, "There must be another way."
Kieran remained silent for a while. Then his gaze became focused.
"There is," he stated. "But you won't enjoy it."
"What do you mean?"
"We're going to give Marcus exactly what he wants."
"But we don't have the real blueprints."
"No," Kieran replied, grinning dangerously. "But we'll give him the impression that we do."