Katia keeps staring back at us as if to make sure Rai is still alive. I’m the same. I check her pulse every chance possible.

In that moment, before I feel her breath, my heart hammers so loud like it hasn’t worked for a long time and is now resurrecting back to life.

It’s a painful sensation. To have your heart rise from the ashes, but the person behind that change not be present to witness it.

“Come on, Rai. We didn’t even start yet and now you’re bailing out? You’re not a coward, are you?”

I stroke the ruffled hairs away from her face. She always ties it up outside of our bedroom, but now, the clip is loose, probably because of the fall.

I hold her hand in mine, and her pulse keeps weakening by the second. This is bad.

“Faster, Ruslan.”

“Yes, sir.” He hits the gas, and I hold Rai tight so she doesn’t fall.

My forehead meets hers and I close my eyes, inhaling her in. Her scent is a mixture of roses, citrus, and something exotic just like her. Her scent used to give me calm, but it’s now filling me with terrifying dread.

Tentacles of fear tighten around my throat, stealing my breath and sanity. The thought that I won’t be able to smell her again makes my entire body fucking cold.

The car comes to a screeching halt in front of the emergency room and Katia rushes out to open the door. I carry Rai in my arms and barge inside.

“She fell down the stairs,” I tell the nurses who rush to us. “I don’t care what you have to do. Give her back to me.”

One of the nurses stares at me, then at Ruslan’s bulky frame and Katia’s unwelcoming expression. She must realize what type of people we are because she gives a curt nod.

I begrudgingly put her on the rolling bed and let them wheel her into one of the exam rooms to which we’re not allowed entrance. I could storm in there, but that would distract them from Rai, and I need all their attention on her.

I remain in the waiting area with Ruslan and Katia. It’s white and smells of antiseptic and death. Unlike what people think, death isn’t rotten; it can be as clean as a hospital smell.

Over time, Katia and Ruslan take seats on the bland green chairs. I don’t. The adrenaline wave that’s been gripping me since the moment I saw Rai lying at the bottom of the stairs still beats under my skin.

It’s different from the residual burn in my chest from the gunshot wound.

The wait takes forever. It’s probably half an hour but feels like fucking years. I travel the length of the area back and forth like a trapped bloody animal.

The fact that I can’t do anything messes with my fucking brain. It’s so similar to that time when I watched my parents die and waited for them to move to no avail.

No. The verdict won’t be the same this time.

“How did she fall?” I catch Ruslan whispering to Katia.

“How would I know?” she murmurs back. “I was out, remember?”

“It doesn’t make sense for the miss to fall down the stairs. It’s just not her.”

“I know. Unless…”

He faces her fully. “What?”

“Do you think…do you think someone pushed her?

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snap, glaring at them.

They stare at me right back. Ruslan and Katia have never hidden the fact that they don’t like me, probably because of the stories Rai fed them about me or because they think I’m controlling her a bit too much. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been occupying most of her time lately, and she can’t sit down and play with them anymore, or whatever the fuck it is they do when they’re together.

But they’re forced to respect me due to the brotherhood hierarchy, so they don’t glare or ignore me.

Ruslan remains silent. He’s always been blank since we were both Rai’s guards nine years ago.

“It’s just that I find it odd for Miss to fall down the stairs,” Katia says matter-of-factly.

“Why would that give you the idea that she was pushed?” I stop my long walk and face her.

“Because it feels like it.”

“It feels like it?”

“It’s an instinct.”

An instinct. Fuck. It’s the same instinct I had when I came out of the room earlier.

If this was indeed caused by someone, I’ll find out, and when I do, they should start counting their fucking days.

The door to the exam room slides open and I rush to the doctor, meeting him in front of it. He removes his mask, revealing greasy skin and droplets of sweat on his thin upper lip.

“How is she?” I ask.

“She sprained her neck and bumped her head, and although it was mild, it’s probably the cause of her fainting.”

“And? Is she fine?”

“Well, yes, we believe so.”

“What the fuck do you mean by we believe so?”

“You’re her husband, right?”

“Yes.”

“It would be better for you to come in and see for yourself, but please don’t distress her.”

“She’s awake?”

“Yes. She’s just opened her eyes.”

The sense of relief hits me like an overwhelming wave, and I take a moment to soak it into my burning lungs.

I push past the doctor and jog inside, uncaring about the strain I’m causing to my wound.

Rai is lying on the bed. The color has somewhat returned to her cheeks, but she’s still pale. Her eyes appear lifeless and without light as she stares at the ceiling.

“Rai! Are you okay?” I ignore the chair beside her bed and sit on the mattress. I hold her pale as fuck frail hand and pretend we’re not in a place that reeks of death.

I’m getting her out of here as soon as possible.

Her head turns in my direction and she stares at me for a second too long. Unblinking but unfocused.

Her blue eyes were once bright and expressive, but they’re now emotionless like a wax doll.

The fuck?

“Hey, Princess. Are you okay? Talk to me.”

Her pale lips twist and she murmurs the words that cut me in half, “Who are you?”

3

Kyle

I’m stunned into silence.

A long, excruciating silence.

Did Rai just ask me who I am, or have I somehow lost my mind?