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But I wanted him safe too.

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

FORREST

I’d never wanted to kill anyone as much as I did those fucking monsters who’d placed a plastic bag over her in Brazil. That image had etched itself into my mind. Though I didn’t kill the prick, someone else did while he was in the hospital. That person had disguised himself as a nurse and pulled off his oxygen mask. He’d injected poison into the attacker.

Who was behind this attack? Was it a warning to me? This person knew Kiera was important to me. Or was the attack designed to distract me from something else?

Had Red Venom discovered who I was? My hunch told me no. There was something off about the attack, but I couldn’t figure it out.

The manager at the shoe warehouse had given me Red Venom’s business address, and I’d been looking into it. It was in Miami, which gave him easy access to the Caribbean, where he’d been living like a king. He worked with a small shoe factory in Houston, Texas, but had since severed ties.

Kiera and I returned to Providence, and I had things to take care of at the medical clinic and the research center that was experimenting with my holistic medicine. I convinced Kiera to stay with me at my home, which had plenty of room for her. I needed her in my sight. With all these recent attacks, I couldn’t risk anything happening to her.

Was the darkness coming for my love because of me?

Upon seeing Kiera’s mom’s health records, I’d made accommodations for her mom. I wanted to make sure that when Kiera saw her, it would be when her mom was on the road to recovery. Her mom had had chronic compartment syndrome, which was caused when pressure arose in and around muscles. The pressure was painful and could be dangerous. It limited the flow of blood, oxygen, and other nutrients to the muscles and nerves. It occurred often in the legs, but also affected the feet, arms, hands, and abdomen.

Unlike acute compartment syndrome, the chronic version is easily treatable. And yet, her fucking doctor gave her extensive exercises that worsened her condition, so she couldn’t tell between urgent and nonurgent issues.

“You okay?” Kiera asked as we exited the top floor of the hospital where her mother had been transferred to.

“Fine.” I smiled, not wanting her to see all the things in my head.

She’d been through hell, and I didn’t want her to worry about me. From this moment on, she’d live a peaceful life, and anyone who prevented that would deal with me.

I’d make sure Dr. Samuel Schaeffer wouldbe imprisoned for his crimes. The information I’d received from my friends verified my suspicion of the false diagnosis. Further investigation from the PI revealed Dr. Schaeffer was part of a national insurance scam that made corrupt doctors millions of dollars while bleeding the sick dry.

He was a fucking shithead I had no qualms about destroying.

On top of her mom’s health issue, I could only imagine the pain Kiera had gone through seeing her dad at an auction where he could have placed a bid on her. Even though they’d never interacted, the shame and disappointment still existed.

I led her down a hallway away from the other patient rooms.

“Oh, when was she placed in the hospital? I thought she was doing fine at home.” Kiera looked at me, looking worried.

“It’s more comfortable here for all the tests. She needs to clean her system.”

Her eyes warmed as she placed a hand on my cheek.“When did you have the time to plan all of this?”

“I make time for those I care about.” I opened the door for her.

Kiera entered the room and beamed. “Mom!”

Elizabeth Ford was watching TV, looking well. “Sweetheart, what are you doing here?”

“Visiting you, silly. How are you feeling?” Kiera sat down on the edge of the bed and studied her mom. “You look great!”

“I feel wonderful. Not so tired anymore.” Her eyes darted to me. “Oh, you’re more handsome in person, Dr. Navarro.”

“You’ve met already?”

“We had a virtual conference with a new nurse, another doctor, and Dr. Navarro about my new treatment. He moved me to this fabulous room. I didn’t even know these existed in hospitals. And it’s free, sweetie.”

Kiera flicked me an inquisitive look, but I swung my attention to her mother. “You can call me Forrest, Ms. Ford.”

“Then you address me as Liz.” She smiled.