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I had to tell Forrest. I had to tell my friends . . .

Why couldn’t I form coherent thoughts?

A fever rose in me, but I couldn’t tell if it was my blood boiling from anger or something else. My body shook, and my chest constricted. The pain differed from anything I’d experienced before. It was like my body was slowly collapsing. I couldn’t voice my thoughts. Everything seemed discombobulated.

“Kiera, are you okay? You’re so pale.” Vivian tipped up my chin. “You’re burning up.”

My body swayed, and pain exploded on my back where Yolanda had placed her hand. Wincing, I reached for my shoulder.

Vivian pulled down my shirt and examined it. “Shit. It’s swelling. Call an ambulance.”

My vision blurred, and my body quivered from the heat and then the chill. Then I lost feeling in my body. What was happening to me?

Vivian or Audri placed me on the floor. As I stared up at the ceiling, voices collided. I couldn’t tell who was speaking.

“She’s been poisoned.”

“I’m calling Forrest.”

CHAPTERSIXTY-FIVE

FORREST

While I reviewed photos of Yolanda and Senator Kramer, my friends conducted their own research.

My phone rang, and nerves churned in me. “Why is Audri calling me?” I asked Remi.

He shrugged, and Arrow paused what he was doing on the computer and looked up.

“Audri, is everything okay?”

“No! Kiera’s been poisoned. I don’t know what to do,” she cried. “We called an ambulance, and they’re on their way.”

I bolted out of my seat, heading to the door. “What’s her condition? Breathing? Is she cognizant? What happened?”

The word poison sent my nerves skyrocketing. There were many types of poison, and each body reacted to it differently. The organs could shut down quickly, and if she didn’t get immediate care, she could . . .

Don’t think like that. She’s going to be okay. She needs you to be strong to help her.

“Yolanda did something to her. It happened so fast.”

Yolanda? Why? Had she gone insane? So many questions erupted in me, but I forced all of them aside to concentrate on the matter at hand. If I made a wrong move, it could cost Kiera her life.

She was my life, and if she was gone, then I had no purpose.

“Tell the ambulance to take her to Vitality Health Clinic,” I said. “Please go with her.”

I knew how the emergency room worked. The protocols and the long line of sick people waiting to be seen meant Kiera was just one of the many people in need of care. My baby had to be examined immediately. I had all the equipment necessary for emergency care.

I rushed to my car as Remi and Arrow caught up to me.

“What’s going on?” Remi asked.

“Kiera’s been hurt. Your restaurant is now a crime scene. Can you head over there?”

Nodding his understanding, Remi headed to his car.

Arrow looked at me. “Need me to drive? I don’t want you killing yourself or anyone before you get to her.”