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“I’ll take over,” I told him. “Go take care of your patient. Thank you.”

When Dr. Boland and Tiffany left, I stood staring at Kiera. Helplessness inundated me. I had money, power, and medical knowledge. But right now, none of those things could save the woman I loved. How fucking pathetic was I?

I couldn’t do anything but wait for her labs. Every second stretched out longer as frustration grew stronger.

She looked so pale, as though life were draining out of her. What kind of pain had she endured?

I took her hand into mine. Her fingers fell limp and lifeless in my palm. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to help you. But I’ll get to the bottom of this even if it means turning the world inside out.” I squeezed her hand. “Stay alive. Come back to me.”

Anger and frustration warred inside me, and I surrendered because I didn’t know what else to do. My body sagged as a tear streamed down my face, surprising me. The last time I cried was when my mom died. Nothing had affected me this deeply until now. More tears came, and I let them flow, wishing I could take her place so she didn’t have to suffer.

I couldn’t lose Kiera. Life would be meaningless without her. My Ba7M5Bu88Project, the vengeance toward Red Venom, the WaterFyre Rising video game, and the alternative medicine didn’t matter if she wasn’t with me. Nothing mattered to me more than her.

What would my life be like if I achieved all my goals but was missing the one person who made my heart beat? It was true you didn’t know how much you needed someone until you were on the edge of losing that person.

Like a cell, she was the fundamental unit of my life. Without her, I couldn’t live. Without her, I didn’t exist.

I’d give up everything for Kiera—I’d give up my life for her.

For the next hour, I sat in silence reading the monitors, checking her vitals, and waiting patiently for the toxicology report from the lab. Thoughts jumbled in my head. Days earlier, I’d been focused on closing in on Red Venom. Destroying him would offer me closure, but as I looked at Kiera, I wondered if my past deeds had caught up to me. I’d killed people. Even though they were society’s filth, I still ended their life—some directly, some indirectly.

Was God punishing me for my crimes? Was karma coming for retribution?

Please no.

A voice sounded in my head.

Your parents wouldn’t have wanted the vengeance.

No, my parents were kind souls.

For the first time sincemy mom died, I prayed and asked God to save Kiera. She was a marvelous person with no bloodstains on her hands. She deserved to be saved.Let all the darkness fall onto me.

I had a beautiful future planned with her, but that could change. The fangs of anger sank into me, and the pain seared through my senses. No one was going to fuck this up for me and her. I’d do everything in my power to make it come true.

Renewed with a mission, I released Kiera’s hand gently. “I’ll be back, baby.”

I walked into the bathroom, dragged a hand down my face, and splashed cold water onto it. I needed to set my emotions straight so I could see this problem objectively and plan accordingly.

CHAPTERSIXTY-SIX

FORREST

Remi and Arrow brought me food as we sat at the conference table at Vitality Health Clinic. It was eight in the evening, and everyone had gone home. I wasn’t leaving the clinic until Kiera regained consciousness.

“What did you find out?” I asked Arrow.

“The girls said Yolanda had her hand on Kiera’s back before she left. Moments later, Kiera grew pale.”

“Videos from the restaurant showed she tossed this in the trash before she exited.” Remi slid over a plastic bag with a small syringe. “I hid it from the police officers at the restaurant. Do you know your cousin well?”

“I thought I did.” Gripping the bag, I stared at the needle responsible for Kiera’s condition. I had to get this to the lab.

“Audri said Yolanda is in love with you. That you ‘belong’ to her.” Remi eyed me. “That she’s carrying your baby.” A pause, then he asked, “Is the baby yours?”

“What the hell, man!?” I shot up from my seat and slammed a fist onto the table. “I’m offended you even asked that.”

“Don’t getpissy. I just want to know the truth. You’re my boy, and I can only help if I know what I’m dealing with.”