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Once we set the food and cake on the counter, I checked the tracker, and my heart dropped.

Fuck.

My chest constricted as though my heart detached and dropped from my chest. I couldn’t breathe. Terror sucked the life out of me. I’d been through all kinds of horror when I was in the Navy, but the fear that overwhelmed me right now was much worse.

What if I lost her?

Don’t think like that!

I’d never loved anyone the way I loved her. We were planning a future together. She was the only woman who made me want to commit. She spoke to my heart, my soul, my dreams, all the things no one could do. Without her, my life had no purpose.

What was wine without its fermentation or distillation?Nothing.

“Are you okay?” Kaylee asked me.

Remembering that I was the adult with a teenage girl beside me, I inhaled and said, “Yeah. I’m just worried about Vivian.”

“Where is she?” Kaylee asked.

“At the hospital.”

We hopped into the car and rushed over. Now I understood what Forrest had gone through when Kiera was in danger. The mind and body seemed detached. My body felt like it was floating. My mind settled elsewhere, trying desperately to connect.

I wanted to kill Ghost for hurting her. Wanted to rip his body apart, limb by limb. But concern for her stirred me up too much. Kaylee’s presence forced me to concentrate. I honed in on the survival skills I’d learned from the military. Remaining cool and calm during chaos ensured my survival.

Though Kaylee stayed quiet, I knew she was terrified. She clasped her hands on her lap and stared straight ahead. I could hear her heavy breathing.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be okay.” I tried my best to sound calm.

Kaylee looked at me, and a mutual understanding passed between us. “She’ll be okay,” Kaylee repeated.

My little sister was wiser than most kids her age. I was proud to be her brother.

We arrived at the emergency entrance, and I rushed up to the receptionist, asking for anyone with the name Vivian Vo.

She showed us down the hallway where Vivian was sleeping.

What the fuck had happened to her?

An officer was talking to a nurse near the waiting area. He spotted Kaylee and me.

“Officer, is Vivian okay?” I gestured to the room. “What happened?”

“Who are you?” asked the officer with the short blond hair.

“She’s my girlfriend.”

“She’s my sister,” Kaylee said.

“I’m glad you’re here. I’m Officer O’Dell. Vivian was attacked in the parking lot of Party Supply. Two customers spotted the man who attacked her. We’re still looking for him.”

I knew it was Ghost.

“Will she be okay?’ Kaylee asked, tears brimming in her eyes.

The nurse with the curly hair patted Kaylee’s shoulder. “I’m Molly. Your sister lost a lot of blood from the stab wounds. She needed stitches, but she’ll be okay.”

The tension in my stomach relaxed a bit.I’m going to fucking kill Ghost!