Page 106 of Girl Lost

Stryker’s medical machines went haywire.

Luna rushed to Stryker’s side, heart thundering in her ears. The machines surrounding him screeched and beeped in frantic discord.

Summer was there, eyes wide as she scanned the monitors.

Luna whirled to face Elizabeth. “What did you give him?”

The woman’s lips curled into a cold smile. She remained silent, her eyes fixed on Stryker’s convulsing form.

A commotion erupted from behind. Dr. Forest and the enforcer bolted for the door, but their escape was cut off.

“Broward County Sheriff’s Department! Freeze!” Blade’s voice boomed through the chaos.

The room filled with the sound of boots on tile as Blade and his tactical team burst in, Harlee right behind them.

In a matter of seconds, Forest and the enforcer were cuffed, arms wrenched behind their backs. One agent kept a gun trained on the man with the shattered leg while another checked for a pulse.

“Luna!” Harlee rushed to her side. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, her attention already back on Stryker. “We need medical help here! Now!”

Summer’s voice was tight. “It’s a combination of barbiturates and ... something else. It’s creating a complex overdose. We need to stabilize him immediately or the brain edema could—”

“There’s a medevac chopper waiting,” Blade interrupted. “Priority is getting any patients out of here.”

As the medical team swarmed around Stryker, Luna’s eyes darted to Trinity. She was stirring, eyes fluttering open.

“Luna?” Trinity’s voice was weak but present.

She rushed over, taking Trinity’s hand in hers. “I’m here, sweetheart. You’re going to be okay.”

EMTs assessed Trinity with Summer hovering nearby.

Blade approached Luna, worry lines creasing his forehead. “We had to use flash bangs and concussive blasts to fight off some black ops guys trying to destroy evidence. What we found in the lab...” He shook his head.

“The EMT says Trinity’s vitals are good,” Summer interjected. “Even her heart. Probably she just passed out, but they want to take her to the hospital for a full workup.”

Luna nodded, her gaze meeting Corbin’s across the room. Though his movements were slow, he reached her side and took her hand.

“We’re going with her.” Corbin’s voice left no room for argument.

As they prepared to move Trinity to a stretcher, Corbin reachedinto his pocket, pulling out a flash drive. He pressed it into Blade’s hand.

“Everything you need is on here,” Corbin said. “All the evidence. Make sure it gets to the right people.”

Blade pocketed the drive. “We’ll take care of it. You take care of them.”

As they wheeled Trinity out, Luna felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. But beneath it all, a spark of hope flickered. They’d made it. Against all odds, they’d survived.

And now, finally, they could start to heal.

36

THE STEADY BEEPof the heart monitor punctuated the heavysilence in the hospital room. Luna stood at the foot of Stryker’s bed, fingers intertwined with those around her. She felt Corbin’s strong grip on one side, Tori’s reassuring touch on the other. Blade,Harlee,andJett completed the circle,their heads bowed,eyes closed inreverent silence.

Luna held her voice soft but filled it with conviction. “And we thank you, Lord, for the healing that is already taking place in Stryker’s body as he rests. We trust in your perfect timing and your infinite wisdom. Thank you for bringing us all together, for protecting us, and for giving us hope. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

As the last word fell from her lips, a wave of peace washed over Luna. It wasn’t just Stryker’s unwavering faith that filled the room now. It was her own rekindled belief, strengthened by the trials they’d all faced together.