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Chapter Two: Jade

E llie nudged the door to room 307 open, the harsh scent of hospital-grade disinfectant assaulting my senses. I was a stark contrast against the crisp white sheets, my dark hair spread out like an ink spill on white parchment. I could feel each shallow breath, slow but steady—I was still alive.

Everything was okay.

My hand was on my belly and the ruse had worked, but I didn’t know how long I had away from Rodriguez, away from the police.

I hadn’t signed anything, but I didn’t know if they could detain me. And I needed to find out more about Dante. I needed to make sure he was okay.

“Hey,” Ellie’s voice floated to me, softer than her usual tone. “How are you holding up?”

My eyes fluttered open at her question, feeling surprisingly sharp despite the painkillers that must have been flooding my system. “Ellie...how’s Dante?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She hesitated before answering, uncertainty clouding her features. “I think he’s okay, Jade.” Her words brought some relief, though it was fleeting; I hadn’t seen him since before everything spiraled out of control.

I wouldn’t see him if it was up to Detective Rodriguez.

I was fine, but the performance had taken it out of me. Being frazzled while pregnant was surprisingly difficult, and I didn’t know how long I could keep this ruse up. A monitor was attached to my stomach; the doctors wanted to monitor the baby and make sure everything was okay. The constant beeping was a reminder of the fragile life inside of me.

“I need to get out of here,” I said. What I mostly meant was that I needed to get out of here before the police tracked me down again.

“Whoa, slow down,” Ellie cautioned, pressing a gentle hand onto my shoulder in an attempt to keep me grounded. “The doctors need to make sure you and the baby are both okay.”

I felt bad lying to her too. We were fine.

“I don’t care what they said,” I interrupted sharply. The defiance in my voice felt foreign yet necessary. “I can’t stay here, El.”

Her surprise mirrored mine as she stammered back at me. “Jade, that’s crazy talk.” She looked scared and confused by my sudden declaration but she didn’t understand - if the mafia wanted to find me, if the cops wanted to find me, no amount of sterile corridors or humming medical machines would be enough to keep them away.

“Take a breath, Jade,” Ellie’s voice was calm, her eyes steady. I did as she said, my chest rising and falling with a deep inhale followed by an exhale.

“Why didn’t you tell me about the pregnancy before?” Her question was direct, but not unkind.

I fidgeted with the hem of the hospital gown, looking for the right words. “Ellie, I was still trying to wrap my mind around it all.” My hands moved to my belly protectively. “But...I’m excited. Really excited to be pregnant.”

She gave me a small smile, intently listening with that calm demeanor of hers that always seemed to make things better. I felt a pang of guilt for keeping it from her, even if it was only for a short while.

“Can we go back to your house?” I asked suddenly, feeling the walls of the hospital closing in on me.

“Of course,” Ellie replied without hesitation. “After the doctors make sure everything is okay.”

I leaned close to her. “Everything is fine,” I said in a whisper. “I just needed to get away from the police, okay?”

Her eyes widened. “You mean from Rodriguez?”

“Dante is the father of my child, El. I can’t just turn against him.”

A heavy silence fell between us, and I thought I saw a spark of something in Ellie’s eyes—fear perhaps, or anger? But it passed quickly, replaced with the familiar warmth I knew so well.

“Okay,” she said, her voice shaky but resolute. “Trust me, Jade, we’ll figure this out.”

“Okay, but can we figure it out at your place?” The urgency must have been clear in my voice because she didn’t ask any questions, just nodded and helped me up.

“Yes.”

Despite the doctor’s advice to stay overnight, I checked myself out against medical advice. But medical advice was pointless because I didn’t need medical help.

I just needed to get away from the police.

And I needed to make sure I wasn’t vulnerable to Dante’s enemies.

The air felt crisp as we made our way through the early evening streets, a hint of fall’s chill brushing against my skin. By the time we reached Ellie’s apartment, my nerves had twisted into a tight knot in my stomach. The door closed behind us with a click that sounded too much like the finality of a cell door.

“I don’t want to testify against Dante,” I blurted out as soon as we were inside. My voice echoed slightly in the spacious living room, betraying the tremor I tried so hard to hide.

Ellie’s apartment was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the sterile walls of the hospital. Soft earth tones and gentle lighting made the space feel cozy, while framed photos on wooden tables told stories of happier times. Books were stacked haphazardly on shelves that lined one entire wall, each one a testament to Ellie’s insatiable appetite for knowledge. A plush sofa took center stage in the living room, large windows behind it drawing in the fading sunlight.

“Jade, we can talk about this tomorrow,” Ellie said, concern etching lines into her face. But I was past the point of waiting—I needed to set things straight.

“I can’t sleep. You can sleep if you want to.”

Ellie moved into the kitchen, her movements brisk, her back to me as she responded. “No, let’s—you know what, let’s talk.” She filled the kettle and set it on the stove before turning to face me with a look of determination. “Tea?”

“Sure,” I said, trying to inject some normalcy into my voice. I followed her into the kitchen, taking a seat at the island as she busied herself with mugs and tea bags.

My gaze wandered over the sleek furniture and high-end appliances, and I couldn’t help but wonder how Ellie could afford all this on our salaries. A jittery sensation rippled through me, a combination of fear and cold, and I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth.

“Here you go,” Ellie said, sliding a steaming mug of tea across the counter towards me. I clasped the mug with both hands, the heat seeping into my palms, grounding me.

“Nice place,” I commented casually, buying time as I sipped the herbal brew, each gulp helping steady my frayed nerves.

She didn’t say anything.

“Thanks,” I murmured and took a tentative sip. The warmth of the tea seemed to thaw some of the ice that had settled in my chest. My eyes drifted around the room once more, noting the opulent items that didn’t quite fit with the Ellie I knew—the expensive-looking art on the walls, the high-tech gadgets that seemed barely used.

“I thought her vacation was only two weeks long.”

She raised her brows. “Yeah, dude, so did I. It’s so weird,” she said. “Who just picks up and leaves, and doesn’t come back?”

“Who knows,” I shrugged, setting the mug down.

“Speaking of strange, let’s talk about Dante.”

I shook my head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”

Ellie’s expression shifted, her playful demeanor giving way to something more serious. “Babe. I’m your best friend. You can tell me everything. Anything. I’m not going to judge you, I’m just here to listen.”

I took another sip of the tea, looking up at her. I was free of him. He couldn’t overhear me. And yet my stomach twisted with the idea that he wasn’t around, that he wouldn’t be okay.

That he had been shot because of me. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“I think you can start from the beginning.”

“He gave me a promotion, or so he says.” I paused, recalling his words, his penetrating gaze that seemed to promise so much yet reveal so little. “I think he is paying me more now that he’s taken over some of the lab.”

“That part sounds good,” Ellie said with a nod, but I could tell she was holding back.

“Except, it’s not all perks and pay raises.” My fingers traced the rim of my mug as I gathered my thoughts. “After he found out I was pregnant, he set up a workstation in his penthouse. He wouldn’t let me leave. Says it’s for my protection, but it feels more like I’m a bird in a gilded cage.”

Ellie’s eyes darkened, a spark of anger flaring up in them. “That’s why Detective Rodriguez and I have been working on getting you out. You’re too good for Dante’s games, Jade. I mean, if he kidnapped you…”

“No. I could’ve left,” I said, except I couldn’t have, not really.

But I didn’t want to get into that right then.

My heart skipped at the mention of a plan. To be free of Dante’s smothering ‘protection’, to return to a life where my work was just work, devoid of mafia entanglements—it was a lifeline I hadn’t allowed myself to hope for.

But…there was another part of me that hated the idea. That I would be away from him.

That he would have taken a bullet for me only for me to slip out of his grasp.

“Really?” The word came out as a whisper, laden with a mix of relief and disbelief. “How?”

She hesitated for a second. “I don’t think you’re going to like it when I say this.”

“Say it anyway.”

“Testifying,” Ellie replied with a firm nod. “It’s the cleanest way to do it. You get immunity, witness protection if you need it, and Dante can’t touch you.”

I recoiled as if she’d slapped me. Testify? Against Dante—the father of my child? The thought alone made my stomach turn. I shook my head vehemently, the shadows of the early evening room seeming to close in around me. “I can’t. I won’t turn against him, El. There has to be another way.”

Ellie’s gaze softened but her voice remained steady, almost steel-like in its resolve. “Jade, you’re not seeing this clearly because of—“

“Because of what?” I cut her off, fire rising in my chest. “Because I have feelings for a man who lives in shades of gray? Because he’s the father of my baby?”

Because I love him?

I barely managed to hold myself back from saying that…but I still fucking didn’t, even though it felt like it rippled through me like electricity.

I shook it off. I had to shake it off.

“Okay, okay,” Ellie interceded, holding up her hands in a calming gesture. “There might be another option. But it’s risky, and it involves contacting a friend from the inside.”

“You have friends from the inside?”

“Not…exactly. A few years ago, my cousin got married to the best looking guy I’ve ever seen. Nathan Zhou.”

“Okay…”

“My cousin, Abby, is an FBI agent. Well, she was,” she said. “But things totally changed for her when Nathan came into her life. He’s part of this whole thing. But he’s not a bad guy. Just caught up in it all, like Dante. I think if I reach out to Abby, she might be able to get him to help us.”

I swallowed down the last sip of my tea. “Well, hopefully, I won’t need his help.”

“It’s either the police or the mafia, babe,” she said softly. “But at this point, you should know you can’t do any of this by yourself.”

I nodded, my mouth suddenly dry despite the hot liquid.

She was right, and I hated it.

But all my choices seemed bad…and I had no idea what the fuck I was supposed to do with that.

All I knew was that I had to make sure my baby was safe.

That I had to make sure Dante was safe.

And after that, everything would fall into place.

…It had to.

Because if it didn’t, I was going to lose my goddamn mind.