He turned his head to look at me, his gray eyes sharp and clear.

“Once Jason has temporary control, he will make sure it becomes permanent.”

“How can he do that if you are recovering?” I asked.

“Because he controls the doctors,” Ethan said. “The medication they are giving me is not designed to help me wake up.”

My stomach turned.

I looked at the plastic IV bag hanging beside his bed, the clear liquid dripping slowly down the tube.

“I stopped swallowing the pills they gave me three days ago,” Ethan whispered. “I have been spitting them into the cup when the nurse turns her back.”

“They are drugging you,” I said.

“They are keeping me compliant,” Ethan said. “But the clock is ticking. If those papers are signed tomorrow, Jason won’t need to drug me anymore.”

“He will kill you,” I said.

Ethan did not contradict me.

He reached under his pillow and pulled out a small, black flash drive.

“What is that?” I asked.

“The financial records Jason tried to delete from the corporate server,” Ethan said. “They show he has been siphoning millions into offshore accounts. He needs the signature to cover the holes before the annual audit.”