Giovanni looked down at me, his eyes searching mine.

For a moment, I saw the man I had fallen in love with before the empire tore us apart.

He reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from my forehead.

“We will try your way first,” he said.

“But if it fails…”

“It won’t fail,” I said, though my stomach twisted with doubt.

The heavy wooden door to the study suddenly clicked.

We both turned instantly, our bodies tense.

One of Giovanni’s security guards stood in the threshold, his face pale under the hallway lights.

“Sir,” the guard said, his voice strained.

“We have a problem.”

Giovanni took a step forward, his hand instinctively reaching toward the desk drawer where I knew he kept his firearm.

“What is it, Marco?” Giovanni demanded.

“It’s about the hospital,” Marco said.

He held up a tablet, the screen flashing with a red alert banner.

“Dr. Sullivan just called.”

“Luca’s vitals are dropping.”

“And Marla Hensley has just left the building.”

My heart stopped.

“What do you mean she left?” I asked, rushing toward the guard.