“He will destroy Ethan before he lets him drag our name through the mud,” she said.

She turned on her heel and walked out, her perfume lingering in the sterile air.

I lay there alone, the rain beating hard against the window.

My heart was pounding against my ribs.

I knew Ethan was heading straight into a trap.

The Harrison estate was fortified, not just with gates, but with lies.

I reached for the call button on the bed rail, my fingers trembling.

I needed to call the pediatric wing to make sure the twins were still there.

Outside, a sudden flash of lightning illuminated the dark Chicago skyline.

The phone in my bag, the one Ethan had left behind, suddenly began to buzz.

I looked over at the chair.

The green bag was open, and a second, older phone I had forgotten about was lighting up.

The screen showed an incoming call from an unknown number.

I reached out, my hand shaking as I grabbed it.

I pressed the receiver to my ear.

A deep, familiar voice spoke on the other end.