He stood up and walked toward the door.

He paused with his hand on the silver handle.

“I’m going to end this, Elena,” he said.

“For both of us,” he added.

He opened the door, and I saw Marco standing in the hallway.

“Is the car ready?” Luke asked him.

“Downstairs,” Marco replied.

“The street is clear, but we need to move fast,” Marco added.

Just then, the screen of the tablet on the nurse’s station outside began to flash.

A sharp beep echoed from the hallway.

Marco checked his phone, his brow furrowing.

“Luke,” Marco said.

“What is it?” Luke asked.

“The security feed at Vivian’s building just went dark,” Marco said.

Luke did not hesitate.

He reached into his dark wool jacket and pulled out his phone, his thumb sliding quickly across the glass screen.

“I am going with you,” I said, struggling to sit up against the stiff hospital pillows.

The plastic IV line tugged at the back of my hand, a sharp pinch of pain making me wince.

“No, Elena,” Luke said, his voice firm as he turned back toward the bed.