FROME RUINS TO ROYALTY

EN

ht it might break through my chest. The gun shoo

d, my voice cracking w

ly. In the eerie red emergency lighting

ar voice. "Put the

d. Relief flooded through me, but Ethan's warni

the gun raised. "What did you tell Ethan

8 hours are crucial for kidney function." He glanced at the gu

ightly. "What happened

loor now." He moved toward Sarah's bed. "I need to ch

again. Two masked figures dressed in black rushed in. The first

und was deafening in the small room. The attacker sta

firing again. This time I missed, the b

lerts. The first attacker had Dr. Winters pinned to the fl

" the wounded one grunted.

ker vaulted over Sarah's bed toward me. I fired again, but the gun

d ran for the bathroom. If I coul

d across my scalp as I was dragged to the floor. I kicked and s

abbing my spinning a

I gasped. "You'll n

t-smelling cloth over my nose and mouth. Chloroform.

loded inward. Ethan stood in the doorway, eyes wild, a gu

wn!" he

hots rained, deafening in the small space. The attacker who'd b

I screamed a warning, but Ethan was faster. Three shots,

me against his chest. His heart hammered beneath my e

Sarah was sobbing in her bed, th

han ordered one of his men. "And fin

e air. Dr. Winters lay motionless on the f

eported. "Dru

r any injuries. "They came for you,"

ispered. "I

oice was hard. "Or you will be

ending to Sarah and Dr. Winters. Po

aid, helping me to my fe

ave Sarah!"

d to his men. "Prepare for t

ortable life support system. Police officers came and went, taking statements. Ethan handled ev

s. Sarah lay unconscious on a stretcher, monitored by a medical tea

whispered, the reali

protected yourself and your sist

m. "Who were they?

grimly. "About me. Abou

anything about

e dark with something I couldn't rea

ding outside the city. Sarah was rushed inside by the m

mine. The kiss was hard, desperate, nothing like the gentle first kiss I'd imagi

. "I thought I'd lost you," he said, vo

ur investment," I said, st

"Is that what you think? That

n't

security team approached. "Sir, we'

ifted instantly back

ently employed by Che

veins. "Chen? As

ened. "It could b

believe tha

yes met min

-clock nurses. I washed the blood from my hands in the adjoining bathroom, watching it s

erged, staring out the window at t

," he said witho

ple just tried to kidnap me. So

able. "No one was trying to kill Sara

possibly know tha

animal who might bolt. "It's not what you k

t under

te. Only blood relatives and spouses can access it.

in the

just me, but several powerful families in this cit

have access becaus

ent hit the news, you became the e

hispered. "I never as

reed. "But

text. Unknown number.

day outside our old apartment. Before

hell. The real reason your parents died. Tell Blackwoo

caught it, reading the message, his face dar

manded. "What is thi

k. How could anyone know? I'd nev

shoulders. "What secret?

ords stuck i

ency generators kicked in moments later, but the damage was al

ed. Ethan's

e went changed at whatever he heard.

need to move. They've b

rah

he panic room." He pulled a gun f

toward the stairs. Gunshots

people?" I ga

said grimly. "This is bigger.

han pushed me behind him as

s," he directed. "

ighting growing louder. At the third

firing at the electronic

flashing red emergency lights. We moved

spered. "The tunnel en

a doorway ahead. Ethan rai

om

rfectly composed despite the chaos. Her sil

calmly. "I've been

" Ethan demanded. "How di

h her eyes. "A mother always k

eel it in the air between them

," Ethan said.

s smile widened. "I'm afraid th

t was a small remote devi

shaking beneath our feet. Dust and debri

?" Ethan's voice was barely

d triumphant. "Getting rid of the p

with guns. Not wearing masks this ti

ounding sorry at all. "But she knows t

. Ethan pushed me behind him

ispered urge

from behind. A cloth covered my mouth and

I saw was Ethan, fighting desperately a

n nothi