Shit. I knew in that moment that Michael definitely knew about me and Alexis. I’d had the opportunity to tell him, and I’d blown it. Feeling like an absolute ass, I inhaled a deep breath.
“So, you’re telling me there are surveillance devices on my car?” I asked, furious at the invasion of my privacy, and even more furious that they’d come anywhere near our property where the people we loved resided.
“Not only that, but there’s some whiz kid hacker who works for Oskar, and he’s been assigned to hack into every goddamn thing you own, which means they’re surveilling everything. We have hackers who work for us at the FBI, but I can only help you so much. My boss still pretends he doesn’t know I inform for you, and I’d like to keep itthat way.”
“I’ve helped your field office catch numerous bad actors over the years,” Michael said.
“And that’s why he pretends,” Leo said with a nod. “The world isn’t black and white, and good agents understand that.”
Michael’s phone vibrated and he lifted it from his pocket. “One second,” he said, lifting a finger. “Are you okay, stella? Now isn’t a good time—”
My ears perked as I heard Bianca’s voice screaming through the phone. I heard Alexis’s name, and my heart sank to my knees.
“Okay, we’ll be at the hospital as soon as we can.”
Lowering the phone, Michael lifted his gaze to mine. “There’s been an explosion outside the house and Alexis and Chris are hurt.”
My throat closed as I struggled to speak. “Is she...?”
“She’s alive, but Bianca doesn’t know anything else.” He faced Leo. “Thanks for the intel. I’ll digest and contact you later today.”
“I hope she’s okay,” Leo said, concern in his tone. “Tell Bianca I’m praying for her.”
Michael nodded. Gripping my arm, he squeezed. “Come on, son.”
We rushed up the rickety wooden stairs as I struggled to breathe. Once in the car, I gripped my chin as Michael asked the driver to rush us to the hospital.
“I’ll text Adrian and see if he can update us as soon as we get there,” Michael said.
I nodded.
“Breathe, Nick,” he said, cupping the back of my neck to offer support. “We’ll be there soon.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” I said, my nostrils flaring as I refused to look him in the eye. Shame washed over me at how much I’d failed him. FailedAlexis. I should’ve encouraged her tointerview in the city. Instead, she’d been procrastinating to stay in the goddamned bubble we’d created. If she’d been in the city, maybe this wouldn’t have happened...
“That doesn’t matter now,” Michael said, gently patting my neck. “Let’s just be there for her and help her recover. That’s what’s important.”
“I love her, Michael,” I said, lifting my gaze to his. “So fucking much. I knew I should’ve let her go, but I was so goddamned selfish...”
“You deserve love too, Nick,” he said softly. “And she’s pretty stubborn. I’m not sure you had much of a say at all.”
“Yeah,” I said, huffing a laugh. “She’s insufferable.”
“Like mother, like daughter. But Bianca’s stubbornness is one of my favorite things about her.”
“Same. Alexis was so tough when we were kidnapped and stuck in that damn blizzard. If you could’ve seen her...”
“I don’t doubt it,” Michael said with a nod. “She’s a good match for you.”
We rode to the hospital as concern for Alexis invaded every cell in my body. Closing my eyes, I prayed to the lord to keep her safe, promising that if she was okay, I would do the right thing and set her free from me and the world that had so violently hurt her.
We arrived at the hospital to see Bianca pacing around the waiting room. She rushed to Michael and hugged him before giving me a hug too.
“She’s in surgery, but Adrian says it’s not bad,” Bianca said, wringing her hands as she updated us. “There was shrapnel lodgedin her back, and they wanted to take every precaution in case it hit a major vessel, artery, or organ ...” Crumpling into a chair, she buried her face in her hands. “Oh, God...”
“That’s good news, stella,” Michael said, lowering beside her and rubbing her back. “It seems she’ll be okay. I’m here, sweetheart...”
I watched him comfort her as guilt swished through me. Bianca stretched her hand toward me. “Come sit down here,” she said, dragging me over. “She’ll be happy you’re here. She talks about you all the time. I know you two became friends when you guarded her, and I’m so happy for that. Alexis hasn’t met many people who understand her, and I always hated that for her.”
