Liam grabbed Luke’s bag and bolted for the exit.
The glass doors whooshed open, spitting him into Vegas heat. He’d bought time—maybe. But Nimue was still in that hospital bed, machines monitoring every heartbeat.
Time to stop running and start fighting.
The plan was falling apart.
Steinbeck should’ve intercepted Teresa by now—he was out in the hallway with the Caleb Group operators, hiding, waiting…
But her hospital door stayed shut. Not even a knock.
No Teresa. Someone had tipped her off.
Nimue twisted the scratchy hospital blanket between her fingers, fabric bunching and pulling as monitors beeped their even rhythm. Her body felt foreign—tubes snaking from her arms, wires tracking every heartbeat, every breath.
She felt like she’d been hacked.
“She won’t get far.” Emberly’s voice cut through room.
Nimue’s sister stood sentinel by the window, arms folded. She’d let the team handle this, refusing to leave Nimue’s side.
I don’t need a weapon to kill someone. You should know that.
The memory sliced through Nimue’s thoughts, Teresa’s voice chilling her.
“Maybe Liam’s already airborne.” The words scraped her throat. “Flying wherever he could get the cheapest ticket to.”
Emberly pivoted, shoes squeaking against linoleum. Arms crossed. Eyes narrowed. “That what you’re hoping for?”
“I want him safe.” Nimue’s knuckles went white against the blanket. “Everyone leaves eventually. Maybe it’s better if he goes now.”
“That’s not?—”
“You left.”
The accusation hung between them like smoke. Emberly froze.
“I was lost, Nim. And the Black Swans gave me a future I needed?—”
“You needed.” The words came out harsher than she intended, sharp enough to make Emberly flinch, her hand pausing mid-gesture. “We were supposed to be a team. I woke up and you were gone. Just a note saying goodbye. I was devastated.”
The chair creaked as Emberly sank down, hands folding over her knees. “That was a long, long time ago. You had Boz, had a real family for the first time. I thought…Well, I didn’t belong. Or I thought so. I was running from my own fears. I knew the best thing for me was to leave—and the best thing for you was to stay.” She put her hand on Nim’s arm. “But I came back. And we found each other again. And you shouldn’t apply one stupid sister’s behavior to everyone you meet.”
“What about Mom?”
“Mom was a wreck, and we both know it. She doesn’t get to mess with our heads anymore.”
“I hope she was happy, in the end.”
“She had money, security. I think that’s all she ever wanted.”
Nimue shook her head. “No. She wanted love.”
A beat, then, “Don’t we all.”
“Tell me you don’t see a pattern. Every time I love someone…” Nimue’s voice trailed off, her fingers loosening on the blanket, her gaze drifting to the window, where the night pressed against the glass, the bright city lights lighting the night sky.
“But in all of those cases, they weren’t leaving you.” Emberly reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I was running scared. Mom was broken. And Dad? Dad would never have left you if he’d had the choice. You were Dad’s water fairy, the Lady of the Lake. He always said he named you after the enchantress because he fell in love with you at first sight. You have so much love to give, Nimue. Don’t close it off from Liam because you are afraid.”