Even now, when life as she knew it was being violently ripped away from her one heartbreaking word at a time, his voice remained calm and steady.
Screw calm. And screw them and their lies.
Despite Dr. Randall’s objections, Cera yanked the covers from her legs. Ignoring the excruciating pain in her shoulder, she used her other hand to push herself up before scooting down toward the foot of the bed to avoid being blocked in by its railing.
A massive wave of dizziness struck as her bare feet touched the cold tile floor. The disorienting sensation forced her to remain in place until it passed, giving Dr. Randall the opportunity he needed to stop her.
He raced to where she sat. Careful to avoid her injury, he placed his hands on her good shoulder to keep her still. “Cera, please stop. You’re going to bust open your stitches.”
“I don’t care.” She shoved against the man’s strong hold.
Shecontinuedpushing and twisting with a desperation she’d never known before. With skin soaked with tears and her face crumbling with her harsh, ugly cries, Cera demanded they take her to her family.
“I want to see my sister!” She fought against the drove of hands reaching for her. “I want to see my mom!”
Something inside Cera broke, those twelve words replacing every other thought. Over and over, she repeated them, praying someone in that room would listen.
“I want to see my sister! I want to see my mom!” She pushed against the man holding her captive. “I want to see my sister! I want to see my mom!”
It was the only thing she could say. The only fractured thoughts her shattered mind could comprehend.
As she continued screaming for her mom and Callie—to the point her throat felt raw and on fire—Dr. Randall kept steadfast in his attempt to prevent her from leaving the bed.
From over his shoulder, he yelled a loud, “I need help in here!”
Seconds later, the door to Cera’s room flew open and a handful of nurses and other staff poured in.
“Let me go!” she screamed. “I want to see my mom!”
And Callie. Sweet, innocent Callie who’d never hurt so much as a fly in her nine years on this earth.
They couldn’t be gone. Theycouldn’t!
The struggle continued, but her weakened, broken state was no match for the mass of hands working against her. Once again, Dr. Randall’s voice broke through her wild, animalistic screams.
“I need three milligrams of Lorazepam in her IV, STAT!”
Those hands grew stronger.
Within her next frantic breaths, Cera felt herself being pushed back down onto the mattress. Her bullet wound shrieked in protest, the skin on her wrists burning from being held in place while she twisted and pulled.
A low growl escaped the back of her throat, and her disheveled hair flew across her face and eyes as she whipped her head from side-to-side. Something cold began filtering through the vein in her right arm.
Seconds later, her obstructed vision began to blur.
Whatever drug they’d given her was fast-acting and strong as hell. An invisible, weighted blanket enveloped her, stealing what little strength she had left. Helpless against the inescapable sedative, Cera found it impossible to continue the valiant fight.
The last thought had before her lids fell shut was…
I wish James Stiegler had killed me, too.
1
Present day…
“You may kiss the—”
Ivan Petrov watched from his assigned spot beneath the flowered archway as the groom planted a hard and fast kiss against his new bride’s lips. A rare smile lifted the corners of his mouth.