"Did anyone wake up?" Leo asked.

"Yes, boss," the doctor said, stepping forward with a clipboard in hand. "All five guards are conscious. Minor respiratory irritation from the smoke, but they’ll recover fully within a day or two."

Leo nodded once, his gray eyes cold and unreadable. "Which one was closest to her?"

The doctor pointed to a young man sitting on a hospital bed at the end of the hallway. He was in his mid twenties, with a bruise forming on his temple where he had hit the floor. His face was pale, his hands trembling slightly. He looked up as Leo approached, then quickly looked away.

Leo stopped in front of him. His presence loomed, dark and heavy, filling the narrow space between the beds.

"What happened there?" Leo’s voice was low and controlled. "Tell me in detail. And tell me if you remember anything about the stalker’s appearance. Anything at all."

The guard swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Leo’s eyes narrowed. The temperature in the hallway seemed to drop.

"I asked you a question."

The guard flinched. His hands gripped the edge of the bed, knuckles white.

"I—I was near the back exit, boss. Like you instructed. I saw her position herself against the wall. She was waiting. She had her hand on her weapon."

"Go on."

"The thick white smoke appeared out of nowhere. It burned my eyes, my throat. I couldn’t see. Couldn’t breathe. I tried to move toward her, but I—" He stopped, his face twisting with shame. "I couldn’t. I fell."

Leo’s jaw tightened. "Did you see him?"

"No, boss. I didn’t see anyone."

"Did you hear anything?"

The guard hesitated.

Leo’s blood boiled. He stepped closer, his presence looming, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Did. You. Hear. Anything?"

The guard’s whole body shook. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His voice came out strangled.

"I heard... I heard him talking to her... I was close enough to hear."

Leo’s eyes flashed. "What did he say?"

The guard looked down at his feet, unable to meet Leo’s gaze.

"Look at me."

The guard forced himself to meet Leo’s eyes. His voice was barely audible.

"He said—" The guard swallowed again, his throat working. "He said he would take her. Keep her in a cage."

Leo’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

"He said he would... he would..." The guard’s voice cracked.

"Say it."

The guard closed his eyes. "He said he would f*** her in front of you. Make you watch. Make you beg. And then he said he would kill you."

Silence. Pin drop silence.

Jay and Jace stood behind Leo, their faces pale, their hands clenched. The doctor had retreated to the nurse’s station, suddenly very interested in paperwork. Even the other guards, on their beds, had gone still, pretending not to hear.

Leo didn’t move. Didn’t blink. His eyes darkened, hardened, became something cold and lethal.

"That’s all," the guard whispered, his voice trembling, his face pale. "That’s everything I heard. I swear, sir. Every word."

Leo stood, his back straight, his hands clasped behind him. His gray eyes were cold, unreadable, fixed on the guard with an intensity that made the air suffocating.

The room was silent. No one dared to breathe loudly.

"Hmm," Leo said.

That single sound sent a chill through everyone present. The guards exchanged nervous glances. Jay shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Jace stared at the floor.

Leo didn’t move. Didn’t blink.

The guard looked like he wanted to disappear.

Then—

"Sir! Sir, Mrs. Moretti is awake!"

The nurse burst into the room, her face flushed, her voice bright with relief. She was breathing hard, like she had run all the way from Bella’s room.

The tension shattered.

Everyone exhaled.

Leo’s expression softened, just slightly, just enough. He turned and walked out of the room without a word, his footsteps quick, purposeful.

The guards sagged against the walls.

Jay wiped his forehead. "I thought he was going to kill someone."

"He might still," Jace said.

Jay nodded. "Fair point."

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

Leo reached Bella’s room in seconds.

She was sitting up in bed, her hair loose around her shoulders, her cheeks still pale but her eyes bright. An IV dripped into her arm, and a heart monitor beeped softly in the corner. The room smelled of antiseptic and flowers. Someone had brought a vase of white lilies.

She was grinning at him.

His heart nearly burst.

He crossed the room in three strides, gathered her in his arms, and held her tight. She felt so small against him, so fragile, so precious. He buried his face in her hair and breathed her in.

"You scared me so much," he murmured against her forehead.

He kissed her there softly. Then her lips.

She tasted like medicine and sleep, but he didn’t care. She was alive. She was awake. She was smiling.

"I’m okay," she said, pulling back just enough to look at his face. "I’m fine."

"You fainted."

"The smoke was strong."

"You stopped breathing for a moment."

Her eyes widened. "I did?"

"The guards said you collapsed. Your lips were blue." His voice cracked. "Don’t ever do that again."

She reached up and touched his face, her palm warm against his cheek. "I’m here. I’m okay."

He turned his head and kissed her palm.

Then she grinned, wide and bright and mischievous.

"Guess what?" she said.

"What?"

"I shot him."

Leo’s eyebrows rose.

"Right in the foot," she continued, her voice proud. "Maybe the leg. I couldn’t see through the smoke. But I heard him yelp. He definitely felt it."

Leo stared at her.

"He was running away, and I just—" she mimed aiming a gun, "pow. Right at him."

A slow smile spread across Leo’s face. "You shot him." He already knew she had shot him, however seeing her looking this happy while sharing with him, he played along with her.

"I shot him."

"My wife."

"Your wife."

He pulled her close again, laughing now, a low, warm sound that rumbled through his chest. "I’m so proud of you."

Bella beamed.

But she wasn’t done.

"Well," she said, pulling back, "not only that."

She reached under her pillow and pulled something out, a small, flat rectangle, dark blue, with gold lettering.

Leo’s eyes widened.