Chapter 2
I ordered everyone out except Hannah, Ellie, Dr. Greene, and Tony.
Tony was my chief of security.
He had been with me since I was twenty-one.
He looked ashamed that a child had noticed what his men missed.
“Find Vincent,” I said.
Tony nodded and left.
Hannah held Ellie so tightly the little girl’s cheek pressed into her shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” Hannah whispered. “She was supposed to stay downstairs.”
I looked at Ellie.
She was watching me like she expected punishment.
“You saved my life.”
Her lower lip trembled.
“Am I in trouble?”
The question struck me harder than the poison.
“No.”
She held up her stuffed rabbit.
“Rosie says good.”
I almost smiled.
Almost.
Then Hannah looked at Dr. Greene.
“That was her last EpiPen. The pharmacy won’t refill until next week.”
I turned to the doctor.
“Fix that.”
He nodded quickly.
“I’ll have a supply delivered within the hour.”
Hannah stared at me.
“We can’t pay for that.”
“You already paid.”
Her eyes filled.
Before she could answer, Tony returned.
His face was hard.
“Vincent is gone.”
My body went cold.
“Gone where?”
“Service gate. Ten minutes after you collapsed. He took cash from his quarters and disabled two cameras.”
A twenty-year servant did not run unless he knew exactly what he had done.
I looked at Ellie.
“You saw him pour something?”
She nodded.
“Blue bottle. Tiny.”
“Did he see you?”
She shook her head.
“I hid because Mommy said no walking.”
Hannah closed her eyes.
I could see guilt crushing her.
I knew that guilt.
Parents always think love should have made them predict danger.
It doesn’t.
Tony’s phone buzzed.
He read the message.
Then his face changed.
“What?”
“Vincent left something in his room.”
We went there together.
Hannah stayed behind with Ellie and Dr. Greene.
Vincent’s room was neat.
Too neat.
On the bed lay a sealed envelope with my name.
Inside was one sentence.
Forgive me, Adrian. They said they would kill the child if I refused.
My hand tightened around the paper.
“What child?” Tony asked.
May you like
I already knew.
Ellie.
