Chapter 22 - The Debt Sadie Refused to CollectDaniel survived because June reached the hospital security desk seventeen seconds before the attacker entered his room.
The man was arrested.
The syringe contained enough potassium chloride to stop Daniel's heart.
When Daniel regained consciousness two days later, Sadie stood beside his bed.
He looked at her.
“You saved me.”
“June did.”
“You warned them.”
Sadie said nothing.
Daniel studied her.
“Why?”
She understood the real question.
Why save the man responsible for Elias's death?
Sadie sat.
“Because Elias spent his life trying to stop people from deciding whose life mattered.”
Daniel began crying.
“That doesn't mean I forgive you.”
“I know.”
“I may never forgive you.”
“I know.”
“But Poppy doesn't inherit revenge.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Elias would be proud of you.”
Sadie stood.
“Don't tell me what Elias would think.”
Daniel nodded.
“You're right.”
She walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“He probably would be, though.”
Daniel laughed through tears.
That evening, Ronan took Sadie to the roof of Raven Hill.
No guards within earshot.
No family.
No crisis for approximately five minutes.
He handed her a glass of wine.
She stared suspiciously.
“What?”
“You planned something.”
“I poured wine.”
“You don't do spontaneous relaxation.”
“I am capable of relaxation.”
“You schedule relaxation.”
“That is efficient.”
Sadie smiled.
He stood behind her.
Ashport glittered below.
“I nearly lost both of you.”
“But you didn't.”
“I know.”
Ronan rested his forehead against hers.
“I keep thinking if I control enough variables—”
“You can guarantee nothing bad happens.”
“Yes.”
“You can't.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He sighed.
“No.”
Sadie kissed him.
Slowly.
No urgency.
No danger.
Just marriage.
When they separated, Ronan touched her stomach absentmindedly.
Sadie went still.
He noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That was not nothing.”
She looked away.
“Sadie.”
She sighed.
“I've been late.”
Ronan's entire body froze.
“How late?”
“Six days.”
He stared at her.
“Are you—”
“I don't know.”
“Have you taken a test?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because our daughter was kidnapped yesterday, Ronan.”
“Technically two days ago.”
She stared.
“Not helping.”
He started pacing.
Sadie watched.
“Are you panicking?”
“No.”
“You're pacing.”
“I pace.”
“You absolutely do not.”
He stopped.
“What if you are?”
Sadie looked at him.
“What if I am?”
Ronan's eyes filled with something she recognized immediately.
Fear.
Hope.
Love.
All tangled together.
“I'd be happy.”
Sadie smiled.
“So would I.”
Then he added:
“And terrified.”
“Me too.”
Poppy's voice came from the stairwell.
“Terrified of what?”
Sadie and Ronan jumped apart.
Poppy appeared.
“You people are terrible at secrets.”
Ronan looked at Sadie.
Sadie looked at Ronan.
Poppy narrowed her eyes.
“Are we getting another pony?”
“No,” Sadie said immediately.
Ronan wisely remained silent.
Before Poppy could interrogate them further, Maeve appeared.
“We found Charles.”
Everyone changed.
“He's at Ashport Federal.”
Ronan frowned.
“The bank?”
Maeve nodded.
“He isn't running anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because the reserve account isn't digital.”
She looked at him.
May you like
“It's underneath the bank.”
And Charles had taken twelve hostages.
