THE BILLIONAIRE'S PHOENIX

not be mocked. A man reaps w

ng. It's not about forgiveness. It's about the unbreakable law o

as terrified as his son, haunted by the ghost of a dead woman? Or will the shock be too much, stopping his frail, treacherous heart right there? I can

ding everything is fine. It's a beautiful, crisp morning, completely at odds with the

resh on his face. But that would have been reckless, a surge of emo

ir reputation is in tatters, and from what I've seen on the business feeds, Ethan is runn

him feel t

proach the main reception desk with a solemn expressionl. The woman b

liberately a little hesitant. "Could you pl

a polite but firm mask. "I can check for yo

ticed look of worried concern. "He's my

understated coat, wondering if I am telling the tru

ur name

cond cousin, a wild girl who ran off with a motorcycle-riding drug

ghten slightly. She's abou

Esther is just... overwhelmed. She sent me to check on him." I gesture with the tasteful wicker ba

I spend money on re

ionist's suspicion softens into a weary acceptance. People send stra

, take the elevators

my smile genuine now for a

ing of antiseptic and quiet suffering. I find Room 407, its number stamped on the door in dull silver. I take a quick glance up and down the hall. Empty. For the past two

xpensive-looking private room bed, his eyes closed. A strange feeling washes

ten anything. For a second, the memory of his face flashes before me– the

place the useless basket of fake fruit on the side table with a quiet thud and look

ctors said. Ready to go home. But that ca

. Inside is a powerful, fast-acting sedative designed to induce a deep, medically-induced coma

y nerves buzz. I find the port in the IV line connected to his arm and push the plunger slowly

The doctor said it would take ten to fifteen minutes f

I call, my voice

over the bed rail, and wrap my hand around his throat. Not enough to truly cut off his air,

de and disoriented, and land directly

gins to turn a mottled red. His free hand flies up, smacking

oherent sentence, his mind clearly reeling fro

ck. He collapses against the pillows, coughing, trying to drag air into his lungs. "You might think

re?" he stammers, his voice r

t the important question you should be as

e fear in his eyes is a physical thing. It's e

five years of bottled rage. "You, your wife, and that scumbag son of yours killed my family and left us to burn!" My chest rises and falls. "And I am here to tak

en, desperate burst of strength fueled by pure terror,

Victor? Look at you. Your own wife and son see you as nothing but a stain on the

lunge for the nurse call button on the bedside table. My hand shoots out, grabbing hi

whisper, my voice a deadly promise. "All y

ain and rage in his eyes. "You

he collapses back onto the pillows, his body seizing, muscles going taut and rigid. A low, pained groan is forced from his lips with

ympathy. It doesn't stir any emotion at all.

from the outside cuts through the sound of his suffering. My

familiar voice calls from the ha

h

e calls, her voice getting lo

s eyes are rolling back, his body going slack. Any sec

around, my eyes darting to the window. I run to it, yanking the blinds aside. It's a sheer drop four stories

Vanessa

attling the handle more forcefully now.

. She wasn't supposed to

se my five year long plan will be ruine