Charlie's words baffled me. They made no sense.

He pulled me out of the elevator and dragged me to a hospital room. Through the room's observation window, I could see everything inside. There was Idris, a sight for sore eyes.

I felt a surge of hope and made to dash inside, but Charlie yanked me back, his voice cold. "Yvette, do you really want to end it all with me?"

Suddenly, I felt the icy press of metal against my lower back. Glancing down, I recognized the dark outline of a gun.

The dark room was where I had seen it before.

This guy was off his rocker, no doubt about it.

I froze, not daring to make another move. I had a sinking feeling that if I made even the slightest noise and woke up Idris, this maniac would go crazy, taking me and everyone else out.

I quit fighting and just watched the others in the ward. Mom and Maxwell were there too, which threw me for a loop. The real kicker, however, was seeing Alice in the hospital bed. Why the heck was Idris here visiting her?

Hugging the door frame, I could just make out Mom's anxious voice, "Why on earth would someone target her and cause a disaster?"

Alice, looking as delicate and pretty as ever, tried to reassure her. "Don't sweat it. I'm a reporter. Sometimes my stories step on the wrong toes, and people lash out. It happens."

"Retaliation?" Maxwell's brow creased with worry as he glanced at Idris. "Over that piece on the amusement park disaster?"

Idris kept mum, as usual. He just gave Alice a cool look and said, "I'll make sure you're safe."

Alice gave a small shake of her head, her smile barely there. "I'm good, really. Thanks for today, though."

Idris checked his watch, looking like he was ready to bolt.

I was dying to hear more, but then Charlie snuck up behind me and scooped me up, carrying me off like I was a ragdoll. The guy towered over me, his arms easily wrapping around me.

I squirmed, trying to get loose. Then came his icy warning.

We were out of the hospital in no time. He plopped me into a sleek black Bentley, slid in after me, his long legs barely fitting, and barked out, "Let's go!"

Just like that, we were peeling away from the hospital. I slumped in the car seat, the hospital shrinking away in the distance. With each mile, my fear and worry melted away. My fingers brushed against the curved knife I had tossed into my pocket on the way out. Without a second thought, I lunged at Charlie, who was sitting next to me.

"Die!" I shouted.

The blade slid into Charlie's gut like it was meant to be there. He had not seen it coming, and for a split second, he just stared at me, shocked. Then came his pained grunt.

The car screeched to a halt. Inch, who had caught a glimpse of the chaos, leaped out from behind the wheel, yanked open the back door, and dragged me out with a fierce grip.

"Stop!" Charlie's voice cut through just as Inch's hands were about to close around my neck.

Charlie's icy stare pinned me in place, his dark eyes narrowed, unreadable. "Don't," he commanded Inch in a low growl.

Glancing between Charlie's bleeding stomach and his face, Inch, white as a ghost, rasped out, "Mr. Yates, she's trying to kill you."

A cold smirk played on Charlie's lips as he looked at me. "Tie her up," he ordered, as casually as discussing the weather.

Inch did as told, binding my hands with no mercy and shoving me back into the car.

He wanted to rush Charlie to the hospital, but Charlie insisted, "Go back to the villa."

His voice had lost its earlier strength. My stab must have penetrated deep.

Inch was clearly worried, but he floored it back to the villa, following orders.

Just like that, I was locked away by Charlie's crew.

It was New Year's Eve. The night sky exploded with fireworks, and the air was filled with the crackle of firecrackers. I was left to lean against a cold wall, my mind a void, hopelessness my only companion. Officer Jackson has gone, and now, without a clue, I was trapped here by Charlie. It looked like I was in for a long, restless night.

I could not tell if I passed out from the cold or just fell asleep, but upon waking, my arms and legs were stiff as boards, and everything was shrouded in shadows. The only sensation was a chilly breeze sneaking in from somewhere.

My hands were still tied up tight. I had no idea how long I had been cooped up, or what Charlie was planning. I did not know whether he was out for blood or just wanted to see me squirm. However, after the stab I gave him last night, he might be knocking on death's door himself.

That thought was a little comforting. If he was out of the picture, Idris was safe, and so was everyone else.

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