Hopefully, all would be better in a different world.

I’m sorry, Nila. For everything.

Brother to brother. Soul to soul.

There was nothing else here for me.

I closed my eyes.

I let go.

I CHASED HER.

He’s alive!

Vertigo tried to trip me as I jogged in the wake of her wheels. Disbelief and suspicion did their best to kill my intoxicating high.

He’s alive.

He’s alive.

It’s a miracle.

I’d never had such words affect me. Never had a voice slammed into my heart, tore it out, restarted it, and dumped me into a hope so cruel, I didn’t want to breathe in case I unbalanced this perilous new world and found out Jethro wasn’t alive after all.

I wanted to cry. To scream. To laugh.

He’s alive!

I ran faster as Jasmine shot forward.

I’d never been friends with someone with a disability. I liked to think I was open-minded and treated everyone the same way—but society still had a stigma about equality.

Jasmine shattered every misconception I had.

I thought I’d have to dawdle beside her. Wrong—I had to jog to keep up.

I thought I’d have to open doors and offer assistance around tight corners. Nope—Jaz manoeuvred her chair, doorway, and lock faster than I ever could.

She was fierce and strong, and even though she sat below my eye level, her personality consumed mine.

I was in her shadow.

He’s alive.

But how?

She hadn’t given me answers. The moment she’d told me Jethro hadn’t died, I’d emptied the dresser, shoved it out of the way, and followed her with no other encouragement.

Was it a trap? A cruel joke?

Entirely possible, but I couldn’t ignore the chance of saving Jethro. I had to break this heartache before it broke me.

Finally listening to Jasmine gave me new comprehension. I stopped listening with my ears and trusted with my heart. I noticed things that’d been so obvious, but I’d been so blinded. She adored her brothers. She was shattered with their pain. Yet, instead of hating me…she was…she’s trying to save me.

Could that be possible?

Could everything that’d happened—the fighting for ownership and contract amendments all be for him?

Had he asked her to do that?

To protect me.

“You weren’t going to hurt me…were you?” I whispered, darting down yet another labyrinth of corridors. No lights lit our way, and the security cameras above didn’t blink. No red beacon hinted that our midnight run was recorded and ready to tattle.

I didn’t know how she turned them off. I didn’t know how she knew Jethro was alive. I didn’t know anything.

I’m blind.

“About bloody time,” she muttered, wheeling forward like a tank. “Thought you were supposed to be intelligent.”

Tapestries hung silent and repressive. Paintings of dead monarchs sniffed with disdain as we scurried silently like tiny mice. The awful feeling of being swept away with no control fisted around my heart. I wanted to ask so many questions, but something held me back.

He’s alive.

And I wanted him to stay that way.

“How was I supposed to know? You were so—”

“Believable?” She looked over her shoulder, her arms propelling her forward. “I’ve learned from the best.”

Awkward silence fell. We headed deeper into shadow.

Jasmine broke the brittle tension. “What made you doubt now?”

I paused. I’d asked myself that same question. The only conclusion I could come up with was: because I’m finally listening to the truth rather than what I hear.

I didn’t reply. Instead, I answered her question with another. “Everything that happened in the meeting…that wasn’t real?”

Her lips twisted into a mysterious smirk. “You already know the answer to that.”

“I don’t know anything anymore.”

She laughed under her breath. “That’s a testament to my planning skills.”

We ducked under another camera. “Aren’t you afraid they’ll catch us?”

She gave me a hard smile. “Nope.”

“But won’t Cut see the recordings?”

She smiled wider. “Nope.”

I didn’t bother asking again. She’d done something. And I guessed I’d never know.

My fitness level wasn’t useful as we ducked and weaved through the ancient Hall. Jasmine kept up a wicked pace, and every heartbeat crushed me with the same unbelievable message.

He’s alive.

He’s alive.

Get to him faster.

Chasing Jasmine in her all-black attire and swiftness, my mind filled with other questions. Where did she spend her days? How did she get around? How had she kept this a secret? “How do you move from upstairs to the ground floor?”

Her eyes widened at my seemingly random question. “I have a private elevator in the centre of the house. It leads to a few floors.”

“There are more?”

She snorted. “Seriously? Haven’t you seen the size of this place? There’s probably hundreds of rooms you still haven’t seen.

Prisons and bedrooms and secret vaults full of treasures.

Could Jethro’s mum be hidden in one? Could there be countless hidden mysteries just waiting to bring the Hawks down?

A chill ran down my spine. “Tell me what’s happening. Where’s Jethro?”