Page 527 of Rage

Mia lies in the bed, her skin pale, eyes closed. When she didn’t call me by midnight I used the find my phone feature we added for each other, and found her at Mercy General.

A doctor approaches, his expression grave. “She’s stable for now, but there were adverse reactions. We’ll need to monitor her closely.”

“What do you meanadversereactions?” I asked with gritted teeth.

“I am not at liberty to discuss the patient’s healthcare due to HIPPA law, I could lose my license to practice medicine.”

I watch him type a few more notes into the laptop on the cart that he wheeled in with him. His eyes going back and forth between the screen and the monitors that beep with a rhythm matching Mia’s heart.

I nod numbly. “Can I stay with her?”

“Of course.”

Sitting by her bedside, I feel the weight of failure. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, tears blurring my vision.

Guilt and despair envelop me. Everything I’ve done feels meaningless. The system is too powerful, the obstacles insurmountable.

As the morning sun shines through the thin window on the far wall of the hospital room, I rest my head beside Mia, exhaustion pulling me under.

Chapter Nine

Agentle touch on my shoulder wakes me. I look up to see Romello standing beside me, concern in his eyes.

“What are you doing here?” I ask coldly.

“I heard about your friend. I wanted to help.”

I stand abruptly. “Help? I think you’vehelpedenough already?”

He sighs. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then explain it to me,” I demand, anger boiling over.

He glances around. “Not here. Can we talk somewhere private?”

I hesitate, then nod curtly. We move to an empty corridor.

“I’m undercover,” he begins quietly. “I’m working with a government agency to gather evidence against Zenith.”

I laugh bitterly. “Do you expect me to believe that?”

He pulls out a badge, showing me credentials that seem official. “The agency recruited me after the company hired me. I was told they’d make sure I had a golden parachute, so no matter what I would come out of this unscathed. I couldn’t risk blowing my cover, even when you started digging.”

“How did you know I was digging into the company?” I crossed my arms and gave my best side-eye death stare.

“I knew from that first day in that hallway when you said you were R and D, yet you didn’t know where the bathroom was. My team had a dossier delivered later that night on who you really are.”

I sheepishly looked away. I knew I was caught, but I was stupid enough to believe that I had gotten away with it.

“Why didn’t you tell me? You let me keep fumbling every time we crossed paths?”

“It was too dangerous—for both of us.”

I search his eyes, looking for deceit, but find none. “Then why interfere with my investigation?”

“To protect you. Zenith is onto you. They won’t hesitate to eliminate threats.”

The weight of his words sinks in. “Mia.” I feel sick.

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