Page 59 of The Arrogant's Redemption

"I’ll be there in half an hour," he says.

"Tell me she’s okay."

Another long sigh. Then finally, the answer. "She’s going to be okay. I’m sure of it."

"How could this happen?" I ask, shocked, unable to stop the tears. "She was supposed to be safe! How could someone stab her with a goddamn knife?"

I want to destroy everything around me. I want to hit someone. I want to find the person who hurt my mom and do the same to them.

"It looks like the woman turned on Delores, and Marla stepped in to defend her."

"Yeah, I got that part. The first strike might’ve been a mistake, but after that, she knew she was hurting my mother. And anyway, both she and Delores were supposed to be safe. They’re under the care of the state."

"I know, Alexis."

"I hate the family that put my mom in there. I’m going to get revenge on them. I swear I will."

"Get in line. I’m not going to rest until they lose a kidney in court."

"Money isn’t enough. I want public humiliation. I want an apology. On their knees, preferably." I have so much rage in me right now I can’t stop trembling, even with Badger’s arms around me.

I can’t get the image of my mom lying in a hospital bed out of my head. The cut wasn’t deep, but only by sheer luck, according to the doctors. The woman had aimed for her heart, and onlybecause my mother managed a quick defensive move was the injury limited to her arm.

"I hate life and everyone in it," I say—and right now, it’s true. "What kind of messed-up world is this where good people are locked up and pay for crimes they didn’t commit?"

"We’ll get her out, Alexis. I’m not stopping until Marla’s cleared of this ridiculous accusation."

"I’m not sitting still either. Until now, I’ve left everything in the lawyers’ hands, but I’m done just waiting. If I want justice, I need to find a way to prove my mother’s innocence."

"Alexis—"

"I will find a way," I say between sobs, angrier than ever at myself for being so vulnerable.

"Alexis, what’s really going on? This isn’t just about Marla getting hurt."

I hide my face in his chest and let the tears fall. "I’m the worst daughter in the world. I should’ve gone to visit her yesterday."

He pulls back to look at me, and there’s no judgment on his face—just shock. "You didn’t?"

"I . . . I was with someone. I was going to, but Mom told me to live my life."

"Hey, there was no way to know. And even if you had gone, it wouldn’t have changed anything. This happened earlier today."

Rationally, I know he’s right—but right now, I’m an emotional wreck. I just want my mom’s hug and the promise that everything will be okay.

Lazarus

CHAPTER THIRTY

That same moment

NEW YORK

I stepinto the room where Morrison lies intubated, still unable to believe everything that’s happened in the past few hours. It’s like going from paradise straight into hell, a real-life nightmare that I know can’t be escaped simply by waking up.

There’s no waking up from this. Right in front of me is the man who’s always been like a brother to me. Protector. Friend. Partner in every moment that’s ever mattered.

The one who considered himself as untouchable as I’ve always believed myself to be . . . now has his life hanging by a thread.

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