Page 121 of Shadowed Hearts: Frost
"Not for emotional support." My words slice through his assumption. "He's an ER doctor in San Francisco. Mentioned cases when I had dinner with them. Identical symptoms. Dilated pupils, controlled movements, chemical restraint."
The admission hangs between us. Dinner with her family. Meeting her parents. Actions that cross every professional boundary I've maintained for years.
"Meeting the parents already?" Kade's mouth quirks upward. "Must be serious."
Heat crawls up my neck. I drink more coffee to hide the reaction, but nothing escapes Kade's awareness.
"Strategic decision."
"Right. Strategic." His tone carries dry amusement. "Because Filipino family dinners are standard asset protection protocol."
My grip tightens on the cup. Ceramic practically cracks under pressure. "She's not just an asset."
The words escape before I can contain them. A truth I refuse acknowledge out loud, not even to myself. My chest constricts as the implications sink in.
Kade's expression shifts, amusement fading into something more serious. Recognition.
"Funny how you can see it clearly when it's someone else." My voice drops lower, steady despite the chaos in my chest."Alina was just a journalist. Asset protection only. Until she wasn't."
His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. Direct hit.
"That's different—"
"Is it?" I drain the coffee, bitter heat burning away the last of my filters. "How long did you insist she meant nothing while planning to level half the city to keep her safe?"
Silence stretches between us. Kade's blue eyes hold mine, and I see the exact moment he recognizes his own obsession reflected back at him.
"Clearly," he says finally, the single word carrying extra weight.
A nurse exits Vanessa's room. I straighten immediately, muscles coiling as I analyze every micro-expression for information. She nods reassuringly before continuing down the corridor, shoes squeaking against the polished floor.
"His exact words were 'something I've never seen before, but I'm seeing it repeatedly.'" My eyes track the nurse until she disappears around the corner. "Miguel's conducting his own investigation. Three patients in the last month. All women, all with identical symptoms to Vanessa."
Kade pulls out his phone, fingers moving across the screen. "I'll have Alina arrange transport for Dr. Reyes. Priority clearance, full security detail." He looks up from the device. "We'll need to brief him on what he's walking into."
"I'll handle that."
Kade motions down the corridor. I follow, calculating the perfect distance—close enough to hear any change in Vanessa's monitors but far enough for minimal privacy. Seventeen steps from her door.
"Civilian doctor. Classified facility." Kade's voice drops lower, concern evident in those clipped words. The unspoken question hangs between us: Is your judgment compromised?
"His clearance can be handled. Cole can create temporary credentials. Need-to-know basis only." My fingers twitch with the need to start coordinating immediately.
"I'll personally secure him from landing to facility. Full blackout protocols." The plan forms with mathematical certainty in my mind. "Encrypted comms, blacked-out transport, no digital trail. We bring him in blind and remove him the same way."
Kade studies my face, assessing whether emotion has overridden logic. Three days ago, I'd have questioned bringing another civilian into our secured location.
When Kade hesitates, something inside me fractures.
"This isn't negotiable." The edge in my voice surprises even me.
My fingers clench around the cup, calculated pressure threatening to crush it. I force them to relax, one digit at a time.
"She needs the best medical care available." I lower my voice, aware that emotion is seeping through my carefully maintained control. "Miguel Reyes is the best option."
"Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest?" Kade tenses.
"No one would want her to get better more than Miguel. And Remy can provide the objectivity he'd need."
