Page 5 of Shattered Lies (Shattered Secrets 3)

My legs gave way when I saw her lying in bed in the ICU room. Kane caught me and kept me upright.

Doctors surrounded her, furiously monitoring her.

All I could see was her destroyed face. She didn’t look like my Penelope.

Maybe there had been a mistake.

Her eyes were closed. She had something in her mouth, helping her breathe.

My baby.

I love you, Penelope. So much. So, so much.

Kane cautiously led us forward. The doctors didn’t seem to notice us through the window.

Their mouths moved, but I couldn’t hear them.

Penelope was so close yet so far away.If I could just touch her . . .

She had so much life ahead of her. She couldn’t leave me.

You are my joy. My heart. I love you.

She didn’t move, her body lifeless.

Wake me up. Someone wake me up so this nightmare will be over.

Penelope.

Please.

Please take me instead.

And then there was chaos. A nurse ushered us away.

Penelope.

I touched the glass, but the nurse urged me in the opposite direction.

Finally, there was noise.

A long, flat beep.

CHAPTERTHREE

KANE

“There’s a private waiting room here.”

I moved on autopilot to where the nurse directed.

She closed the door to the small room.

JoJo crumpled to the floor.

I followed, unable to hold her up any longer or stand.

She sat on her knees. “Please. Please don’t take my baby.”

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