He Quit for Me, I Came Back to Him

Chapter 5

Vivian opened her eyes. The familiar sting of antiseptic hit her nostrils instantly.

"You're awake?" A nurse walked in with a medical tray, sounding annoyed. "What's up with your boyfriend? I paged him three times at the nurses' station to pick up your medical report, and nothing."

Vivian parted her dry lips. Her throat was raw and aching.

The nurse slipped a thermometer under her armpit. "Turns out he's been playing nurse next door.

"Doting on some girl with nothing but a scratched finger while leaving you lying here alone. Guy really doesn't give a damn about you."

"He's not my boyfriend."

Vivian forced the words out through her hoarse throat.

The nurse paused for a second, then said nothing more. She set down the medicine and left the ward.

Silence settled back over the room. But every word from next door came through crystal clear.

Gwen was pouring it on thick, all whiny and sweet. "Silas, I want strawberries. Peeled and seeded for me."

"Anything for you, princess." Silas's voice was gentle. "Now lie back and wait for me."

That undisguised adoration—it was exactly how he had once treated her.

Gwen giggled, dripping with sweetness. "No one loves me the way you do, Silas."

Silas let out a few low chuckles.

His laughter was soft, yet it pierced into Vivian's ears like needles.

She closed her eyes. Hot tears slipped from the corners, trailing into the pillow beneath her head.

The wounds on her back were still oozing blood. Every tiny movement sent a tearing, gut-wrenching pain through her.

Her heart felt like it was submerged in ice water, sinking inch by inch, freezing stiff and numb.

She fished out the phone hidden under her pillow and opened the encrypted comms app.

A message from her superior popped up: Your cover is blown. Your brother has been relocated by the enemy. We've lost all tracks. Odds of finding him are slim to none.

Vivian's hands shook uncontrollably. The phone nearly slipped from her grip and hit the floor.

Slim to none.

Those four words ripped away the last shred of strength holding her together.

Chad was her only family left in this world.

If Gwen hadn't stalled her at the shooting range, if Silas hadn't sided with Gwen, she would have made it to the rendezvous point in time. Her brother would never have been moved!

Vivian threw off the hospital blanket. Ignoring the searing agony of her wounds, she rushed out barefoot.

The door to the next ward was left ajar. She kicked it open with brutal force.

"Vivian?" Gwen jumped in fright, then her lips curled into a sneer. "What, are you jealous? Decided to crash our little moment?"

Vivian said nothing. She strode forward fast.

Before Silas could react, she struck out and yanked Gwen right off the hospital bed.

"Ah!" Gwen let out a shrill scream. Vivian slammed her hard onto the floor, wrenching her arms behind her back until Gwen cried out in pain.

"Silas, help me!" Gwen wailed.

Silas moved to step forward, but Vivian snapped at him, sharp and fierce. "Don't touch me—unless you want her crippled for life!"

Her eyes were ice. "Gwen, I've never done a damn thing to you. Why do you keep coming after me? I will make you pay for everything!"

Gwen's arms swelled up fast. A dull, sickening c***k of bone echoed through the room.

"Ahhh—!"

With a bloodcurdling scream, her arms twisted into an unnatural angle and dropped limply to the floor.

Vivian pulled a tiny USB drive from her pocket and held it right in front of her face. "This is hard evidence of your illegal firearm use. Just wait for the police to come calling!"

Gwen stared blankly for a moment, then her face twisted into a wild, manic laugh.

"The police? Vivian, did all those beatings knock something loose in your head?

"Which cop in this entire city would dare lay a finger on me?

"Using people as live targets is nothing. Even if I actually killed a few, so what? You're all just toys to me! You'd better kill me right now, because the second you walk out that door, you're the one who's dead!"

Enraged by her insane arrogance, Vivian's fists clenched tighter and tighter, ready to slam down hard into her face.

Her fist cut through the air—but just before it landed, a warm palm caught her wrist, solid and firm.

Silas.

"Get out of my way!" Vivian's eyes were bloodshot, each word forced through gritted teeth.

Silas's brows drew tight. He pulled her into a crushing embrace.

"Stop this! Now!"

Vivian couldn't hear a single word he said. All she wanted was to break free from his grip.

"You shouldn't have laid a hand on Gwen." He paused, then gave a cold, final order. "Guards!"

"Lock her in the confinement cell." Silas's voice carried not a trace of warmth. "No one goes near her without my order."

The Payne family's confinement cell—even the most vicious criminals were dealt with no worse than what happened inside those walls.

Every bodyguard present shuddered, a chill running down their spines.

"Silas!" Vivian stared at him in utter disbelief. "Let go of me! I'll kill her!"

Silas didn't hesitate any longer. He shoved her toward the guards beside him. "Get her out of here!"