She was just here.

I could still feel her fingertips on my jaw, trembling as she said goodbye. Her scent lingered in the sterile air- lavender and something softer.

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain knifed through my shoulder, reminding me I wasn’t invincible. The bullet had torn through more than skin. It had taken pieces of my sanity with it. I was bleeding in places no doctor could reach.

The door clicked open soon enough.

I knew that damn sound before I saw him. Mateo Morales never entered a room without letting it know who he was. I turned my head slowly, gritting my teeth, and met his eyes.

He was dressed as if he hadn’t just been part of the chaos that nearly killed me. He wore a dark blazer, no tie, shirt crisp and open at the neck like this was a business lunch.

“Don’t pretend you’re alone,” he said, voice calm and almost amused. “I know she was here.”

I didn’t answer. My throat was still tight from everything I wished I could but didn’t say to her. Everything I should have said but for Mateo’s rude intrusion.

Mateo dragged the only chair in the room to my bedside and sat like he had all the time in the world.

“You know she’s braver than I thought,” he continued. "She risked everything to see you. Your golden girl.”

He chuckled.

“Get to the point already, Mateo,” I said, my voice hoarse.

He smirked. “The point is… Dad wants her dead.”

“What?”

He leaned forward. “You heard me. After the raid, he figured she knew too much. Being close to you made her even more of a liability. But I talked him down.”

My fists clenched under the sheets. “You talked him down?” I repeated, barely keeping my voice level. “Are yoy trying to make it seem like you're doing me a favor?”

“No,” Mateo said, eyes sharp now. “Infact, I actually did you a favor. I made him an offer. One I think you’ll want to hear.”

I didn’t like the way he said it. He was talking with the usual sly confidence that made me feel like I was already cornered or too weak to fight whatever was coming.

“What offer?” I asked.

He stood and walked to the window, pulling the blinds close.

“You remember the files Rose had?” he said. “The ones she disappeared with just before she died?”

“Yes. Why? You think Millie has them?”

“I know she does,” Mateo said, turning back to me. “Rose was soft on her. She probably hid them with Millie or at least told her where they are.”

I frowned. “Millie doesn’t know anything. She’s not involved.”

“Not yet,” he said. “But she will be. Because Dan’s hunting her.”

My chest tightened.

“What the hell do you mean Dan’s hunting her?”

Mateo didn’t blink. “He wants to get the files before we do. He has stopped giving me updates. We no longer work together so it'll be easy to eliminate him".

I tried to get up again, but pain shoved me back down. “Why the hell are you telling me this?” I snapped.

“Because I’m offering you a choice.” Mateo’s voice lowered, more dangerous now. “If we can find those files and bring them to father, he promises to leave your girl alone. He says he'll l make sure Dan never gets near her. It'sa won win for us. Get the file. Kill Dan. Get Millie to spill where the file is and when she does, she walks free. Safe and untouched.”

“And what if I don’t agree to any of this?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

Mateo’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Then you better hope she runs fast because Dan will chase her to the ends of this world and Father will be right there waiting to sink a bullet in her brain."

I tried to hide my fear. My heartbeat increased as I watched Mateo grin again.

Mateo moved to the door, but paused just before opening it.

“You’re smart, little brother. I know you’ll do the right thing.”

He left, and the room was quiet again.

Alone, I stared at the ceiling. Memories of Millie flashed behind my eyes. Her tears, her laugh, the way she always looked at me so lovingly.

And now I had to lie to her, use her and break her trust just to save her life.

I let out a bitter laugh, one that scraped up my throat like glass.

“Don’t hate me for this, Millie,” I whispered.

Then I closed my eyes and prayed I’d find her before Dan did.