SIENNA.
The IV machine's piercing beep cut through the room, snapping me out of the lasciviously satisfied dampness that had settled over me. One second, I was on the highest cloud of ecstasy that Zane had taken me to as he pleasured me without stopping, and the next second, I was back to the reality of things in the penthouse.
Belinda was awake.
I stumbled out of Zane's king-sized bed, my bare feet hitting the cold hardwood floor, as I grabbed my shirt from the edge of the bed. The room tilted for a second since my legs were still weak from holding Zane's masculine body as he plunged into me.
I wore the shirt as I bolted for the door with my pulse roaring in my ears. Zane's broad frame brushed past me, his feet thudding against the floor. We raced down the hallway to the guest room.
The door was slightly open, and I shoved it open immediately. When I saw Belinda, my breath caught. I had to hold the edge of the wall to steady my breath. Belinda lay on the huge bed, and an IV line ran from her arm to a bag hanging on the metal pole. Her hair fanned across the white pillow, and her chest rose and fell as she breathed. The doctor hovered over her, holding a clipboard and a stethoscope dangling from his neck. He adjusted the drip before he glanced up towards us.
"She's stable," he said, reading her chart. "The sedatives are wearing off. She's groggy, but she's coming around."
I barely heard him. My eyes were still locked on Belinda's pale face. Her eyelids fluttered as a soft moan escaped her throat. That was my cue. I crossed the room in two strides, dropping to my knees beside the bed. With trembling hands, I reached for hers, feeling her skin clammy under my fingers. "Bel," I whispered. "I'm here, baby girl. You're okay."
Her fingers twitched in mine, giving me a weak squeeze that sent a flood of warmth through my chest. Her eyes opened slowly and unfocused, searching the room until they found me. "SiSi?" Her voice was barely audible, but it was her. My Belinda, alive and there with me.
Hot tears stung my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn't cry, not now when she needed me to be strong. "Yeah, it's me," I said, forcing a smile. "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"
Her lips twitched into a grin, and my heart lifted. Even half-conscious, she was still my delightful Belinda. "Takes more than a few cartel goons to keep me down," she mumbled in slurred words.
I laughed with half relief. "You're impossible," I said, squeezing her hand tighter. My gaze flicked to the doctor who was scribbling something on his clipboard. "How long until she's fully awake?"
"An hour, maybe two," he said, not looking up. "She's dehydrated, and the sedatives were heavy. She needs to rest and drink plenty of fluids. No stress."
No stress? I almost laughed at that. Stress was our lifestyle. The cartel had made sure of that. My jaw tightened as I brushed a strand of hair from Belinda's forehead, noting how warm her skin felt under my touch.
I stood, curling my hands into fists at my sides as I turned to Zane, who was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed; he had his gaze fixed on me. Those eyes seemed to see straight through to the storm raging inside me. He didn't say anything, but the way his fingers flexed against his biceps told me he knew what I was about to say.
"We need to put an end to this," I said. "The cartel. All of them. They don't get to come after us again."
Zane's brow lifted as a flicker of surprise crossed his face. "Sienna," he started, "You know what that means? It's not just going to be a diplomatic fight. It's a war."
"I know." I met his gaze with an unflinching glare. "And I'm not asking for your permission. I'm telling you I'm in. All the way."
Belinda's hand tightened around mine, pulling my attention back to her. Her eyes were clearer now, a spark of mischief in them. "Damn, SiSi," she said in a weak voice but laced with teasing. "You're out here sounding like a badass. What happened to my girl who used to jump in her own shadow?"
I snorted, shaking my head. "She's still here. Just pissed off." I leaned closer, "You're not going through this again, Bel. I'm not losing you."
Her grin widened, and she lifted a shaky hand to poke my arm. "You're stuck with me, babe. Cartel or no cartel." She glanced past me to Zane, her eyes narrowing playfully. "And you, Mr. Mafia Kingpin, better keep up. My girl's got a vendetta now."
Zane's lips twitched. "Noted," he said, stepping closer. "But Sienna, this isn't a game you just jump into. You go after him, you're painting a target on your back bigger than the one you've already got."
"I already have a target," I snapped. I gestured to Belinda, "They took her, Zane. They tied her to a chair, drugged her, and played their sick games. And for what? I'm done being their pawn."
He stepped close enough that I could feel the heat of his determination radiating off him, "You think I don't want them gone?" His voice was low, a growl that sent a shiver down my spine. "Every bastard in that cartel is on my list, Sienna. But rushing in only gets us dead." He nodded toward Belinda. "I'm not letting that happen."
I opened my mouth to argue, but Belinda's laugh cut me off. "Oh, you two are cute," she said, propping herself up on her elbows despite the doctor's disapproving grunt. "Fighting like an old married couple already. SiSi, he's got a point. You're fierce, but you're not bulletproof. And you..." She pointed a shaky finger at Zane. "Don't act like you're not impressed with her decision."
I shot her a look. "Bel, not now."
"What? I almost died. I get to say what I want." She grinned at us, "And what I want is for you to stop pretending you don't trust this guy. He hauled my ass out of that hellhole. Give him some credit."
Zane's gaze flicked to Belinda, a flicker of amusement softening his features. "You're welcome," he said,
I exhaled, my shoulders slumping as the fight drained out of me for a moment. Belinda was right...she always was, damn her. Zane had saved us both, risked his life and his brothers' to pull us off that rooftop.
"Bel," I said, sinking onto the edge of the bed, my hand still wrapped around hers. "What happened out there? What did you hear?" Her grin faded instantly, making me hate myself for dropping that random question prematurely. I gave Zane a glance, and he had the same startled expression as I.
"Bel?" I asked, watching her eyes cloud as she stared at the ceiling. Her fingers tightened around mine.
"They didn't think I was listening," she said. "They thought I was out. But I heard them, SiSi. That scarred bastard while he was on the phone, talking about hitting Zane where it hurts. His investments and his allies. They want to gut the Atlas Group by leaking everything to the feds and the press. Make it so he can't hide anymore."
I glanced at Zane, whose face had gone stone-hard as he processed her words. "They're going for the servers," he said, more to himself than to us. "The financials, the offshore accounts. Everything."
I nodded until I remembered I still had the flash. "We can use the flash," I said, "We can turn their plan against them. Draw them out, hit them first."
Zane's eyes snapped to mine, "You're talking about baiting them. Using yourself as the lure."
I lifted my chin, meeting his gaze head-on. "If that's what it takes, yes."
"No." He said, his hands flexing at his sides like he wanted to grab me and give me a shake. "You don't get it, Sienna. They don't just want you dead. They want you broken. I'm not letting you walk into their trap again."
I stood, my chest brushing against his, "It is my call to make, Zane."
Belinda let out a low whistle, "Told you she's a badass," she said, nudging the doctor, who looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. "You should've seen her, Zane. Took on a frat boy twice her size for stealing my phone. Knocked him flat."
I shot her a glare, "Not helping, Bel."
"Oh, I'm helping," she said. "You two need to stop circling each other like alley cats and work together. SiSi, he's got the muscle, the brains. And you..." She paused. "You've got that fire. Use it. But don't be stupid."
Zane's gaze softened as he looked at Belinda with a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "You're tougher than you look. Most people would be a mess after what you went through."
She shrugged, wincing as the movement tugged at her IV. "What can I say? I'm a survivor. Like my girl here." Her eyes locked on mine, and for a moment, it was just us.
"I trust you," I said to Zane, "But you have to trust me too."
For a moment, I thought he'd argue, but then he exhaled and nodded. "Alright," he said, "We do this together. But you follow my lead, Sienna. No heroics."
I smirked, echoing Belinda's defiance. "No promises."
Belinda laughed, an infectious sound that cut through the tension. "That's my girl," she said, "Now, can someone get me a burger? I'm starving."
The doctor sighed, shaking his head. "You need to stick to fluids for now."
"Fluids?" Belinda scoffed, propping herself higher on the pillow. "Unless it's a milkshake, I'm not interested."
Zane's lips curved into a real smile this time, and my heart stuttered at the sight. "I'll see what I can do," he said, his eyes flicking at me, holding my gaze for a beat too long. Heat crept up my neck, and I looked away, focusing on Belinda to hide the flush in my cheeks.
"You're ridiculous," I said to her. "I thought I lost you."
Her expression softened, her hand finding mine again. "Never," she said, "Like I said earlier, you're stuck with me, SiSi. Always."
I squeezed her hand, my throat tight. The weight of the past five years pressed against me, but it is different now. We were not alone anymore.
I glanced at Zane, catching him watching me. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held an emotion I wasn't ready to name. "Come on, she needs to rest." his hand brushes my arm, which sends a jolt through me.
Belinda's voice broke the moment, "Okay, lovebirds, save the staring contest for later. Get me that burger, and then go kick some cartel ass. I want to be there when you burn those bastards down."
I laughed hard and, for the first time in years, I felt like I could breathe. The fight was coming, and it would be brutal. But with Belinda's fire and Zane's strength beside me, I was ready.
