Hope started a vicioӀarted a us beat in Rio’s chest. A life. A normal life. All that Grace had dreamed of. Free of fear. Of always looking over her shoulder. She’d be dead to the rest of the world. Loved and forever cherished by him.

“What about her sister, Shea?”

“Without Grace, her value decreases. I’ll do my best to dim any enthusiasm for Shea, but I can’t guarantee anything. I have no doubt that KGI will keep her safe.”

“Thank you,” Rio said in a low voice.

It was hard to say to this man. But Hancock was trying to make amends. He’d tried to save Grace. He’d done what was necessary to accomplish the mission, and a lifetime ago, Rio would have applauded that drive and single-minded determination. He would have admired it. Would have aspired to have been like that. Machine, not man. The greater good above all else.

Hancock stood and started to walk away, and Rio knew, without a doubt, he wouldn’t see Hancock again. Not unless Hancock wanted it. He’d fade back into the shadows. Back into a life steeped in gray. A gray world Rio himself had existed in before Grace had barged in with a burst of color, love and understanding.

“What about Elizabeth?” Rio called after him. “What will your report say about her?”

Hancock paused and turned around. “What would you like it to say?”

Rio hesitated and thought back to that innocent little girl who’d been so close to death before Grace had given her back her life. He lifted his gaze back to Hancock. “Tell them…Tell them that she died as well. That Grace was unable to save her.”

Hancock nodded. “Tell Grace…Tell her that she’s one hell of a woman. She had Farnsworth by the balls. Never quite seen anything like it. She’s pretty damn fierce.”

“I’ll tell her,” Rio said, feeling the first surge of hope creep over his shoulders.

“Safe journey,” Hancock said before disappearing from the doorway.

“Safe journey,” Rio murmured in the empty air.

Rio hurried back to the waiting room, anxious to know if there was any word on Grace. She’d been in surgery for three hours already and he had no idea how long to expect it to last.

As soon as he hit the doorway, he knew there was no word. Nathan looked up and silently shook his head. Rio bit back his frustration and blew out his breath, his shoulders sagging with fatigue and worry.

Elizabeth was sitting next to Terrence. The picture of the tiny little girl next to the mountain that was Terrence would be amusing in other circumstances. But then Elizabeth looked up and caught Rio’s gaze. Sorrow swamped her expressive brown eyes.

Then to Rio’s surprise, she pushed away the blanket Terrence had wrapped her in and got up. She walked to Rio, her face solemn, eyes sad. She stopped in front of him and looked up to meet his gaze.

“I know my father wasn’t a good man. I’m sorry for what he did to Grace. She’s such a good person. She’s like sunshine and love all wrapped up in one.”

Damn if tears didn’t burn Rio’s eyes all over again.

Gently he reached down and tucked her hand into his. “Come sit down and talk to me, Elizabeth.”

She followed him to the far corner, away from the others. He sat and she stood awkwardly as if she had no idea what to do or what she should do. His heart broke when he looked at her, because she was trying so hard to be brave when her entire world had shattered around her.

“Come here,” he saiӀx201D; hd softly.

He held out his arms and she went willingly into his embrace. He hugged her to him and then lifted her onto his knee.

“You’re right. Your father wasn’t a very good man.” He wouldn’t lie to her. Elizabeth wasn’t stupid. She knew what her father was. “But he loved you very much. Love will make you do all manner of things. He would have done anything to save you because he loved you that much.”

She nodded solemnly. “I wished to be better so many times. I kept praying for a miracle because I wanted him to be good. I used to pray that God would make me well and that my father and I could go somewhere and start over. I—”

She bit her lip, but Rio could still see her entire mouth trembling.

“You what?” he gently prompted.

“I used to think that me being sick was his punishment for all the bad things he’d done,” she whispered.

Rio hugged her tightly, his heart breaking for the burden this child had carried for so long. She was just a baby. Old beyond her years.

“Oh, honey, no. That’s not how it works. Your father made choices. God doesn’t punish you for the choices he made. You were a gift to your father. He loved you so very much. Bad things happen to good people all the time. It sucks. It doesn’t always make sense. But look at Grace. She’s been treated horrifically by people who want her for what she can do. She’s good through and through. But she’s suffered so much. It’s not fair bu

t then much of life isn’t fair. It’s how you live that matters. It’s how you deal with the bumps in the road.”

“I don’t have anyone now,” she said quietly. “I never knew who my mother was. I think my father took me from her when I was a baby. What will happen to me, Rio?”

He smiled tenderly and wiped the hair from her forehead. “I have an idea that I’d very much like to get your input on.”

Her brow wrinkled and she stared questioningly up at him.

“What do you say, you and I go down and see if we can find something to eat and we’ll talk over the proposition I have for you.”

Her eyes lit up for a moment but then they dimmed, and she glanced toward the door as if expecting someone to walk through at any moment.

“What about Grace? I don’t want to leave her.”

“Terrence will call us the minute the doctor comes in if we’re not here. Then we’ll race back up as fast as we can so we can be there when she wakes up. Deal?”

Elizabeth smiled and bobbed her head up and down. “Deal.”

CHAPTER 40

GRACE struggled through an endless sea of murkiness, shadows that seemed to reach out and wrap around her like vines. She warded off the encroaching darkness, wanting instead to savor the warmth of the distant light that seemed to grow dimmer all the time.

She knew she wasn’t dead, but she also knew that she was dying. This was it. The epic battle between life and death. It all sounded so poetic but quite frankly it sucked and there was nothing particularly poetic about dying.

Rio?

It was a small whisper in her mind. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to push it out, but she desperately needed confirmation that he was alive and okay, that she hadn’t failed. And she needed the comfort of his presence because her mind was frighteningly blank. So dark and barren and cold.

Iր019;m here, baby. Right here. With you always. Just open your eyes, Grace. I’m right here. Open your eyes and look at me.

Her brow furrowed and her nose scrunched up. He made it sound so easy. She had no idea where she was. Somewhere between life and death, and yet he made it seem like all she had to do was open her eyes.

Her entire body was heavy. Understanding was slow to come, but with each passing moment, she became aware of more. She was cold because it was like a freaking icebox wherever she was. It was dark because she couldn’t seem to pry her eyes open.

There were lots of sounds, harsh in her silent, dark world. Strange beeps. A whooshing sound. Distant buzzing, like conversation but not close.

Grace, I’m right here. Come back to us. Just open your eyes. You’ve been sleeping too long. You’re safe now. You’re with people who love you.

Shea.

Warmth spread, replacing some of the bone-deep chill. Rio and Shea both held her lovingly in their grasp. She was cradled in their arms, supported. Loved.

She tried. She truly tried to open her eyes, but it was as if someone had cemented them shut. She allowed some of the frustration to spill down the pathway to Rio and Shea.

It’s okay, honey, Rio soothed. You’ll get there. Don’t overexert yourself. Relax. Think of the happiest thought you can imagine. Then open your eyes so you can see it.

That was easy. What she wanted most in the world was to see him. Know that he was alive. That he was here beside her.

She pushed everything away except the unerring desire to open her eyes. It was like rolling back a stone from a tomb. Heavy. Cumbersome. She’d never felt so weak in her life.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Excitement coursed through her body, and she realized it was Rio’s excitement.

That’s it, Grace. You can do it. You are doing it. Just a little more.

It took every ounce of willpower she had to force her eyelids open the rest of the way. For a moment all she could see was one huge blur.

But then her vision cleared and the first thing she saw was Rio leaning over her, his eyes filled with such joy. He was smiling so big that his cheeks dimpled. She’d never known he had dimples.

His hair hung limply over his shoulders, some of it falling forward into his face. Moisture welled in those deep brown eyes, and his hand shook as he lifted it to touch her forehead.

“Hi,” he said softly.

She tried to smile and it was then she realized that something was terribly wrong. She couldn’t move her mouth. There was a tube down her throat. She panicked, reaching, trying to yank it out. Then she gagged.

Rio grabbed both her hands and held them tightly, all the while yelling over his shoulder for help.

She was only dimly aware of what they were saying. She caught a few words from Rio. She’d woken up. She’d realized there was a breathing tube. She’d been more aware than maybe they’d thought she’d be. Or maybe it was that she’d come around before they expected.

Then from the nurse, talking to Rio about sedating her so they could remove the tube, but they had to wait for the doctor’s orders. Had to be certain she could breathe adequately on her own.

She tried to protest, but she couldn’t talk around that damn tube. All that came out was a muffled choking sound.

Rio turned back to her, still gripping her hands tightly. He put his lips to her forehead.

I need you to calm yourself, Grace. Itۀ, Grace.x2019;s just a breathing tube. You’ve been in a coma and you weren’t able to breathe on your own at first. They’ll take it out. All will be well.

And suddenly her world went fuzzier. That panicked her too.

Rio!

Shhh, it’s okay. They’re just sedating you so the tube can be removed. They don’t want you pulling it out and doing more damage. I’ll be here when you wake up again. I swear it.

WHEN she woke again, her eyes came open immediately. There was no fight just to crack her eyelids. She felt stronger. Relief coursed through her veins until she was heady with it. She wanted to crawl out of the stupid hospital bed and do a double fist pump.

She was here. She was alive. She was going to make it.

She lifted her head, immediately searching for Rio. She frowned when she didn’t see him anywhere. Figures. She was finally something other than a panicked, freaking-out nitwit and he wasn’t even here.

Shea?

The response was immediate. She could feel her sister’s relief.

Grace, you’re awake. You’re stronger. I can feel it. You’re already so much better.

Thanks for being there. For all of it. I couldn’t have done it without you.

It’s over now, Grace. I can’t wait to see you. You have to come for my wedding.

Wedding?

Grace felt Shea’s beautiful smile, her absolute joy, and it warmed Grace to her very soul.

Nathan and I are going to marry at the same time that his older brother and his fiancée get married. We were the reason they waited as long as they did, so it’s kind of fitting that we do it all together.

That’s wonderful, Shea. I’m so happy for you. And of course I’ll be there. Nothing could keep me away. Now go. I know you can’t keep up a link for long. We’ll talk later. Right now I have a man to track down.

Shea’s laughter lingered in Grace’s mind long after her sister left the conversation.

She was about to send out a demand to Rio to ask where the hell he was when her door opened and she saw him stick his head in.

His eyes brightened with joy and relief when he saw that she was awake and looking in his direction.

“Hey you.”

She smiled. “Hey yourself. Where you been?”

“I brought someone to see you. I wanted to make sure you were up for it. She just wanted to peek in on you while you were sleeping.”

Grace’s brow furrowed and then Rio walked farther in. Elizabeth came in behind him, holding his hand, a shy smile on her face. As soon as she saw that Grace was awake, her face lit up. She dropped Rio’s hand and ran for the bed.

“Careful!” Rio warned, not a second too late.

Elizabeth pulled up when she would have leapt onto the bed and instead stood beside it, jittering with excitement.

Then her smile turned down into a frown. “I was so worried for you. They told us you would die.”