I called someone.
A voice answered on the third ring – calm, professional, completely devoid of emotion. “Yes?”
It’s me. We have a problem.”
“Explain.”
“James was captured. He and his father need to disappear. Completely. As soon as possible.”
A pause. “Both targets?”
“Yes. All of them. Leave no loose ends.”
The line went dead.
Ten minutes later, I’d cleaned up the broken glass and arranged my appearance. My hair was neat again, my eyes no longer red. I’d even applied a light layer of foundation to hide the stress-induced pallor in my cheeks.
I picked up my phone again – the official one this time, the one the staff knew about.
The phone rang twice before his familiar voice answered. “Blair?”
He sounded tired. Exhausted, really. Probably from interrogating James.
“Caelan…” I let his name come out soft, almost whispered. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”
“You’re supposed to be in treatment. Why are you calling?”
‘I am in treatment. The doctors said I’m doing well enough to maintain family contact.” I paused, letting a slight tremor enter my voice. ‘I… I miss you.”
Silence on the other end. I could hear background noise – papers shuffling, maybe footsteps. He was probably in his office, dealing with pack business.
“You should be focusing on your recovery, not on me.”
“I know. But tomorrow is family visiting day, and I was hoping… I let the sentence trail off, as if I couldn’t bring myself to ask directly.
“Hoping what?”
That you might come see me? I know it’s a lot to ask, and I understand if you can’t-“
I’ll ask if Katherine is free.”
“Please don’t trouble Katherine with the long distance.”
“She doesn’t mind.”
“But I do.” I let genuine emotion creep into my voice – not the desperate obsession I actually felt, but something softer, more sympathetic. “She’s been worrying about me constantly since this whole situation began. I hate being the cause of her stress.”
Another pause. Longer this time.
“Caelan,” I continued, my voice growing smaller, more vulnerable, “do you know what it’s like here? Seeing all the other patients with their families?”
“Blair-
“Everyone else has their parents, their siblings, their children visiting. And I…” I let my voice break slightly. “I’m an orphan. You’re the only family I have left in this world. If you don’t come, I’ll be completely alone.”
I heard him sigh on the other end.
“Please,” I whispered. “I know I’ve made terrible mistakes. I know I’ve hurt you and Sable. But can’t you find it in your heart to give me one more chance? Just to see that I’m really trying to change?”
The silence stretched longer this time. I could practically hear him wrestling with himself.
Come on, Caelan. You’ve always been my weakness, but your conscience has always been yours.
“Think about what my mother would want,” I said softly, playing the card I’d been saving. “If she were still alive, wouldn’t she want you to support me during the hardest time of my life?”
‘Don’t. His voice carried a warning edge. ‘Don’t bring your mother into this.”
I’m not trying to manipulate you!” I said quickly, though that was exactly what I was doing. I just… when I’m lying here at night, unable to sleep, I think about her. About how she saved your life when we were children. About how she’d want us to take care of each other.”
I let tears enter my voice-real ones, born from years of jealousy and desperation and the crushing weight of unrequited love.
“The doctors here say that family support is crucial for recovery. They say that patients who feel abandoned during treatment are much more likely to relapse. This part was actually true. ‘I don’t want to relapse, Caelan. I want to get better. But I need to know that the person I love most hasn’t given up on me entirely.”
When he finally spoke, his voice was heavy with reluctance and something that might have been old affection.
“Blair… this is the last chance. If you’re still playing games, if you’re still lying to me…”
Victory surged through my chest, but I kept my voice steady. I understand. I swear to you, I’m done with lies. I’m done with manipulation. I just want my brother back.”
Tll be there tomorrow afternoon.”
Thank you. Thank you so much, Caelan.”
After he hung up, I spun around my small room, energy crackling through my veins like electricity.
I moved to my dresser and opened the top drawer, pushing aside folded sweaters and therapy workbooks until my fingers found what I was looking for a small glass vial filled with clear liquid.
The sedative I’d been saving for days, carefully accumulated by pretending to take my evening medication while actually storing it under my tongue and spitting it out later. Enough to render someone unconscious for hours without causing permanent harm.
I held the vial up to the light, watching the liquid catch the afternoon sun streaming through my window.
Carlan, my darling brother, you’re about to discover just how far I’m willing to go to make you mine.
Sable’s POV
It had been over twenty-four hours since I’d last seen Caelan. He’d been working around the clock with his team, following up on leads from the captured suspect.
This morning, I threw myself into work at the hospital. The familiar rhythm of medical procedures helped keep my mind focused, though I couldn’t help thinking about the progress Caelan had mentioned yesterday.
Dad’s two-week deadline doesn’t seem so impossible anymore, I thought, reviewing the post-operative notes from my second surgery. Once Caelan catches whoever’s really behind all this, we can finally move forward with our engagement properly.
Around mid-morning, I was reviewing post-operative notes when my phone buzzed. Caelan’s name appeared on the screen.
“Hello?” I answered, unable to keep the smile out of my voice.
“Hey, beautiful.” His voice was low and gentle through the speaker. “How’s my exhausted surgeon doing?”
I stepped into an empty consultation room for privacy before answering.
“I miss you,” I said, letting myself sound as pouty as I felt. “When are you coming back to keep me company?”
His laugh rumbled through the phone. “I miss you too. I want to hold you and never let go.”
We talked for a few more minutes about my morning surgeries and his investigation details. He sounded slightly distracted, but I attributed it to whatever urgent matters he was handling.
“By the way,” I said, shifting the phone to my other ear, “where are you today? When are you coming home?”
Home meant my apartment.
The silence that followed lasted just a few seconds too long. I could hear his breathing through the phone, but no words came.
That was weird.
‘Caelan?
‘I…I have some urgent business to handle. I might need to go on a business trip.”
I sat up straighter in my chair.
“What kind of urgent business?” I kept my voice light, but my mind was already racing. “Do you need help with anything?
“Don’t worry about it. He was back to his normal warm tone almost instantly. I ll be back soon. But make sure you eat dinner on time, okay?
I pouted into the phone. Tine, I know You take care of yourself too
“When I get back, I’ll make you that pasta you love.”
Tll be waiting for you then.”
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