Chapter 33 Beep! Beep! Beep!

Chapter 33 Beep! Beep! Beep!
I sat by Serena’s bed. The only sound in the room was the steady beep, beep, beep of the heart monitor. It was a slow sound that told me she was still here. Every time it beeped, I took a breath. If it stopped, I knew my heart would stop too.

She looked so small in the hospital bed. Her skin was pale, almost like the white sheets under her. There were tubes in her arms and a machine helping her breathe. I held her hand. It was cool, not warm like it used to be. I rubbed her knuckles with my thumb, trying to give her some of my own heat.

"I'm here, Serena," I whispered. "I'm not leaving."

The doctors said she could hear me. They told me to talk to her. They said familiar voices help people in a coma find their way back. But what do you say to the person you failed to protect? How do you say sorry for your own mother shooting her?

"Our son is beautiful," I said, my voice breaking. "He has your nose. I went to see him again an hour ago. The nurses call him 'Little Fighter.' He’s small, Serena. So small. But he has your eyes. I can see it, even when they are closed.

I looked out the window. It is raining now. The gray drops hit the glass and slid down like tears. This hospital felt like a prison. I hated the smell of the cleaning soap. I hated the white walls. I felt like the ghosts of my past were walking the hallways. Eleanor was here. Now Serena was here. It felt like a curse.

There was a knock at the door. I did not turn around. I did not want to see anyone.

"Ed?"

It was Michael. He stepped into the room quietly. He was carrying a small bag.

"I brought you some clean clothes," he said. "And some food. You haven't eaten since yesterday.

"I'm not hungry," I said. I did not let go of Serena’s hand.

Michael sighed and put the bag on the small sofa in the corner. "The police are here. They want to talk to you about the warehouse. They also found something.

"Did they find Lily?"

"No," Michael said, shaking his head. "The jet landed in a private port in a country near the border. She vanished. But the police found the gun. And they found Louise.

"Louise," I said the name as if it were poison. "She was there. She saw everything.

"She’s at the station now. She’s giving a statement. She says she didn't know Lily was going to use a gun. She said she was only there to save Serena.

"I don't care what she says. She helped kidnap my wife. She stood there while my mother pulled the trigger. She is just as guilty.

"She wants to see you, Ed," Michael whispered. "She says she has something you need to see. Something Lily left behind in the office.

"I’m not leaving this room."

Michael did not move. He stood there for a long time. Finally, he spoke again. "The board of directors is calling. They want to know who is in charge. With Lily gone and you here, the company is falling apart.”

Let it fall. Let it burn. Do they think I care about the company? My wife is fighting for her life. My son is in a box with tubes in his chest. The Vance Empire can sink into the ocean for all I care.

“But you should know, if the company fails, Lily wins. She took the money to start over. If you don't stop her, she gets away with everything,” Michael said softly.

I looked at Serena. I looked at the bruise on her cheek. I looked at the bandage over her stomach.

"Stay here," I said to Michael. "Don't let anyone but the doctors inside this room. If anyone else tries to enter, stop them.”

"I will," Michael promised.

I stood up. My legs were stiff. I leaned down and kissed Serena’s forehead. It was cold.
"I'll be back soon," I whispered in her ear. 

I walked out of the room. The hallway felt longer than before. I walked past the NICU and stopped at the glass for one second. My son was sleeping. A nurse was checking his heart. He looked so weak. I put my hand on the glass.



I went to the police station. I was led to a small room with a metal table. Louise was sitting there. She looked like she had aged ten years. Her hair was messy, and her eyes were red from crying.

When she saw me, she pulled back.

"Edward," she said.

"Why are you here, Louise?" I sat across from her. I did not hide my anger. "Why shouldn't I tell the police to lock you up forever?"

"Because I'm the only one who can help you find her," Louise said. She pushed a small, black USB drive across the table.

"What is this?"

"Lily was smart, but she was also proud," Louise said. "She kept records of everything. Every person she paid, every bank account she used. She didn't know I knew the combination to her private safe.

I looked at the small black drive. "Why are you giving this to me now?”

Louise looked down at her hands. "I wanted the money, Edward. But when I saw her point that gun at Serena, I knew she was a monster. I love money, but I’m not a killer.” 

I picked up the drive. "This better be worth it."  

"It is," Louise said. "It shows where the money went. It shows the names of the men she hired. It even shows the house she bought in Europe two years ago."  

I stood up. I did not say thank you.  She was still part of the reason my wife was in a coma.

"If this helps catch her," I said, "I might tell the judge to go easy on you. But don't ever come near my family again.

I left the station and drove back to the hospital. I went straight back to Serena’s room.

Michael was standing by the window.

"Any change?" I asked.

"The doctor came by," Michael said. "He said her vitals are steady. That's a good sign."

I sat back down in the chair. I took Serena’s hand again. It feels a little warmer now. Or maybe I was just hoping it was.

"I have the key, Serena," I told her. "I have everything I need to take her down. I’m going to make sure our son has a world where he is safe."

I stayed there all night. I did not sleep. I just watched her chest rise and fall with the machine. 

At 4:00 AM, the machine started to beep faster.

"Serena?" I stood up, panicking . "Serena!"  

Her fingers moved. 

"Doctor!" I shouted, running to the door.  

A team of nurses rushed in. They pushed me back. I stood by the door, my hands over my mouth.

“Please I can’t lose you to Serena…”