CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN

CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN
Alicia spotted Alexandra sitting outside the hospital lobby, hunched over with her face buried in her palms. Even from a distance, Alicia could see the trembling in her friend's shoulders.

She walked slowly toward her, her heart breaking with each step. When she reached Alexandra, she crouched down in front of her and gently pulled her hands away from her face.

Alexandra's eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks streaked with tears that kept flowing like they'd never stop.

"You need to stop, Alex," Alicia said softly, her thumbs rubbing circles on the backs of Alexandra's hands. "You're going to make yourself sick."

"I can't, Ali." Alexandra's voice was hoarse, raw from crying. "Not when I don't know how James is. Not when I don't know if he's scared, or hurt, or—" Her breath hitched. "What if he's already—"

"Don't." Alicia cut her off sharply, squeezing her hands. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Alex. Don't even think it."

She shifted closer, her voice turning gentle again. "James is a smart kid. The smartest five-year-old I've ever met. And good things happen to smart kids. He's going to be okay."

Alexandra let out a shaky breath, her eyes searching Alicia's face. "That's not funny, Ali."

"I'm not trying to be funny, young lady." Alicia's expression was completely serious, earnest. "I mean every word."

The corner of Alexandra's mouth twitched despite everything—the smallest hint of a smile.

"There." Alicia beamed, shifting to sit beside her on the bench. "You just laughed. That's good progress."

Alexandra shook her head, but there was warmth in her eyes now, just for a moment. "How did your conversation with your dad go?" Her voice was thick with concern. "I know you went to see him."

Alicia sighed heavily, leaning back against the bench. "The usual. Disappointed dad facing his perpetually disappointing daughter. Not that I care, but—" She paused, her voice dropping. "Sometimes I wish he could be something else. Someone else. Outside of just being a grumpy, image-obsessed politician."

"You're a handful, Alicia," Alexandra said, and despite everything, there was fondness in her tone. "So I don't blame him. Not entirely."

"What?" Alicia turned to her with exaggerated shock, pressing a hand to her chest. "Are you saying I'm a terrible person, Alex? After everything I've done for you?"

She pouted dramatically, her eyes wide and innocent.

Alexandra rolled her eyes. "No, you're not terrible. You're just—handful. Insufferable sometimes. Impulsive as hell." She paused, her expression softening completely. "But you're also incredibly sweet. Loyal. The best friend I could ever ask for. And I love you."

Before she could say anything else, Alicia threw her arms around Alexandra's neck in a fierce hug. Alexandra returned it immediately, holding on tight.

"I love you too, Alex," Alicia whispered against her shoulder, her voice thick with emotion. "We're going to get through this. I promise."

༺༺♡♡༻༻

Meanwhile, Tisha stood several feet away, partially hidden by a pillar. Her sharp eyes tracked their interaction, and something unfamiliar tugged at her mouth—a small smile.

She caught herself immediately and frowned, forcing her expression back to neutral.

Why was she smiling? She wasn't supposed to smile. Smiling meant caring, and caring was a weakness she couldn't afford.

But watching Alicia comfort Alexandra, seeing the genuine love between them—it stirred something in Tisha's chest that she'd thought long dead.

She knew Alexandra was a good person. Kind. Strong. A devoted mother. Tisha wasn't here to hurt her. In fact, Adrian had specifically recommended Tisha to his father because he'd wanted someone he trusted close to Alexandra and James.

The person she was supposed to keep away from them was Damon Hartley.

That's why she'd shot him. The so-called "assassination attempt" had been staged—a warning. If Tisha had truly wanted to end him, one bullet would have been enough. She was Tisha Morrison, after all. She didn't miss.

But now everything was falling apart. James was gone. Margaret was traumatized. And Tisha couldn't shake the crushing weight of guilt pressing down on her chest.

If only she'd done her job better. If only she'd been more vigilant. If only—

She turned away from the two women and headed toward the hospital entrance, needing air. Needing to clear her head before the guilt suffocated her completely.

She made her way to the parking area where their car sat waiting. Her hand reached for the door handle when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Tisha!"

She turned to see Alexandra and Alicia walking toward her. But then she smelled it.

Burning.

Something acrid and chemical that didn't belong in a hospital parking area.

Her entire body went rigid. Her training kicked in instantly, her senses sharpening as she scanned the surroundings. No visible fire. No smoke. But that smell—

It was coming from beneath the car.

Her blood ran cold.

"Stop!" Tisha's hand shot up, her voice carrying command that froze both women mid-step. "Don't come any closer!"

Alexandra and Alicia exchanged confused, frightened glances but obeyed.

Tisha carefully, slowly, dropped to a crouch and peered beneath the vehicle. Her breath caught in her throat.

"Shit," she whispered.

Wires. A small device attached to the undercarriage. Crude but effective. And the wires—

They'd been tampered with. Poorly connected. Which meant the device could detonate at any moment, triggered by movement, vibration, anything.

"Tisha?" Alexandra's voice was tight with fear. "What's wrong? What's going on?"

Tisha rose slowly to her feet, every muscle in her body coiled with tension. Her mind raced through possibilities, calculating odds, searching for a solution that didn't end with everyone dying.

"You both need to leave," she said, her voice uncharacteristically shaky. "Right now. Get back inside the hospital."

"What do you mean?" Alicia stepped forward. "Tisha, you're scaring us. What—"

"There's a device attached to the car." Tisha's words came out clipped, controlled despite the panic clawing at her insides. "An explosive. And the wiring has been compromised, which means it could go off any second."

The color drained from both women's faces.

"A bomb?" Alexandra's voice came out strangled. "There's a bomb on our car?"

"We don't have time for questions." Tisha's training took over, her voice turning sharp and authoritative. "You need to move backward. Carefully. Two steps at a time. No sudden movements. The device might be motion-sensitive."

Alicia immediately grabbed Alexandra's hand, her own trembling. They began moving backward slowly, their eyes wide with terror.

But then Alexandra stopped. Her gaze fixed on Tisha with sudden, horrible understanding.

"Why aren't you moving?" Alexandra's voice cracked. "Tisha, why are you just standing there telling us to move? Why aren't you coming with us?"

"I will," Tisha said, but the lie tasted bitter on her tongue. "Once you're at a safe distance—"

"You're lying." Tears started streaming down Alexandra's face. "I can see it in your eyes. You're lying to me. What aren't you telling me?"

"Just do as you're told, boss." Tisha forced the words out, blinking rapidly against the burning in her own eyes. "Please."

"Don't you dare 'boss' me right now!" Alexandra's voice rose, cracking with desperation. "I'm your employer. I'm asking you a direct question. Why can't you move?"

A crowd had begun to form—hospital staff and visitors drawn by the commotion, standing at a safe distance but watching with morbid curiosity.

Tisha's jaw clenched. She'd never wanted this. Never wanted to care about these people. But somewhere along the way, protecting Alexandra and James had become more than a job.

"I can't move," Tisha finally admitted, her voice breaking.

"Why?" Alexandra demanded, already trying to wrench her hand free from Alicia's grip. "Why can't you move?"

Tisha bent her head, tears finally spilling over. "Because if I take my hands off the car—" Her voice was barely a whisper. "The moment I release pressure, it will detonate immediately."

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

"What?" Alexandra gasped, her face going pale. She yanked harder against Alicia's hold. "No. No, that's—that can't be—"

"Don't do what you're thinking, Alexandra." Tisha's voice turned fierce. "Move back like I told you. Stay alive. For James. He needs his mother."

"I don't care!" Alexandra was fighting in earnest now, trying to break free from Alicia's grip. "You can't die, Tisha! Do you hear me? You're not allowed to die!"

"Alex, stop!" Alicia wrapped both arms around her, holding tight even as Alexandra thrashed. "Stop, please!"

"Let me go!" Alexandra screamed. "Tisha, please! There has to be another way! There has to be—"

Tisha looked past them and caught Adrian's eye. He'd been standing back, horror written across his face. He'd started to move forward earlier, but Tisha had given him a sharp look—a silent command to stay back.

Now she gave him a different look. A nod.

She saw understanding dawn in his eyes. Saw his face crumple with grief. But he nodded back.

Adrian moved forward quickly, grabbing both Alexandra and Alicia. They fought him—Alexandra kicking and screaming, Alicia sobbing—but he was stronger. He dragged them both backward, toward the hospital entrance.

"No!" Alexandra's voice was raw, desperate. "Adrian, let me go! Please! Don't leave her there! Don't—"

"I'm sorry," Adrian choked out, his own tears falling freely now. "I'm so sorry."

"Tisha!" Alexandra screamed, her voice breaking. "Please! Please don't do this!"

Tisha met her eyes across the distance. She tried to smile—tried to give Alexandra something to remember that wasn't fear and tears.

"Take care of James," Tisha called out, her voice surprisingly steady. "Tell him—tell him his Auntie Tisha thought he was the bravest kid she ever met."

"No!" Alexandra's scream was agonizing. "No, please! Tisha!"

Adrian hauled them through the hospital doors just as Tisha closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered to no one. To everyone. To herself.

BOOM!

The explosion ripped through the parking area with a deafening roar. The shockwave hit the hospital building like a physical force, shattering windows and throwing everyone to the ground.

Glass rained down. Car alarms shrieked. People screamed.

And through it all, one sound rose above the chaos—

"TISHA!" Alexandra's anguished scream tore from her throat, raw and broken and filled with unbearable grief. "TISHA!”