?Chapter 955:


    Ste tried to run, tried to scream—anything—but her limbs had turned to mush. She managed one shaky step before copsing to the ground.


    The knife came down, aimed straight for her chest. A gunshot ripped through the warehouse, loud and sharp.


    The de missed.


    The guy screamed in pain, his wrist jerking back, the dagger skittering across the floor.


    shlights flooded the dark room as William came crashing in, leading the charge with Luca and a full squad of guards behind him.


    William’s face was thunder—eyes zing with pure rage, locked on the bastard clutching his wrist.


    He spotted Ste slumped on the ground and snapped. He sprinted, dropped to his knees, and pulled her into him, holding her tight. “Stel!”


    The guards swarmed the attacker like wolves. William’s voice boomed through the warehouse. “Take him alive!”


    Luca gave a sharp nod, closing in with the team.


    Even wounded, the guy didn’t go easy. He rolled to the side and popped smoke grenades, disappearing into the haze. Thick smoke flooded the space in seconds.


    Luca and the team pushed forward through the fog, weapons ready. William stayed crouched low, shielding Ste with his body, heart hammering at the thought she might get hit.


    She sagged against him, barely conscious. Her vision was going, the edges already fading. She heard his voice—frantic, shouting her name—but everything else went ck.


    When Ste finally came to, she was lying in a private hospital room. The sun burned through half-open blinds, way too bright.


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    William was right there beside her, eyes bloodshot, but they lit up the second he saw her stir. He grabbed her hand like he wasn’t letting go for anything. “Stel? Thank goodness! How are you feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?”


    Her mouth moved, but her throat felt like sandpaper. The words came out scratchy and dry. “Water…”


    William jumped up, gently wetting a cotton swab to dab her lips, then helped her sip a bit of lukewarm water.


    Once it hit her throat, she managed a weak whisper. “How long was I out?”


    “A whole day,” he said, voice tight.


    He pressed her hand to his cheek, eyes dark with everything he wasn’t saying. “You scared the hell out of me. Doc says the dose was small, but the mix they used was serious. If it had been any stronger…” He didn’t finish. He just squeezed her hand harder.


    Ste blinked, the fog in her head clearing. Everything came back in a rush. She pushed up, trying to sit. “The box. The journal. That guy.”


    William caught her just in time, steadying her before she could stumble. He didn’t want Ste spiraling. “Don’t move just yet. The items are gone. The guy took a poison pill when we had him cornered. No ID, no leads.”


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