“We’re together now—that’s all that matters.” The corners of his mouth turn up in an almost-smile. He looks tired. Probably been working too many nights again, and here he is visiting me in the hospital.
Is that where I am? The hospital?
“I feel strange.” I shift on the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest. “What happened? Why am I here?”
The last thing I remember is putting on my suit and?—
Shit!I’m still wearing it. Whatever happened was bad enough to knock me out in the worst possible moment. And Cooper—fuck,everyone!—must know my secret now.
My fingers wrap into the hem of the sheets, pulling them closer, up over my chest as if I could take back what he’s seen. What they all must certainly know by now.
“I can explain.” I cringe at how that must sound.
His palm folds warm and steady around my fingers, and all the unsaid excuses die on my tongue. He ducks his head, waiting patiently for me to overcome my nerves and look at him directly in the eye. “I already know.”
“You know?”
The corners of his lips fold up in the approximation of a smile. Something in it doesn’t quite ring true. “I’ve known for some time now. I have to be honest, Kitty. I don’t approve.”
I suck in a breath, a sharp ache piercing my chest. He’s my brother—of course he wouldn’t like anything that involves me being in danger, and there are plenty of Checkmate critics. I’m still proud to do it, even if it is lonely work. Of course there’s always been some part of me that wondered what my family’s reaction would be if they found out. I just thought they would get it. They’d be proud too.
“Running around with Zane Maxwell. Causing trouble. What were you thinking?”
Zane. Maxwell.
The name conjures a hundred images in my mind. A rooftop and a cityscape. A journal. None of them make any sense, like sifting through someone else’s memories. Dreams from another life. Are they real?
A dark cell. The stench of death ripe in the air. Blood on my shoes.
But then?—
—Nothing.
“Coop, how did I get here? Where are we?”
Thirty seconds pass. A minute. All while Cooper stares at the wall just beyond me, thinking God knows what, and the feeling in my stomach turns more and more sour.
Until it turns to anger. “What aren’t you telling me?”
He sniffs, looks down at the watch at his wrist. “Enough time has passed now. I’m surprised you don’t remember more. At least your injuries have healed nicely. We can thank your powers for that though. I gave them a little boost. You’re welcome.”
Cooper’s smart. The top of every class. He’s never thrown it in anyone’s face though. He was always the person who wouldn’t judge you if you asked to copy his notes or for a tutoring session. I’ve never heard him brag even once. This… This isn’t him.
“Coop—”
“I’ll show you,” he cuts me off. “But you have to promise to behave. I’d hate to have to put you back together a second time, and I’m not sure your body could handle the serum again so soon.”
I want to tell him exactly where he can put that threat, but my mind is moving too quickly to process. A serum.
Violet eyes glowing, electric.
“Besides, poor Zane is dying to say hello.”
I debate not going along with whatever this is but he’s already pulling me up after him, his grip firm on my fingers, choking them.
Dizziness immediately fills my brain so intense that for a moment all I can think about is staying upright even as my feet slip out from under me in my brother’s wake.
He’ll always look out for me.
