I arrived at the hospital over an hour later. Zara's face fell in disappointment when she realized that I had brought only soup.

I sat down next to her, opened the container, and said, "Okay, just hang in there, a few more days. Once you're released from the hospital, you can eat whatever you want."

Zara sighed and took the spoon begrudgingly. "By the way, I heard that the two men who made me scream were hired by Jacqueline?"

Recalling the terror that had been unleashed when those men broke in, Zara was sure it had all been a nightmare. If she hadn't jumped, what would have been the next...