Two hours. I had been trapped in a boardroom with Rafe and Christian for what felt like an eternity. My mind raced, consumed with worry about Angelo, Julian, and Killian. The uncertainty about Soren's fate was gnawing at my sanity. Rafe and Christian tried to distract me, engaging me in conversation, but my thoughts were too chaotic to focus. Even the takeout and board games that Rafe had Angelo's 'men' deliver failed to quell the rising tide of anxiety within me.

I shook my head, blocking out the negative, unhelpful thoughts. I gazed over the board, thinking of a strategy. Finally, I looked at Rafe. "Trade me Park Lane, Rafe," I said, holding up my two green places. "I'll even throw in five hundred."

"No."

Stubborn jerk.

"Please."

"No. Roll or forfeit."

Christian chuckled at Rafe. They seemed to know each other well, friends even. We played another five rounds before Christian and Rafe broke into a playful argument about the properties left - before Rafe accused Christian of stealing from the bank. I ignored their argument, and headed for the door, peering out the window, though it was hard to see past the blinds.

Soren had to be okay. I had just begun to get to know him, to see beyond the walls he'd built around himself. The thought of losing him now, before we had a chance to bond as siblings, was unbearable. My heart ached with sadness, the possibility of his condition worsening from the gunshot wound haunting my every thought. Tears welled up in my eyes as I imagined the worst, a future without Soren in it.

"Can you please find out if my brother is alive?" I snapped, both of my bodyguards falling into silence. "I can't sit around any longer!"

"We're getting updates through our earpieces, Alina," Rafe said, his voice steady but firm, tapping on his ear. He didn't look up from the game board, his focus seemingly unshakeable. "Soren is alive and just coming out of surgery."

I threw my cards down, the small pieces scattered across the table. "How can you be so calm? This is my brother we're talking about!"

Christian placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch was meant to be comforting, but it only added to my frustration. "Alina, Soren is in good hands. Killian won't let anything happen to him."

"You can't say stuff like that when you don't know for sure." I stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor. "I can't just sit here and do nothing. I need to know if he's okay."

Rafe finally looked up, his dark eyes meeting mine with a level of understanding that surprised me. "I get it, Alina. But we have to stay here for now. It's for your safety."

"My safety?" I repeated, my voice rising. "What about my sanity?"

Christian sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alina, we know it's hard, but we're doing everything we can. Please, just try to stay calm."

I paced the room, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. The minutes felt like hours, each tick of the clock echoing in my head. The walls seemed to close in around me, the air growing thicker with each passing moment.

Rafe and Christian exchanged a glance, their expressions softening. Rafe stood up and walked over to me, crouching down to my level. "Alina, look at me," he said gently.

I lifted my eyes to meet his, tears threatening to spill over. "What?"

"You're going to get through this. And when you do, you'll see that Soren is just as strong as you are. He's a fighter, just like you. It's in your blood."

I scoffed. "I'm not a fighter."

"I believe you are. You have courage and strength and you know how to keep moving even when things are difficult. That is one of the hardest things someone can do."

I nodded, trying to take comfort in his words. But the fear and uncertainty still gnawed at me, an ever-present reminder of how fragile everything was. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay grounded. For Soren. For my brothers. For myself.

I nodded, pushing myself to my feet and walking back to the table. The game felt trivial, but it was something to focus on, something to keep my mind from spiralling. As I picked up my scattered cards, I glanced at Rafe and Christian, grateful for their presence. We were in this together, and I had to believe that we would come out the other side stronger.

The minutes dragged on, but I tried to stay present, focusing on the game and the company of my guards. I reminded myself that worrying wouldn't change anything, that I needed to be strong for Soren and for my family. It was a small comfort, but it was enough to keep me going, to keep me grounded in the face of uncertainty.

The room felt like it was closing in on me. My head swam, the edges of my vision darkening as I gripped the table for support. My heart pounded, each beat echoing in my ears. Suddenly, my legs gave out, and I crumpled to the floor, the world around me spinning wildly.

"Alina?" Christian's voice cut through the haze, tinged with panic. "What's wrong?"

I tried to speak, but my tongue felt heavy and unresponsive. A strange tingling sensation crept up my arms and legs, quickly turning into an intense numbness. My body betrayed me, jerking uncontrollably. I was vaguely aware of Rafe shouting my name, his voice distant and distorted.

"She's seizing!" Christian's shout was sharp. "Get me a doctor in here."

I felt hands on me, trying to keep me from thrashing too hard. My head was cushioned, and I could sense Rafe's presence beside me, his grip firm but gentle. The convulsions continued, my muscles contracting violently as if they had a mind of their own. I was trapped, a prisoner in my own body.

"Hold on, Alina," Rafe's voice was close, filled with worry. "Just hold on."

The seizure seemed to last forever, each second stretching into an eternity. My mind was a chaotic whirlwind, thoughts jumbled and disjointed. I wanted to scream, to tell them how terrified I was, but I couldn't. All I could do was endure, hoping it would end soon.

Slowly, the convulsions began to subside, leaving me weak and trembling. My vision started to clear, the faces of Rafe and Christian coming into focus. Rafe's hand was on my forehead, his touch cool and comforting. Christian knelt beside me, his face pale and drawn with concern.

"Breathe, Alina," Rafe whispered, his eyes locked onto mine. "Just breathe."

I struggled to take a deep breath, my chest feeling tight and heavy. Tears blurred my vision as I gasped for air. The fear lingered, like a dark cloud that refused to lift.

"We've got you," Christian said softly, his hand resting on my shoulder.

I nodded weakly, tears streaming down my face. The seizure had left me drained, both physically and emotionally. I could hardly breathe as the door burst  open and Killian sprinted through, dropping to his knees as the world began to spin again and this time - I succumbed to the darkness.

+++
Thank you for reading!
Poor Alina 😭
- Charlie 🧡