I was in a deep blackness that felt like a heavy black cloud, I started hearing some noises like the buzzing of machines, and the pounding of some footsteps. I felt some light rays shining on my eyes that caused an uncomfortable feeling, and made me open my eyes slowly. The intense light made me close them again quickly. After a while, I succeeded in opening my eyes, and I was surprised to be in a bright white room; a hospital room. Why the hell was I in the hospital?

Suddenly, I felt a grievous headache, and when I tried to move my hand to put it on my head, I was surprised to find myself handcuffed to the bed. It took me a while of more cluelessness before everything started to hit me again. Ugh, Adam that bastard.

But wait, I was currently in a hospital room, and that could never be out of Adam's generosity when he saw me bleeding after hitting me with his gun. Also, I was handcuffed to the bed which reminded me that I was a convicted felon and that I must have been arrested again. But, I remembered that Adam was trying to force me to escape with him before the raid. How did I make it to this situation? What the hell did I miss?

I groaned before I used my other hand that wasn't cuffed to make myself more comfortable on the bed, then I started looking for something to call anybody to come to my room so I could have some answers. They always had an intercom somewhere to call for the nurses in the time of need, and I was sure there was at least one guard standing outside of my room. I kept struggling and looking for something to call for anyone until the door opened, and a lovely nurse who was probably in her fifties came in; a huge smile was on her face.

"Oh, you are finally awake," she said with the same bright smile as she came and stood next to my bed.

"Yeah," I said quietly.

"Whoever caused you this wound was so cruel. It was deep and needed a lot of stitches, but thank god you finally had woken up," she said as she took off the dressing that was wrapped around my head, and started putting on a fresh one.

She was acting so kind to me even though she knew the fact that I was a criminal who was currently handcuffed to the bed. I sighed and ignored my thoughts. I started to speak. "Do you mind if I ask you about what happened?"

She finished with the dressing and concentrated her eyes on me. "I'm not sure but you arrived here yesterday with two others. The first had bullet wounds in his leg and arm while the other was unconscious with a lot of injuries. I guess someone has beaten the hell out of him."

I nodded, I really hoped Adam was one of them.

"Oh, and there was a very handsome FBI agent, too," she said and immediately got my full concentration. "He had some bruises, and a cut on his arm but nothing serious."

My mind immediately drew an image of a certain handsome FBI agent I knew. I started making theories in my mind, and I connected the pieces. So he found me, after all.

"Thank you," I said to the kind nurse who was still standing next to my bed.

"No need, dear." She smiled, then she seemed like she had remembered something. "Oh, there are some FBI guys who asked me to inform them whenever you woke up. Shall I tell them, now?"

I nodded my head with a slight smile, she returned the smile before she walked out of the door. I sighed; I wasn't really sure of what was going to happen with those FBI guys. What if they didn't believe that I got kidnapped from prison? And what if they were thinking that I was Adam's partner?

After a while, a man who was quite old walked in, and to my surprise, he had a smile on his face.

"Hello, Miss Lawrence. Glad to see you have decided to join us," he said, then he showed me his leather FBI badge. "I'm Richard Robinson, a senior special FBI agent."

"Um... hello, sir," I said, as politely as I could.

He smiled before he sat on the chair that was next to my bed. "First of all, don't worry. We know that you have nothing to do with Blake and that he was the one who broke you out of prison."

I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding before I looked at him again.

"Secondly, you were a great help to us. We have been after Blake and his gang for so long and finally, they are behind bars because of your help," he continued. "Also, do you remember that piece of information that you gave to us during your interrogation? About Alexander Hunter, and how the black market works?"

I nodded and waited for him to continue.

"The real painting was found and was reclaimed back by the Metropolitan Museum, and Hunter got arrested by Interpol." He smiled. "Actually, I also have some good news for you."

I was beyond surprised, and I looked at him with full interest.

"The court had looked into your case again, and because of your help, they have decided to reduce your sentence to three years with a chance of early parole in case of good behavior," he delivered the good news.

I looked at him with wide eyes. That meant I could get out of prison after spending half of my sentence which was a year and a half; that was wonderful.

"So, Miss Lawrence, this is what I had for you," he said as he stood up, a smile still on his face. "Oh, your brother has asked to see you, I will send him in after a while."

I was still speechless, but I managed to clear my throat. "Thank you so much, sir."

He smiled at me one last time before he got out of the room. I smiled to myself, still not believing what I just heard, and I felt something that I haven't felt for too long. Hope.

Eric came in a while later with a huge smile on his face, I smiled back at him. He came closer and gave me a warm hug.

"God, I was so worried about you," he said when we broke our hug.

"I'm okay, don't worry." I gave him an assuring smile.

He smiled back, then he sat on the chair next to my bed. He put on a huge smirk on his face before he said. "So, you asked him for help."

"I haven't had any time to think, and I knew that he was the right person to go to in such a situation." I sighed.

"You were right," Eric said. "He still cares for you, you know."

I didn't answer or look at him.

"He was the one who rescued you after a huge fight with Adam, and even though he was injured, he didn't leave you until he made sure you were okay," Eric continued, then he looked at me in the eye. "Emma, he still loves you."

"Eric, stop. Please," I pleaded, not looking at him. "He deserves someone better; someone who didn't hurt or deceive him, and obviously, that someone isn't me."

"Both of you can have another chance, there's always hope," Eric argued.

"No, I can never forget what I did to him," I said. "Everything has been already broken, and I don't think that it can be repaired."

"There's always a place for a second chance, Emma," Eric said.

"Not this time," I said, closing the subject.

I believed that Jake really deserved someone better; someone who would truly make him happy; someone who would never hurt him, and I knew for sure that it could never be me.