I caught on quick. “And when you walk out, the director’s gonna freak. You’re Seavora’s top OB–


    GYN- they’ll be begging you to stay.”


    “Exactly. I’m hitting two birds with one stone. By the end of this mess, I might even snag the deputy


    director spot.”


    Lena’s ambition wasn’t off the charts–she was just gunning for deputy director.


    I couldn’t help butugh. “When life throws mud, you make a whole garden out of it.”


    Lena shot a look at my phone and tilted her head toward it. “Use that VIP status of yours and book


    me a flight.”


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    ssic Lena. She made a move, and the world would scramble to catch up.


    I pulled out my phone and had her ticket booked before she even finished her water. Then I drove


    her home so she could pack.


    As we pulled up to the airport, I raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t the director tell you to stay for the


    investigation?”


    She justughed. “And you’re only asking now? Does it even matter?”


    Iughed too. “So, this was the n all along?”


    “Duh. The whole surgery’s recorded–there’s footage, plus all my conversations with the family. They


    can investigate all they want, they don’t need me for anything. So, why should I stay?”


    She had a point. Sticking around would just give her haters more to gossip about.


    “You’re not gonna tell Nate you’reing? He’s gonna flip when you show up.”


    She chuckled. “Surprise inspection. Who knows what he and Retta have been up to behind my


    back?”


    That caught me off guard. “Wait, you don’t trust him?”


    “It’s not about trust,” she said, pausing for a second. “It’s about human nature. No guy’s immune to


    temptation.”


    That’s Lena for you. She might not have been through every heartbreak herself, but she’d seen


    enough on the job to know how people can be.


    “Well, good luck,” I said, pulling her in for a hug before watching her head toward the gate.


    As her ne took off, I headed for the exit, feeling a mix of pride and worry for my bestie.


    And then, just my luck, I walked straight into Jace. Literally. There was no avoiding it–he was right


    there, suitcase in hand.


    He looked like he was heading out of town. Despite everything, we weren’t enemies, so I went for


    casual. Where are you off to?”


    “Houston.”


    The city name made me pause for a second–was RiverwaveCorp expanding in the U.S. too? But


    then I brushed it off. Whatever. It wasn’t my problem anymore.


    “Oh,” I replied, keeping it light.


    He stared, clearly waiting for me to ask more. “You’re not curious why?”


    I shrugged. “Not really.”


    His expression darkened. “So you just don’t care about me at all anymore, huh?”


    Funny how when we were together, my questions annoyed him. Now, when I wasn’t asking, he


    couldn’t stand it.


    That’s just human nature, I guess.


    I didn’t bite. “What time’s your flight?”


    He ignored the question. “I’m going to see Steve.”


    Steve? Right. Hispetition wasing up in Houston.


    But it wasn’t for another week. I figured Jace was just going early to help Steve prep, so I gave him


    a polite nod.


    Then he dropped a bomb.


    “Steve’s in trouble.”