Two

Angelina’s POV

My eyes hit a white ceiling.

I looked around. Hospital. The beep of a monitor. Antiseptic smell.

How did I get here?

I pushed myself up. And then it flooded back — Cole’s grave. The cold wind. The scarf flying off. Everyone leaving me there.

Cole was dead.

My hand flew to my chest. Tears blurred everything before I could stop them.

He was gone. I was alone. An orphan again. I didn’t even know the way back to our apartment. My life without Cole felt useless. How was I supposed to live through this?

Cole, why did you leave me?

The door opened. “You’re awake.”

A woman in a white coat walked in with a smile, a bag in her hand.

“How did I get here?”

She placed the bag on my bedside table. “The devil himself brought you here.” She slid her hands into her pockets, head tilted.

Then she softened. “Don’t mind me. I brought you something to eat. Your tests show you haven’t eaten in twenty-four hours. Your body needs to recover.”

“I understand what you’re going through, but you’re not alone.”

I looked up at her. What did she mean?

I was alone. Without Cole, I was alone.

She saw my face. “Oh, no. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I’m sorry.” She handed me a tissue.

“Thank you.”

“It’s Katherine,” she said suddenly. “I’m a friend of Cole’s...” Her eyes shone with tears. “He was a good person. Even though none of us knew he had a sister.” She gave a bitter smile. “He hid you so well that even Arnold was shocked when he heard you existed.”

“Who is Arnold?”

“You’ll meet him soon. But if I were you, I wouldn’t be curious.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“When can I go home? I need to pack Cole’s things.”

“If you don’t want to spend the night here, you can stay at my place. Cole Davis was a good friend. Plus, I have to make sure you’re okay.”

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know the way back to the apartment anyway. Staying with her while I figured it out made sense.

“You’re welcome,” she said, brushing my hair gently before walking out.

The rest of the day blurred. The thought of living without Cole was a knife in my chest, but I was grateful to meet Katherine. She seemed like a good person. It didn’t make the pain go away, but it made it less sharp.

Losing Cole felt like my world ended. I didn’t know how to get by.

Katherine came to get me after her shift. My discharge papers were already taken care of — perks of being a doctor, I guess.

I froze at the doorway of her apartment. She turned on the light. “I’ll clean up. Make yourself comfortable.”

I stepped inside. Her apartment wasn’t huge. Just like the one I shared with Cole.

He promised to buy us a bigger house when I turned eighteen. That was never going to happen now.

“You have me, Angelina. Don’t forget that,” Katherine said, noticing my expression.

“Are you Cole’s girlfriend?” I asked. I wouldn’t be surprised — Katherine was beautiful.

“He never looked at me while he was alive,” she said, pulling me to the couch. “I liked him.” It was the first time I saw her cry.

It seemed Cole’s death didn’t hurt only me.

“He was cold to me. I thought he never liked me, but that didn’t stop me.” She wiped her tears. “Cole Davis, you bastard,” she whispered with a painful smile.

“Do you think he would have looked at you if you confessed?” I asked.

“It’s okay. Cole was very professional. He didn’t joke with his work.”

I frowned. “What was his work? I never really knew. Was he also a doctor?”

Katherine smiled. “Don’t overthink it. Cole was a decent man.”

Indeed, he was.

Her phone rang. The room went silent.

“Will you come with me to the club?”

I stared at her, confused. I knew what a club was — I’d never been outside for ten years, but I watched movies, read books. I knew about coffee shops, malls, clubs.

But a club? Today? The day I buried my brother?

“It’s a good place to relieve yourself. My friends are already there and I’m not going without you. I’ll get you a dress. Your room is on the left.” She went upstairs.

I didn’t have a choice. I followed her.

Was this okay? Would Cole be okay with it?

“Don’t worry, I’ll look after you. Besides, Arnold and his men will be around.”

Second time she’d said that name. Arnold.

We stepped into the club. It was bustling. The smell of alcohol was strong, the red lights dim. Everyone was drinking, dancing, a mystery in the shadows.

I stood in the middle, uneasy, watching.

Then I felt it.

Eyes on me.

I looked up to the second floor, behind the rails. A man was staring straight at me. Cold. Piercing blue eyes. Black hair. A cigar between his fingers even in a club.

Someone bumped me. I stumbled and looked away. When I looked back up, he was gone.

My heart started pounding. I felt unsafe. I pushed out of the club to look for Katherine.

The instant I stepped outside, a black polished car halted in front of me. The door opened.

“Get inside.” A deep, cold voice.

I froze.

“Arnold?” Katherine’s voice came from behind.

I spun around.