Chapter 3 - The Ghost Who Walked
When Corbin left the room, Maeve waited until the hallway was completely silent before crawling out from behind the tapestry. She rushed to the bedside, her hands trembling as she immediately clamped off the IV line, stopping the lethal drip just in time.
Emmett’s eyes snapped open with a sudden, startling clarity. The thick fog of sedatives had momentarily lifted. He stared up at the young maid, seeing not fear or greed in her eyes, but fierce, unyielding compassion.
"They... they're killing you," Maeve whispered fiercely, leaning close. "Dr. Ashford and Corbin. They've been poisoning your IV. If you drink this water and let me help you, we can expose them."
Emmett’s gaze sharpened, the old mafia boss momentarily breaking through the physical exhaustion. He swallowed the water she offered, his voice gaining a raspy strength. "Why take the risk, girl? If Warren finds you in here, you won't see the sun tomorrow."
"Because I know what it's like to have your life destroyed by people who think they own you," Maeve replied, her voice steady. "My nursing career was stolen by a forged chart. I won't let them steal your life."
Emmett stared at her for a long, intense moment. Then, slowly, terrifyingly, a corner of his mouth curved upward into a grim smile.
"They told everyone my spine was severed," Emmett whispered, his fingers gripping the edges of the heavy quilt. "The car accident broke three ribs and bruised my lumbar region. I could walk within a month. But when I realized my own blood was waiting for me to rot... I stayed in this bed to see who would celebrate my funeral."
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Maeve gasped, stepping back. "You're not permanently paralyzed?"
"Not even close," Emmett growled softly. He threw off the thick quilt. To Maeve's absolute astonishment, the feared crime boss swung his legs over the side of the bed, his muscles tensing as his bare feet touched the hardwood floor for the first time in eight months. He was shockingly lean, pale, and unsteady, but he stood at his full height, towering over her with an aura of pure, dormant authority. "They thought they buried me alive, Maeve. Today, we dig our way out."
