The hospital corridor was quiet, the kind of stillness that hung heavy in the air, making every sound seem amplified. Mirabelle leaned against the wall outside Valerie's room, her mind still reeling from the events of the last few days. She had barely had a moment to herself to process everything—Valerie's injuries, the fire, her own mounting frustrations with Emmett and Larissa. Everything felt like it was slipping further and further out of her control.
And then she saw him.
At first, she thought it was just a trick of the dim lighting, but no, there was Emmett, sneaking out of his room down the hallway, moving carefully like he didn't want to be seen. Mirabelle's eyes narrowed. Why would Emmett be sneaking around the hospital? What was he up to?
Curiosity got the better of her, and without a second thought, she began to follow him. She kept her distance, making sure to stay hidden in the shadows as Emmett made his way down the hall and toward the elevators. He didn't see her, too focused on whatever mission he had in mind.
Mirabelle's mind raced as she followed him outside the hospital and into the cool night air. He walked quickly, his pace determined, and soon they were heading down the street toward a small café just around the corner from the hospital.
What are you up to, Emmett? she thought, her mind spinning with possibilities. He wasn't the type to sneak out without a reason, and whatever that reason was, she was determined to find out. Was it a new girl she had to "take care of?"
She slipped into the shadows of a nearby alley, watching from a safe distance as Emmett entered the café. Through the glass windows, she saw him sit down at a booth near the back. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw another figure approach the table and sit across from him.
Theo.
What's he doing meeting with Theo?
Mirabelle's heart began to pound harder, and she moved closer, carefully positioning herself in a blind spot near the café's back exit. From there, she could hear snatches of their conversation as the door to the café swung open slightly.
"Thanks for meeting me, Theo," Emmett said, his voice low but tense. "I wasn't sure who else to talk to about this."
Theo leaned back in his seat, his expression serious as he listened. "You sounded pretty worked up on the phone. What's going on?"
Emmett ran a hand through his hair, clearly agitated. "It's about the fire. I think... I think Perry Connor had something to do with it."
Mirabelle's breath caught in her throat. Perry Connor? That pompous jerk from their university? She knew he had a rivalry with Emmett, but setting fire to a karaoke booth? That was something else entirely. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, a cold anger bubbling up inside her.
Theo raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "Perry? What makes you think he was involved?"
Emmett glanced around the café as if making sure no one else could hear him before leaning in closer. "There's been bad blood between us for a while now. It started off small—classroom arguments, that kind of thing. But lately, it's gotten worse. We had a big argument earlier in the day before the fire. Then, later, I saw him at the karaoke bar."
Theo frowned, but he didn't interrupt, waiting for Emmett to continue.
"One of my friends said they saw Perry and his group leave the building right after the fire started," Emmett went on, his voice growing darker with each word. "They were running away, Theo. Regular people stick around when something like that happens, but they bolted. Doesn't that seem suspicious to you?"
Mirabelle's heart raced as she listened, every word fueling her anger toward Perry. How dare he endanger her friends like that?
Theo, however, didn't seem convinced. He leaned forward, his eyes locking with Emmett's. "I get where you're coming from, Em, but suspicion alone isn't enough. You need hard evidence if you're going to accuse someone of something this serious."
Emmett sighed, clearly frustrated. "I know that. I'm not trying to jump to conclusions, but... can't you look into it? You're a cop, Theo. There's got to be CCTV footage around the area, right? Maybe it caught something."
Theo hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly. "Yeah, there's a chance the cameras caught something. I can't promise anything, though. Perry's from a wealthy family, and people like that have ways of making things disappear."
Emmett's fists clenched on the table, his knuckles white. "I don't care how rich he is. If he had anything to do with this, I want him to pay."
Theo's expression softened slightly, his voice taking on a more soothing tone. "Look, Em, I'll look into it. I promise. But don't go doing anything rash. Let me handle this the right way."
Emmett nodded, though the tension in his body didn't seem to ease. "I won't do anything. Not yet, at least. But if Perry's behind this..."
Theo gave him a pointed look. "We'll deal with it. Legally. Don't take matters into your own hands."
With that, Theo stood up, clearly ready to head back to work. Emmett remained seated for a moment, staring at the table, lost in thought. Theo gave him a final pat on the back before leaving the café and heading toward his car.
From her hidden spot, Mirabelle watched it all unfold, her mind swirling with thoughts. Perry Connor. That idiot had always been a thorn in their side, but this? If what Emmett was saying was true, Perry had crossed a line that couldn't be forgiven.
As Emmett stood up to leave, Mirabelle's gaze hardened. She wasn't about to let Perry get away with this. She could feel a cold rage settling deep in her chest, one that she hadn't felt in a long time. The very idea that someone would hurt her friends, that Perry would put Valerie, Emmett, and everyone else in danger like that, made her blood boil.
Emmett began walking back toward the hospital, his steps slower, more deliberate. He was clearly lost in thought, no doubt replaying the conversation with Theo in his mind. Mirabelle followed at a safe distance, her heart pounding in her chest, her thoughts racing.
By the time they arrived back at the hospital, Mirabelle had made up her mind.
If Perry Connor was behind the fire, he would pay. She didn't care how rich his family was, how much influence they had—none of that mattered. What mattered was protecting her friends, making sure that they were safe. And if the law couldn't handle it... well, she had other ways of dealing with people like Perry.
Hidden in the shadows near the hospital entrance, Mirabelle watched as Emmett re-entered the building. She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she muttered to herself, "Perry's going to regret ever messing with us. I swear it."
Her voice was low, dark, almost unrecognizable even to herself. She wasn't just angry—she was furious, and that fury gave way to something darker, something more dangerous. She would protect her friends, no matter what it took.
As she stood there, a plan began to form in her mind. It wasn't enough to just sit back and let Theo handle it. No, Mirabelle would take matters into her own hands if she had to. Perry had crossed a line, and now he would see the consequences of his actions.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Mirabelle finally slipped back into the hospital. The cool, sterile air hit her like a wave, grounding her once more in the present. But even as she walked through the quiet corridors, she couldn't shake the cold rage bubbling beneath the surface.
She would make Perry pay. One way or another.
As she neared Valerie's room, she paused for a moment outside the door, her hand hovering over the handle. She needed to keep calm. She couldn't let anyone see just how angry she was—not yet. There was a time and a place for everything, and right now, her friends needed her to stay composed.
But as she opened the door and stepped inside, she knew that once she found the proof, once she had Perry cornered, there would be no holding back.
Back at his room, Emmett found Larissa waiting for him, her eyes filled with concern. She stood up as soon as he entered, walking over to him and taking his hand.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, her voice full of worry.
Emmett forced a smile, squeezing her hand gently. "Yeah... I'm fine."
But thinking to himself, if Larissa jumped him here, wouldhe have the energy to protect his body?