*Gabriel's POV*
My hand trembles as I reach for the water glass beside my hospital bed. The sterility diagnosis echoes in my mind like a death sentence. Three days have passed since the poisoning, and the rage has settled into something much darker.
Mason sits in the chair beside me, scrolling through security footage on his tablet. "I found her," he says. "The nurse who infected you."
"And?"
"She disappeared right after your blood draw. No employment record at the hospital. Fake credentials."
I clench my fists until my knuckles turn white. "Professional hit."
"Definitely. Someone with serious resources orchestrated this." Mason sets down the tablet. "Gabriel, there's something else we need to discuss."
The tone in his voice makes my stomach twist. "What now?"
"The doctors want to run more tests. They're concerned about the long-term effects of the virus."
"What kind of effects?"
Mason hesitates. "Potential organ damage. Liver function. Kidney problems."
