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• Amir •

As the first tear ran down Luna's cheek and came out of her mouth with a hoarse sob, Amir's heart pounded.

While she cried, he held her and comforted her. She wailed silently. He didn't know what to do. Her tears did the rest of the talking.

"It's okay," he told her. "I feel you. God, baby, I feel it too," he continued, quivering with her in his arms.

Why did I say that? That could make it worse.

She was too upset to notice. Her tears flashed like lasers as they flowed down her face.

He grabbed her and hugged her. He put her down on the bed while smoothing out the sheet with his palm.

As she adjusted to her confined space, he brought the soft blanket and laid next to her. Her delicate body burrowed into his, her fingers gripping his shoulders. He couldn't prevent her tears.

It broke his heart and soul to think about how her life was at the facility before he came to America. He wanted to fix it so she didn't have to relive every emotional scene, but he didn't know how.

Luna was a strong woman. She had to be. Her fragile body endured much in the facility. Amir knew her experience deeply affected her. Realizing that these scars were emotional rather than physical crushed his heart. Even if he had a memory serum to erase everything she saw and felt, it wouldn't matter. She wouldn't be complete. He couldn't fix what festered underneath her soul and all the emotions she'd been dealing with.

He had no idea how much time had passed since she had rested. She calmed down and stopped crying once she settled down. Crying herself to sleep tired her. Minutes? Hours? He forgot how long he held her. He clung to her while she finally relaxed.

Amir ultimately dozed off. He didn't intend to and wanted to stay up longer, but their escape from the hospital had exhausted them. After a few hours of sleep, sunlight began to stream through the blinds.

When he opened his eyes, he discovered she was no longer lying next to him.

He rubbed his eyes and looked around on one elbow. Luna sat at the window in the shirt and underwear he had given her the night before. Her hair was wavy and low, fluttering over her hips. They bounced as she turned her frame in his direction, raising one knee to rest her chin.

"Did I wake you?"

"No." Still sleepy, Amir cleared his throat and glanced outside. The timezone difference was a killer. "How long have you been up?"

She shrugged. "Not long. It's after ten."

"Wow. It's late. For me." Sitting up, Amir brushed his hair. Despite his morning prayers, he cared about her and what she wanted.

Luna smiled down at her flip-flops. He assumed she loved the pair he selected. "Sorry about last night."

"Don't apologize," he said, reaching her. He touched the top of her knee and stroked her smooth skin. "I needed another shower. It felt better than the first one."

She laughed. "My breakdown was a huge mood killer."

"You can't ruin my mood. I adore my beautiful, bright moon." She smiled at Amir's compliment. "Are you okay?"

"Relaxed," she said. Luna had cried her eyes out. "I had to vent. I never unleashed my pent-up anger. Until now."

"I know. Do you feel like talking about it?"

Licking her lips, Luna breathed deeply. "I can't. It was a lot."

Amir held his breath, not wanting to move because he knew she fought with those few words and internalized so much crap.

"I was in pain. So much pain," she whispered, and his chest felt constricted. He wanted to do damage to that institution. "The headlights made me think of them. I stayed in that place for so long and forgot what it was like in the real world until we were on the run. I doubt it's even an authorized medical center. It wasn't like this in other places. Never."

Amir breathed deeply and bit his bottom lip. "I didn't spy on them much, but I figured out how they work. You're right. There was something off about the staff and visitors. Mostly the children and convicted felons didn't look right."

"Exactly, and St. Matthew's have managed to keep things under wraps. Someone needs to expose them to get them shut down."

Amir exhaled softly, hoping his vengeance wouldn't swell. He sat silently, running his fingertip around her kneecap. Luna stared at the bathroom door and kept quiet. Then, slowly and calmly, the words started tumbling out of her mouth.

The thorough evaluations and experiments. All the tests they kept doing on her. The medications. The anguish she suffered right before they escaped. Vikram removed her discomfort. They then discussed Vikram's capacity to heal Tethered Souls. He was a healer. She cried, remembering how he comforted her.

"Ignore my ranting," she mumbled. "I was talking about everything and needed to get it out."

He wanted to choke someone. Instead of seething, Amir pulled her up and sat on his bed. "You know getting admitted wasn't your fault, right?"

"Wasn't it, Amir?"

"Chase used his proxy and his money."

"Still," she said, turning toward the bed. "This is my fault. I hoped he'd change one day because he had before. I didn't think about this outcome. I had planned to take him off my healthcare plan, but I never got the chance. I let him in. His family suckered me into putting him in charge of my health."

"Luna, stop beating yourself up over everything that has happened and can't be undone. You're going through a lot of stress right now. And Chase, for whatever reasons he did what he did, he never deserved you."

"But didn't I deserve it by staying with a man who cheated and made sure I'd see him in our house? Karma visited me."

"I don't know about karma, but I do know you gave Chase a chance to redeem himself, and he took advantage of you. He messed up your life, and you are not a nasty person. Not at all."

Her mouth opened as her brows furrowed.

"I am sure Chase would have done this to you either way. He knew you were ready to leave him. In a lounge room, he boasted about needing to 'keep his woman in line,' and I almost punched him. He had no right to talk about your intimate details, and I would've done something about it, but that wouldn't have landed us here—in my hotel room," Amir said, clearing his throat.

He straightened and took her hand. "Luna, you have a beautiful soul and inspire people. You're impressive in how you handled yourself. You're an amazing tethered soul. You can have as many breakdowns as you need after all you've been through."

Amir smiled as Luna laughed softly. While focused on him, she kneeled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, intensifying her grip. She then gently kissed his lips—a kiss he'll never forget.

He turned his waist and looked her in the eyes. "Would it be too much to ask, or beg, for another one of those kisses? I could live forever on your kisses alone."

"You could," Luna replied, resting her head on his shoulder. "That's why I did it. Most men aren't as expressive as you, Amir, and you're wonderful."

"Yeah, well, I'm not like other men," he uttered, and she moved over so she was on his lap now. "Have you recognized that yet?"

"I'm a little slow sometimes," she said, smiling gently against his cheek. "I'm glad you have access to my mind, heart, and soul, Prince. You'll never have to question or worry about me, something other women do not have."

She moved and nipped his lip before running her nose along his chin.

Smiling, Amir continued, "No, and I get you all to myself, Moon."

"You haven't grown bored of seeing my mind?"

He squeezed her and twitched his eyebrows. "Nope. I think of you too, especially right now."

"I'm sure." She brushed her lips against his. "I love discovering the various languages you know, the scientific facts within your head, all your favorites, what you consider doing but decide against, what you and Faisal talk about privately, and I adore knowing the history of your country through you," she said. "If Faisal's remedy works, we should take it and live in Pakistan, not together, but until we marry."

Stopping, Luna flushed. "There I go, making silly plans ahead of time."

Amir gently nipped her earlobe, turning her cheeks pink. "You know how I behave when you bring up plans."

"I know, and I enjoy your reactions, A."

"I have something corny to say. You may laugh."

Luna softly stroked his face. "Probably would."

"I only need you."

She laughed. "We're perfect for each other and destined to share our lives as one."

"As one," Amir repeated. She kept giggling, distracting him. "I love it when you laugh. It highlights my day. Was that too corny?"

"I can live with it." She kissed him gently. "I enjoy compliments."

"Mmm. That's right." Amir stroked her back, under her shirt, and held her close. "Madam Khan, expect corny compliments. I have a list of them."

"I'm sure you do, Prince."

Amir softly traced her collarbone to her belly button. "I want—" He bolted up at the movement outside.

Luna quickly fixed her posture on the bed. "What happened?"

He hurried to the dresser and buried his gun in his sweats. "I spotted someone from St. Matthew's here. They wore a security uniform."

"Are you sure?" she asked, standing.

Amir stayed against the wall and panted. "I couldn't see well."

A knock rattled the motel door. Amir caressed her cheek with worry. She blushed.

Like a cat, he crept to the door. He was willing to hurt anyone who hurt Moon outside that door.

Amir gingerly glanced out the window and stepped back an inch. "What in the world?"

"Who is it?"

He glanced back at Luna and rolled his eyes. "Sergeant Decker and Vikram."

"Let them in."

"I will in a second." Amir straightened himself and cracked the door. "You two had us freaked out."

"Are you going to invite us in?" Vikram said on the other side.

"We are kind of indisposed right now. Why didn't you just connect to me? Or did you turn off your powers like a light switch?" Amir said.

Luna snorted at his remark.

"Because you and Luna are unreachable," Vikram said, making her gasp. "We tried to connect to you both last night and this morning. We haven't had any luck, even through the phone lines."

Amir looked over at her and knew how she was feeling. He knew she didn't want company but was worried about their telepathy. Something happened. Maybe they were together, and their memories will fade soon?

Amir stepped aside and opened the door wider. "Come in."

Sergeant Decker entered, nodding. He turned around after meeting Luna's gaze while she held a sheet around her waist. "Sorry."

"It's okay," she said, glancing around for her pants.

Vikram looked at Amir. "Did you two need more time together?"

Amir closed the door and laid his gun down. "It's all good. What's up?"

Vikram took a clear vial from his pocket. "Faisal's serum is for you and Luna." He looked over at her. "How are you today?"

She said, "Alright," and sat down. "How's Sarah? Liberty? What's going on with everyone else?"

He frowned as Sergeant Decker busied himself with looking at Amir and Faisal's stuff from home that was sitting on the nightstand. Nodding and squinting, he flipped through an Urdu magazine.

Amir and Luna watched Vikram explain yesterday. "Well, Liberty and Sarah are fine. We haven't told her that her mother will see her soon. We shouldn't raise her hopes in case something happens. After picking up Sergeant Decker and Cami running, then picking up Faisal and Darren at the airport, we settled at a camp. We moved to a safer place now. Chase and the staff at St. Matthew's are searching for you guys."

"The moment I set Luna and Cami free, I knew my reputation was over," Amir stated, standing opposite her. "I don't regret any of it, Moon. Not for a second."

She smiled and nodded.

Sergeant Decker stepped over and touched her shoulder. "Sorry for everything."

Amir shrugged and whispered, "Sure, Colin. You had your reasons for being in that place."

"Yeah." Luna touched his upper arm. "Thank you. I forgive you."

Amir felt Luna kick his foot after several minutes of silence.

"Yeah, man. Shukria. It means 'thank you' in Urdu."

Amir grinned and gave him a handshake.

Colin smiled broadly while holding Amir's hand. "I hate the way things went down just to escape, but it worked out in the end."

Amir muttered, "For now."

"Colin," Luna said. "We seriously have to thank you. Your help got us here."

"No need to thank me. I was looking for a way out. I couldn't get Joanna out anytime soon. My family isn't in the US because of that hospital. Both my wife and my son are in Japan."

"Why, Colin?" Amir asked.

Vikram exhaled and jumped on the other bed. "Have you two comprehended what that place is?"

"My focus was getting her out of there," Amir said, sitting near Luna and clasping her hand. "I guess it goes much deeper?"

Vikram closed his eyes and brushed his hair. "Do you want to tell them, Colin, or should I?"

"Think of the hospital like people who deal drugs. You have a supplier and a dealer. Chase supplies everything. He finances the building, along with other donors. And Dr. Kim deals. He issues the medications and treatments."

Amir already knew that.

Colin glanced at Luna before continuing. "Do you remember the moment you met Chase?" he asked, and Luna nodded. "He planned it."

Amir flinched as he saw her tear. Chase had planned to meet her and knew her background?

"I'm confused. How did he know about me?" Luna asked quietly.

"Six years ago, you were in a Houston hospital for Sarah. Chase was there as an accountant," Colin told the room. "The Little Children's Medical Center. He accessed data and saw how you donated some of your blood to your daughter. When he strolled by your daughter's room, he saw you for the first time, holding her hand and rocking in your chair. He knew then he wanted to meet you."

"How did he arrange to meet me on Halloween the next year?" she asked calmly.

"I didn't know any of this until Colin told me a few days ago, guys," Vikram said, clearing his name.

Amir and Luna returned to Colin.

"Chase had you followed, or followed you himself," he answered.

Luna stood, shaking.

"Chase saw me at a hospital, stalked me, and then dressed up as Peter Pan while his nephew was Captain Hook? He knew where Sarah and I would be and where we were planning to trick-or-treat. My ex groomed me for months and lured me into a relationship with him?"

Colin nodded.

"How do you know all this?" Amir questioned.

Colin squinted in shame. "Because I supervised the entire operation."

Luna gaped.

"Oh, hell no," Amir said, grabbing Sergeant Decker by the neck. "Why shouldn't I snap your neck?"

"I have further information you two need to know about the hospital children."

Luna replied, "What about them?"

"Remember their powers?"

Amir muttered, "Yeah."

"They are the TSD batch."

"What does that mean?" Luna asked.

"Tethered Soul Defectives are full of hate, distress, and sadness. You can't get them to calm down or be happy. They're—"

"Bad?" Amir asked. "Why should we care?"

"Defective Tethered Souls crave destruction, confusion, agony, and disaster. They're lost mentally and are guinea pigs for the facility."

"What does this have to do with Luna?" Amir shouted.

"Sarah," Vikram said.

"What about my daughter?" Luna asked with an unsteady breath.

"Faisal tested Sarah's blood," Colin explained. "He brought a tethered soul scanner. Something he picked up from India. Your daughter carries the tethered gene."

Sergeant Decker watched Vikram jump off the bed.

"St. Matthew's knows about Tethered Souls and collects them to experiment on and understand the science behind our DNA," Vikram stated. "Sarah's life is now in jeopardy. Because..." He paused in contemplation.

"Keep going," Luna urged.

But Decker spoke up instead. "Because she's already made contact with her companion. She's defective."

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