Fidelity (Infidelity #5)

Near the front of the cabin was a slender closet. If I’d been thinking in my right mind, I’d have assessed that it would be the obvious location for oxygen. After all, the tank was tall and slender, a green cylinder. Attached and wound together in a plastic bag was a clear mask with a big ball and plastic tubing. The cylinder was on a stand with wheels and a handle, similar to a one-handled wheelbarrow.

As quickly as I could, I moved all of it to Dr. Rossi. She was no longer breathing into Adelaide. Instead she concentrated on listening with the stethoscope. I waited until she removed the earpieces.

She reached for the plastic bag and freed the mask. As she placed it over Adelaide’s mouth and nose, she said. “She’s breathing on her own, but the oxygen will help. We should get her back on the couch. It’s safer in the air. We can seatbelt her in. Her heartbeat is steady.”

I nodded. “Do you want me to lift her?”

“Yes. Let’s get her secured.”

For minutes upon minutes the doctor adjusted the IV fluid, only to listen and readjust. It wasn’t until she was satisfied that we both sat back in our seats and I looked her in the eye.

“There aren’t words. I wouldn’t have known what to do.”

Her cheek rose in an uneven smile. “I became a doctor because saving lives has never been the focus of our family.” She shrugged. “I thought maybe it would be good if the next generation changed that.”

I remembered hearing how Eva’s father had thought it unnecessary for his daughter to attend medical school. That hadn’t lessened his pride in her success.

“You’ve made this member of the family proud and thankful.”

She looked at her watch. “We should be landing in another hour. Tell me you have an ambulance scheduled to meet us at the airport.”

“I do.”

“I’d like to stay with her for the next twenty-four hours, at least. If that’s all right with you, Mr. Ferrari?” Her smile lifted both of her cheeks with the use of my fake name.

“My wife and I would appreciate that.”





THOUGH THE PEOPLE on the tarmac were waiting, we all sat transfixed, reading the text message from Oren.



“LANDED. SHE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME IN FLIGHT. I’LL EXPLAIN LATER, BUT FOR NOW SHE’S STABLE AND EN ROUTE.”



Dread filled my stomach as Chelsea reached for my trembling hand. “What does it say?”

I looked to Nox who’d been reading the screen with me.

“It says she’s stable,” he said.

“Your dad said she had a difficult time during the flight,” I refuted. “What does that mean?”

“She’s stable,” Isaac repeated.

“Is she with someone, like, is there a doctor?”

“Yes, princess,” Nox said, kissing my cheek. “She has better care than she had at Magnolia Woods.”

I took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the positive. I wanted to ask more, but Nox was no longer looking at me, or the phone. His attention had moved to the scene outside the window.

I turned that way too, noticing a police officer walking toward the SUV.

“Sir,” Isaac asked, “do you want me to—”

“No,” Nox interrupted, opening the door. He tilted his head toward his phone still in my grasp. “Keep that in case my dad texts again.”

I nodded. The loss of his warm leg against mine combined with the whoosh of cool evening air brought on a shiver. I scooted toward him.

He reached for my knee. “No. Stay in here until we get you.”

“But…”

“Princess, I love you. Now is not the time to argue.”

It wasn’t Nox’s tone or even his words. It was the determination in his light blue eyes that kept me silent. In this frenzied scenario, he was telling me to trust him. Though his demand was similar to the ones Alton had made, telling me not to fight his proclamations, Nox’s intent was completely different.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded and reached for his hand. “I love you too. Please don’t get arrested.”

“I don’t intend to.” With that, he and Isaac stepped from the SUV and closed the doors.

I leaned my head back against the seat and took in the scene. Inside the car, Clayton stayed at the ready, still in the driver’s seat with the engine running. Chelsea squeezed my hand. For a few moments, we all sat mute, watching through the windows as the silent movie played out in front of us.

Beyond the tinted glass, blue lights continued to swirl, giving the tarmac a classic colorless hue. In this scene, the police cars were merely props as Nox and Isaac approached the officer. With Nox’s suit coat missing, his white shirt glowed with the lights of the cruisers.

Their heads moved as if they were speaking, yet we couldn’t hear their words. My eyes widened as Isaac pulled back his jacket and revealed his holstered gun. I expected him to hand it to the policeman or for the policeman to take it. Neither occurred. I looked toward the floorboard, wondering what Nox had done with the gun he’d been holding.

“What do you think is happening?” Chelsea whispered.

I shook my head. “I can’t even guess.”

“What if they ask us about Melissa?”

I shrugged. “I’ll be honest. You should too.”

“Alex, I’ve already lied to them. I told them that Bryce and I were a couple when we weren’t.”

My stomach churned. “If I were your attorney, I’d advise you to be honest now. This isn’t just a missing person. Chels, the news broadcast said they found a body.”