Chapter 22

RAINA

I told myself I had one hour to see this through. Sixty minutes to deal with Vanessa’s scheme, retrieve the SD card, and maybe—just maybe—regain a shred of control over this mess. Faith’s delivery had thrown a wrench into everything, and my nerves were already hanging by a thread. But spiraling wasn’t an option. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

The waiting room was a blur of muted colors and antiseptic smells, the hum of fluorescent lights overhead grating on my already-frayed patience. Dominic was a jittering mess, pacing back and forth like a caged animal. His hands moved incessantly through his hair, and he mumbled to himself as if rehearsing what he’d say when he finally saw Faith and the baby. His anxiety filled the air like static, and I clenched my fists to keep from snapping at him to sit down.

Ava, thankfully, was oblivious to the tension. She sat in a corner with a kind nurse, who had coaxed her into playing with some hospital toys. Her soft gigg