Folding For You

Chapter 26: Killian

The second Kaleb closed the front door of my penthouse, finally shutting out the chaos that had stormed in with Iyana and Gayle, I barely had a moment to exhale before a firm knock echoed through the house. You've got to be kidding me.

My teeth clenched, frustration boiling over as I shot a look at the door. Could I not catch a break for even a minute? First, Kaleb and the girls barged in, and now, this.

My patience was hanging by a thread; whatever this interruption was, I wasn't in the mood. I stormed to the door, ready to tell whoever it was to leave, but when I yanked it open, there he stood. Detective Stone. I needed—a reminder that this night was far from over.

"Glad to see you're recovering, Miss Norwood," Stone said in a low, gravelly voice, giving Sabrina a quick nod. Then, without preamble, he turned his steely gaze on me.

"Killian, we need to talk."

I exhaled sharply, crouched beside Sabrina to give her a reluctant squeeze and slowly released it before standing up. I wasn't done with our moment, but Stone wasn't the type to wait.

Before I could speak, Iyana piped up, oblivious to the tension. "We were so worried! Sabrina, are you okay? You scared the hell out of us!"

Sabrina nodded weakly, clearly trying to downplay the situation. "I'm better, thanks to Dr Frederine and of course... Killian."

I shot Iyana a look, hoping she'd get the hint, but she flopped down next to Sabrina on the couch, unaware of the detective's presence. Gayle stood close by, her attention fixed on Sabrina too, as though she'd collapse any second.

"Enough," I snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. I turned to Kaleb, who seemed to catch the edge in my voice.

He clapped his hands together. "Alright, everyone, let's give Kills and the detective some space, yeah?"

Gayle and Iyana exchanged glances but didn't protest. Kaleb ushered them toward the kitchen, and finally, the living room area was empty — safe for Stone, Sabrina, and me. I knelt beside Sabrina again, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb grazing her cheek.

"I'll be back in a few minutes, okay?" I said quietly. She nodded, her fingers squeezing mine gently before letting go. I stood up, turning to face Stone, my patience hanging by a thread.

"Alright, let's get this over with," I said, my voice low but sharp.

Stone's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't waste time. "The drugs that were used on Sabrina weren't random. They were high-end, designed for something more precise than just a party mishap. From everything we've gathered, it doesn't look like she was the intended target."

I froze, my mind spinning. He doesn't know. Of course, he doesn't know.

"I'm thinking Iyana was the target," Stone continued, misreading my silence. "Given her connections, her social profile—she's an obvious choice for someone to try and harm or incapacitate."

I could feel my pulse hammering in my throat, but it wasn't from fear. It was anger, a deep, boiling rage. Stone was wrong. He didn't know the half of it. This wasn't about Iyana at all.

The target had always been Sabrina, and it wasn't because of her fame or proximity to Iyana. No—someone was coming after her because of me because of what I'd been digging into.

Because of my grandfather's death.

"You think this was meant for Iyana?" I asked, my voice tighter than I'd intended. I could feel the weight of the secrets I was carrying pressing down on me, the urge to spill everything bubbling up inside.

Stone nodded. "Everything points to that. Sabrina likely picked up the wrong drink. Fortunately, we caught it when we did, but we're tracing the source of the drugs. We'll find who's responsible."

I clenched my fists, my knuckles turning white. He didn't know. He had no idea how deep this went or why Sabrina was in danger. And if I told him—if I opened up about the investigation I'd been quietly pursuing for months—everything could unravel.

But I couldn't keep Sabrina in the dark. I had to protect her; part of that meant figuring out who was behind this. Someone wanted to bury the truth about my grandfather's death, and they were willing to hurt Sabrina to make sure I stopped digging.

"This wasn't for Iyana," I said, my voice low but firm. Stone stopped, his eyes narrowing further.

"What are you talking about?"

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the truth I was about to reveal. "Sabrina was the target. Whoever drugged her—it wasn't a mistake. They wanted her out of the way."

Stone's expression shifted, confusion turning into suspicion. "And why would someone want to take out Sabrina Norwood?"

I hesitated momentarily, knowing that there was no going back once I opened this door. But Sabrina's life was at stake. I couldn't afford to keep quiet any longer.

"I've been looking into my grandfather's death," I said, locking eyes with Stone. "It wasn't an accident. And Sabrina's father—he's tied to it too. I think whoever's behind this... they know I'm getting too close. Sabrina was their warning shot."

Stone's jaw tightened, his posture shifting as he took in the new information. The air in the room grew heavier with the weight of the implications.

"So, you're telling me this isn't just about drugs at a club. It's about something much bigger," he said slowly, his eyes darkening.

I nodded. "It's about a conspiracy that's been buried for years. And now, they're coming for Sabrina because I won't stop digging."

Stone let out a slow breath, his expression hardening. "Well, then. We're not just dealing with someone trying to take out a socialite. We're dealing with people who want to bury the past—and they're willing to kill to keep it that way."

I stood there, the gravity of what I'd just revealed hanging between us. I had kept Sabrina out of this mess for as long as possible, but now it had come to her doorstep. I couldn't let it touch her again.

"We need to stop them," I said, my voice full of the quiet determination driving me for months. "Whatever it takes."

Stone's eyes flicked to Sabrina, then back to me.

"Alright. But you need to be ready for what comes next. If this is as deep as you say, we're about to kick up a hornet's nest."

I met his gaze, unflinching. "Good. Let's see who's hiding in the shadows."