Storms of the Heart novel Chapter 7

Sienna's voice came faintly through the door. "Julian, I'm sorry. I really don't know why Trina went down to the morgue or how she ended up locking herself in there. I was just joking with her. I said I'd left the box there for her to find. I didn't think she'd actually believe me.

"Now, the police are here. They say I might be charged with unlawful imprisonment. What am I supposed to do?"

There was a moment of silence. Then, Julian answered in a low voice, "I've already signed a statement of non-prosecution as her family. They won't pursue it. Don't be scared."

Lying on the cold hospital bed, Trina listened to every word. It felt like knives were being driven straight into her chest.

Sienna had almost left her to die in that freezing morgue, but Julian had signed a statement of non-prosecution and let it go?

Anger surged up, pounding hard in her head. Her hand closed around a small glass medicine bottle someone had left by the bed. She hurled it at the door with all the strength she had left.

The next second, the door opened from the outside. Julian walked in with Sienna beside him. He glanced at Trina's pale face and frowned.

Trina forced herself upright and stared straight at Julian. "She locked me in there to make me freeze to death, and you signed a statement of non-prosecution?"

Julian's gaze flickered when he saw how shaken Trina was, but he still took Sienna's side. "Trin, Sienna wasn't thinking. She was joking with you. No one expected you to take it seriously."

"Joking?" Trina let out a cold laugh. "You know exactly what kind of person I am. I'm not letting this go!"

He met her eyes and saw the stubborn fury in them. This wasn't one of her usual tantrums. She was truly angry.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "What do you want then?"

Trina didn't answer him. She looked past him instead. "Go get a 45-pound weighted vest and sandbags," she told the guard outside the door.

The guard was stunned and looked at Julian.

Julian gave a small nod.

It didn't take long before they brought the weighted vest and sandbags.

Trina brought them down to the hospital's track. Then, she pointed at the weights and looked straight at Sienna. "You're putting all of that on. Then, you'll run six miles around the field. When you finish, this matter will be closed."

"What?" Sienna stared at her like she had misheard.

Her eyes went wide and glassy as she turned to Julian. "Julian, I can't. My body can't take that. The doctor said I'm not supposed to do intense exercise!"

Julian stepped in immediately. "Trin, stop it! You know how fragile she is. That could kill her!"

Trina retorted, "She locked me in the morgue. Did she worry whether that might kill me?"

Sienna's face went chalk-white as she looked at the weights on the ground, her eyes brimming with tears.

In the end, Julian drew in a long breath, took off his uniform jacket, and started strapping the sandbags to himself. "Fine. If you insist, I'll do it for her."

"Julian, no! Your wound hasn't fully healed!" Sienna cried.

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