CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Anya
The steady beep of the heart monitor pulls me from the darkness, and my eyes flutter open to find Jacob sitting beside me. His face is etched with exhaustion, but his eyes light up when he sees me. He’s in his Army Combat Uniform, looking both strong and weary. Despite my pain, just the sight of him brings me comfort.
“Anya!,” he says, his voice a blend of relief and concern, “you’re awake.”
I try to speak, but my throat feels like sandpaper. “Jacob…what happened?” I croak, my voice barely a whisper.
He takes my hand in his, gently squeezing it. “You were shot and beaten pretty badly. It’s been three days since you were brought in. You had us all worried.”
The weight of his words crashes over me, but the warmth of his hand in mine is grounding. I try to sit up, but pain flares through my body. I wince, and Jacob quickly helps me settle back down.
“Don’t try to move too much,” he says softly. “The doctors said you need to rest.”
“You came for me” I struggle to push out, my throat dry. He brings a cup of water and guides the straw to my lips. Of course I did baby, I’ll always come for you” he says as he strokes my cheek.
Then everything that has happened comes rushing back and I am filled with guilt, sadness, and relief. “Oh, Jacob, I am… I am… “ I struggle to talk “shhh baby, don’t, it’s not your fault. It’s Adam’s, he did this not you” he says trying to reassure me.
“I’m sorry about your Mom, I really loved her” I whisper. He strokes my hair and I can see how much he loves me. “Anya, I know and she loved you too. I’m sorry about Nana” he says and my mind goes back to the memory of her. Lana was right that day at the funeral, it was because of Nana that I found the strength to keep going.
I look over at Jacob and I can tell something is wrong, I take in his tired eyes and the slight tremble in his hands. “Jacob, you look so…so tired. Are you okay? Maybe you should get some sleep.”
He lets out a small, relieved chuckle. “I’m fine. I’ve been running on adrenaline and coffee. But, Anya…” His voice catches, and he swallows hard. “I need to go back to Georgia. My training isn’t over, and I have to report back soon. I was only allowed a week for bereavement and I have to go back” he says solemnly.
My heart sinks at the thought of him leaving again. “Jacob, no…please, can’t you stay a little longer?” I say knowing full well nothing I say will keep him here.
He leans closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “I wish I could, my love. You have no idea how much I want to stay with you. But this is something I have to finish. I promise, I’ll come back as soon as it’s over.”
I can see the pain in his eyes, and it breaks my heart. I reach up with my free hand to cup his face. “Promise me you’ll be careful. I need you.”
He nods, his eyes glistening. “I promise, and Anya, I need you to be strong. I’m not leaving you forever. This is just for the next few weeks. I’ll be back before you know it.”
His words are a balm to my frayed nerves, but I can’t shake the fear of him leaving. “Jacob… I don’t know how I’d cope without you.”
He leans in, his forehead resting gently against mine. “You won’t have to, Anya. We’re in this together. I love you too much to let go, even for a short time.”
The room is quiet except for the soft beeping of the heart monitor. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling of his closeness. “I love you too, Jacob. More than words can say.”
He kisses me softly, his touch light and tender. “I’ll write to you every day. And I’ll come back as soon as I can. I swear.”
Before I can respond, the door creaks open, and a nurse peeks in. Jacob reluctantly pulls back, giving me a sad smile. “I have to go now. But remember, Anya, you’re the reason I keep going. I’ll be back before you know it.”
As he walks toward the door, I reach out for him one last time. “Jacob…please be safe.”
He turns, his eyes full of promise. “I will. I love you, Anya.”
The door closes behind him, and I’m left alone with my thoughts and the echo of his words. I close my eyes, clinging to the hope of his return.
I lay there, the beeping of the heart monitor a steady reminder of my fragile state. The room feels emptier now that Jacob has left, and a deep ache settles in my chest. I know he has to go, but the thought of him being so far away makes me feel even more isolated.
The nurse enters and checks my vitals, offering a comforting smile. “You’re doing well, Anya. Just keep resting, and we’ll have you feeling better in no time.”
I nod, trying to muster a small smile in return. The nurse finishes her checks and leaves the room, closing the door softly behind her.
I stare at the ceiling, my mind racing through everything that has happened. The image of Jacob’s face, filled with worry and love, is burned into my memory. The thought of him in training, away from me, adds another layer of weight to my already heavy heart.
The door creaks open again, and I turn to see a familiar face—Lana. She steps in, looking weary but determined. Her eyes soften when she sees me.
“Anya, you’re awake,” she says, her voice choked with emotion. She walks over to the side of my bed and takes my hand gently.
“Lana,” I whisper, “I’m so glad to see you.”
She squeezes my hand, her expression a mix of relief and guilt. “I’m sorry, Anya. I didn’t know—I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
I look into her eyes, seeing the pain reflected back at me. “It’s okay, Lana. It was an accident, and I’m fine.”
Lana nods, then raises her hands in mock surrender. “I’m never touching a gun again.”
I laugh but quickly wince at the pain. “Ugh, don’t make me laugh!”
She winces, too. “Sorry! I was just trying to lighten the mood… sort of. But I am serious about never wanting to see another gun in my life.” She sits on the edge of my bed and accidentally tugs on my IV cord.
“Ow, ow, ow!” I gasp, and she shoots up.
“Oh shit, I’m sorry! Okay, I think I’m gonna just stay away from you from now on.”
“Don’t you dare!” I say, laughing and wincing simultaneously.
But then I notice her smile fade. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I have to go away, Anya. My dad is sending me to some facility. Mom says it’s supposed to help with my healing process, but I know it’s because my dad doesn’t want me around.”
I reach for her hand, and she walks over to me. “I know you don’t get along with your dad, but maybe try to look at the positives. You’ll get help with coping. Jacob’s friend Connor knows a good therapist who could probably come to the facility.”
“Who?” Lana asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Connor. Jacob said he was the one who carried you out,” I reply.
“Huh, I honestly don’t remember how I got out. I just assumed the police got me.”
“Nope, it was Connor.”
“Well, is he at least hot?” she asks with a playful grin.
I give her an incredulous look, and she laughs. “I’m just kidding! In all honesty, I am staying the hell away from men! I don’t want a repeat of Caleb or Adam.” She says Adam’s name softly, the weight of her actions lingering in the air, even if it was in self-defense.
“Lana, you deserve to heal, and you have so much strength in you. It’s okay to take a break from everything, including relationships.”
She nods, though the concern in her eyes doesn’t fade. “Thanks, Anya. I just hope my dad realizes that pushing me away isn’t the answer.”
I squeeze her hand, hoping to reassure her. “It’s not. Just focus on yourself for now.”
A knock at the door interrupts our conversation, and I look up to see my parents, along with my brother Mateo and sister Kora.
Lana squeezes my hand before standing up. “I’m going to head out,” she says, and I nod in understanding.
“Hey, kiddo, how are you feeling?” my dad asks, his voice warm with concern.
“I’m okay, Dad.”
“Damn, you look like shit,” Mateo pipes up, earning a disapproving glare from my mom.
“Yeah, but I can probably still kick your ass,” I tease back.
“Yeah, she’s more badass than you, having survived being stabbed twice and shot!” Kora chimes in, a grin on her face.
My mom throws up her hands in mock exasperation. “Oh, for goodness' sake!”
We all laugh, and I can feel the tension easing, even if just a little. “If I recall, you did say ‘badass’ at Nana’s funeral,” I remind my mom.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! That hit to your head must’ve given you hallucinations. I would never say such words!” she retorts, a playful glint in her eyes.
After a few more jokes, my dad and siblings say their goodbyes, and my mom sits beside me. “But really, Anya, how are you?”
“Honestly, I’m sad. Jacob’s leaving soon to go back to his training,” I admit, my voice trembling. “I don’t know how I’ll manage without him.”
My mom gently pushes a strand of hair away from my face. “Despite our previous conversations about him, I truly believe he’s a good man, Anya. And you’re strong. You have a lot of people who care about you, and we’ll all be here to help you through this.”
“I know,” I reply, trying to hold back my tears. “But it’s going to be so hard with him away.”
She takes a deep breath, her expression softening. “He’ll be okay. He knows what he’s doing. And remember, you’re not alone in this.”
I nod, grateful for her support, but the sadness lingers in my heart, a constant reminder of the uncertainty ahead.
We sit in silence for a moment, the weight of everything we’ve been through hanging heavily between us.
The door opens once more, and this time, Detective Morrison walks in. He gives me a reassuring smile. “How are you feeling, Anya?”
“I’m hanging in there,” I reply, trying to sound more upbeat than I feel.
“I’m glad to see you awake,” he says. “We’ve been working hard to find out who else was involved in all of this. It’s been a rough few days, but we’re making progress.”
"Where is Detective Collins?” I ask, my heart racing at the thought of him still being out there.
Morrison sighs. “Detective Collins tried to run, but we caught up to him. He told us he was being blackmailed—apparently, his family was taken hostage by Paul.”
“Was any of that true?” my mom asks, her brow furrowed with concern.
“It was, and we managed to secure his family. Unfortunately, due to his involvement, regardless of the reasons, he has been stripped of his title and fired from the police department,” Morrison explains.
I nod, appreciating the effort they’re putting in. “Thank you for everything, Detective.”
He gives me a curt nod. “We’ll need to talk more later about what happened. For now, just focus on getting better.”
With a final glance, he leaves the room, leaving my mom and me in a more hopeful silence.
My mom looks at me with determination. “Anya, I know it’s hard, but Jacob will be back, and we’ll face whatever comes next together.”
I squeeze her hand, finding comfort in her presence. “Yes, we will. Thank you, Mom. I’m grateful to have you by my side.”
As I close my eyes, I cling to the hope of Jacob’s return and the strength of the friendships that have carried me through the darkest times. I know I’ll face whatever challenges lie ahead, but for now, I’ll take it one day at a time.