Chapter 29
PAIGE
I leaned against the wall in the waiting room and sucked in what felt like my first deep breath since I’d heard Tom was hurt.
The doctors here were so talented I could barely keep up with what they were saying, even when they spoke English, but even though they’d promised yesterday that Tom would wake up soon, I hadn’t been able to believe them.
I’d fiddled with my phone. I’d texted Sera and Lauren that I was okay, that Tom was hurt but getting care, and I’d been receiving message of support since, but I hadn’t answered any of them.
I couldn’t until I knew Tom was really out of the woods.
Now, as my adrenaline finally started to taper off, I wanted to hear a friendly voice.
I stood and walked to an out-of-the-way hall I’d found then called Lauren.
It was midday in Philly, so she’d be at the shelter.
She picked up almost instantly. “Paige! I’m in the middle of a session, can I call you back?”
I smiled tiredly. The work came first. “Course. But when you do, can you grab Sera? I don’t want to tell the story twice.”
“Absolutely.”
She hung up, and I sat on the floor. For the first time since I’d met him, Tom looked small in that hospital bed with that tube jutting out of his side.
It didn’t even matter that they’d had to get an extra long one for him.
I’d just never really realized how fragile the massive man I’d fallen for actually was.
It was that reminder that kept me from telling him just how close things actually got with Zahur.
Killian was so goddamn tight-lipped that I doubted he’d say anything, but I couldn’t tell Tom the bastard had been leaning over me, about to rape me again.
It’d kill him. Especially when nearly the first words out of his mouth were an apology.
I’d tell him someday. Maybe after the few days it took for us to safely board a plane home. Maybe after the six to eight weeks of healing before he’d be back to his old self. Just…someday.
My phone rang, and I picked up.
“Hi!” Sera and Lauren chorused.
I laughed. “Hi.”
“Tell us everything,” Sera demanded.
I stumbled through staying out of the raid, skipped ahead to Tom’s injury and deciding to go to Jordan, then circled back to the hotel.
“Zahur found me there,” I said.
Lauren gasped. Sera didn’t say anything, certainly because Killian had already told her.
“He killed all my guards, even this really nice one, Sam.” I gathered my knees to my chest. Announcements in Arabic still echoed overhead every now and again, but the hallway felt nearly private. “I was hiding in a cabinet with a knife, and I watched him die.”
They made various noises of support.
“And then”—I swallowed—“Zahur pulled me out. I hid the knife, but when he dragged me into the bedroom by the hair, I just froze. I couldn’t—” My voice broke.
Lauren and Sera waited in silence. I hadn’t said this yet, but I knew I needed to get it out or I never would, and I loved them for knowing that too.
“Killian arrived. I just heard shooting on the other side of the door. I thought it was Tom, and that was enough for me.” I dropped my voice to a whisper. “I killed Zahur.”
“Oh, my God,” Sera whispered. “You are such a badass.”
That startled a laugh out of me. “Doubtful.”
“You’re certainly brave,” Lauren said. “Braver than I would’ve been.”
I shook my head. I couldn’t imagine Lauren scared of anything.
“Me too,” Sera added. “I couldn’t have killed my dad if he was trying to sell me again.”
I bit my lip. I felt braver working at the shelter. But I could let their praise wash over me, for now, in waves like the exhaustion that pulled at my limbs.
“I just want to come home,” I admitted.
“We’re waiting for you,” Sera chirped. “And my beloved fiancé, if you’d like to pass along the message.”
I smiled. “Tom has a little more healing to do. But how are things?”
“The women are settling in well,” Lauren said. “A few of them have already left, including that ex-cop, Cora. We’re working on the rest, though we had to bring in a few translators.”
“Good thing my mom had connections,” Sera said.
Killian leaned into the hallway and met my gaze.
“That’s the buzzer, unfortunately,” I said. “I’ll call again soon.”
Both of them demanded that I do, and I hung up.
“Sera wants you home,” I said without standing.
Killian shook his head. “Not until Tommaso can travel. He’s out of the woods, but I’m not going to abandon him here. Even if he sleeps more than anything else.”
“You wouldn’t be abandoning him.” I crossed my arms. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“And what do you know about semi-illegitimate international travel?” He quirked a brow.
I frowned.
“Exactly. So get ready to fly home with me on his other side.” Killian smirked.
I rolled my eyes. I appreciated him for arriving when he did, but all of his cockiness had slotted neatly back into place as soon as we arrived at the hospital.
“It’s your funeral.” I stood. “I’m gonna go sit with him, asleep or not.”
Killian stepped out of the mouth of the hallway to let me pass.
Leaving Tom so he could talk to his friend alone had been silly.
Lauren and Sera thought I was brave, badass.
I didn’t need to hide the truth from Tom.
I returned to his room to see him passed out once more.
His mouth hung slightly slack, and his dark curls clustered stickily on his forehead.
All movement still seemed to exhaust him.
I brushed the curls off and kissed his sweaty skin.
He was so pale, too. Blood loss, the doctors said. It would get better with time.
I sat next to Tom and took his hand. His pulse beat steadily in his wrist in time with one of the many machines hooked up to him. He was out of the woods, but I wanted him strong. I wanted my Tom back. And until then, I’d never leave his side again.