Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
THEA
No repayment needed.
I hear soft voices, and I force myself to pull out of sleep and turn my head to see Rose standing by the bed, talking to Theo. Theo looks uncertain. “What’s wrong?” I rasp, drawing their attention.
Rose’s face is pale, her eyes red-rimmed, and she’s wearing a long shirt that I have to assume is Bullet’s from the size of it. Instead of answering, she simply climbs into the bed with me, curling around me and holding me as tight as she knows I can stand. I’m a bit more awake now as I look up at Theo in confusion. He moves away and sits down in the corner of the room, not saying a word.
I look back at Rose and her eyes go wet as she stares at me. “Thank you,” she breathes.
I’m confused. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“You threw yourself in front of a bullet for the man that means everything to me,” she breathes out, her voice choked up. “Knowing how close I came to losing him today, that if you hadn’t been there, terrifies me. I will never be able to repay you for that.”
Realization dawning, I shift just enough so my head can lie on the pillow next to hers. “I don’t want you to repay me, Rose,” I murmur. “I want you to know I would do it again. I would do it for anyone here. Because that’s what it means to be a team. To be a family. And I’ve missed being close to people, and as long as you want me around, I don’t plan on leaving.”
She gives a watery chuckle. “Honey, I don’t think you understand. You’re never leaving. I’ll gladly trade you for Sniper if things go south between the two of you. And you have a family, friends, that will always have your back. Especially me. You saved my husband, and you put your life on the line for my grandbabies, and my extended family. Because all of those men, they are my family. And now you are too. And when Crypt wakes up, I’m going to cry all over him for saving my life too. That poor man has been through so much in the past few months, that I’ll be pushing for him to get his patch soon too.”
I smile tiredly. “That sounds like a great idea,” I agree. I can feel sleep trying to pull me under again. “I’m sorry, Rose, I’m so tired,” I whisper.
“Go to sleep, honey,” she whispers. “I’ll be here for you until your man gets back.” Then she tucks me into her side, and I drift off.