Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The machines won’t stop talking. Beep. Beep.
Beep. Each sound feels like permission to breathe again.
Cici sleeps beneath the white sheets, the color still wrong in her face, lips pale and lashes resting too still against her cheeks.
Tubes trail from her like lifelines stitched into the air.
The rise and fall of her chest seem shallow. But it’s there. Thank God, it’s there.
I haven’t moved from the chair beside her bed all day.
Nyx is leaned against the far wall, arms crossed and head tipped back just enough that I can see the tension locked in his jaw as he listens to the news: “Authorities investigate abandoned feed warehouse linked to illegal animal trafficking and multiple deaths of federal operatives. Sources confirm the unit was abducted in late December and held at the site. Officials believe Greer Miori, found deceased, may have been involved in the operation due to an internal grievance. Details regarding the missing unit remain classified.”
Jasper stirs on the floor at the foot of the bed with his back planted against the wall, knees drawn up and boots still on.
His head is bowed, curls falling into his eyes.
Jett is stretched out in a recliner on the other side of the room, leg elevated, and bandaged thick.
He pretends he’s asleep, but his fingers twitch every time the machine changes rhythm. Soldier instincts.
I reach out and gently take Cici’s hand. It’s limp, but it’s warm. Matt lays cautiously at her side, stroking her hair. I close my eyes and press my forehead to her knuckles.
“I couldn’t stop her,” Matt’s voice breaks.
“Nobody could,” Jasper whispers between his knees.
I quickly wipe a tear from my cheek. “I know.”
The door opens softly. I don’t look up at first, just hear the careful footsteps, and the muted clink of paper cups.
Bear steps in first, shoulders too broad for the narrow doorway, movements careful, as if he’s afraid of breaking the room just by existing.
Nina follows close behind him, eyes already finding mine.
They don’t speak right away, just hand out the fresh cups of coffee around the room.
Bear lowers himself to the floor at my side, back against the bed.
He sets the coffee down between us as an offering.
Nina sits too, cross-legged, slipping her fingers into mine without asking. I didn’t realize how badly I needed that until my shoulders finally sink. She squeezes once, grounding and steady.
Bear clears his throat quietly. “Kova’s safe,” he says. My breath catches. “With Miss Onida,” he adds. “She won’t let anyone near her.”
I nod blinking hard. I knew she wouldn’t.
“Only you would keep an animal meant to kill you,” Cici’s voice croaks hoarsely.
The room erupts as we all jolt to our feet, Bear knocking over the coffee between us. But I don’t care, I reach for her hand, sitting sideways on the bed.
“You’re awake.” I breathe, my voice breaking.
Her eyes are glassy but focused. “And unfortunately, you’re still here. And you stink.”
A laugh rips out of me, ugly and wet. I press my forehead to her knuckles, silently thanking Jesus.
“Much like you, Cici, we couldn’t get her to listen either,” Bear says, wiping his hands on his jeans, eyes suspiciously bright.
“You scared me. Don’t ever do that again.” I cry, wiping my tears on her blanket. She squeezes my fingers weakly. “No promises.”
Jasper hovers at the foot of the bed, relief written all over him. “Doctor said you’re stubborn. Apparently, that helped.”
She winces as she chuckles, looking over to me. “Only learned from the best.”
The machines continue to beep, almost as in applause. Nyx stays back, but I feel him there, as solid as a wall at my spine. I haven’t gotten to speak to him, to say thank you. To any of them.
A knock sounds at the door, Ana respectfully stepping in through the frame. “Florence?” I can’t tear my eyes away from Cici. “Can we speak with you for a moment?” she whispers.
I open my mouth to decline but cuts me off. “Yes, she’s on her way right now.” The door clicks shut and Cici shoots me a knowing look. “Go, I’m not going anywhere. I can’t.” She smiles weakly.
I wipe the snot from my nose and stand, walking unevenly with my one boot. Footsteps follow behind me.
“Florence.”
Nyx’s voice is quiet enough that only I can hear it. As the door begins to swing shut between us, his hand catches it, slipping his head out through the narrowing gap, concern etched across every hard line of his face. “Florence,” he starts again.
I gather my hair with trembling fingers, pulling the tangled strands strategically over the bruises circling my neck.
Then I meet his eyes, giving him one firm shake of my head.
“No.” The single word barely leaves my lips as Scott and Ana begin to approach.
Nyx’s gray eyes search mine, asking a silent question.
“No one can know,” I whisper.
Understanding immediately softens his expression. He gives one slow nod, then disappears back into Cici’s room.
Ana’s head whips to me as I step fully into view, her shoulders drooping as she takes me in. “Oh Florence.” Her voice cracks with agony. Ana wraps me in her arms, holding me as if I could evaporate from her grasp.
Scott places a hand on her shoulder, pulling her gently back. “There’s so much we wanted to say and do but?—”
I lift a hand. “I know, Greer told me everything.”
Scott’s eyes soften. “I have no words, Florence. An apology isn’t enough. As of right now, your file has been wiped. Your children’s identities don’t exist in the database. We’ll discuss more later, just please know how sorry I am.”
The CEO slips his arms around me, pulling me in tightly. My eyes widen as I look at Ana, whose expression matches my own. What in the world? She shrugs her shoulders, taking a step back.
Scott releases me, straightening his suit. He exhales. “I have to ask… the wolf?”
I squeeze my fingers tightly behind my back as Scott looks to Ana for help, but her expression remains delicate, silent words passing between them. “If she goes, I go,” I state, my words coming out harsher than intended.
“Then she stays,” he sighs, gesturing towards the door. “Go be with your team. We’ll take care of the rest.”
I nod my head as he walks away. But Scott turns on his heels lifting a finger. His mouth opens but then he snaps it shut, returning to the elevator.
Ana stays, something unfamiliar washing over her. She collapses into me again. “I love you to the kingdom.” she chokes out, her shoulder faintly shaking. “I love you to the kingdom, Ana.”
The hallway smells like antiseptic and over-brewed coffee.
Machines hum on the other side of the door.
I can still hear the monitor in my head even when it pauses, waiting for the next beep like it’s something I’m responsible for.
I stay tucked in closest to the doorway. Jasper notices. Of course he does.
“You were out for almost three minutes,” he says, rubbing his neck. “You need to get checked now.”
“I’m fine.” My voice comes out automatic. I don’t even think about it, never really have. The words exist for the sole purpose of ending conversations.
Nina lifts a brow, folding her arms. “You fainted in the hospital lobby, Florence.”
“I tripped.”
“You don’t trip,” Jasper replies.
I don’t answer. My eyes stay glued to the door. If it opens, I need to see it first. Footsteps round the corner behind us. I shift swiftly, moving half a step so I can see both the hallway and Cici’s door without turning my back to either.
A man in a suit approaches with a clipboard, already talking before fully in front of us. His eyes land on Nina. He grabs her arm. “Ms. Belcher, I need you to come with?—”
Everything in me locks as my chest tightens so fast I don’t feel myself move, only realize I’m already between them. “Let go of her.” My voice is quiet.
The man pauses, confused, still holding her wrist. I look directly at his hand. “And she’s not Florence,” I mutter. “I am.”
I meet his eyes. “And you won’t be putting your hands on me like that.”
Nina goes very still behind me and Jasper doesn’t speak. The agent releases her immediately, taking a short step back. “My apologies. I was told to bring Ms. Belcher to a nurse. They just need to check your vitals after the incident and I need your statement.”
I peer down at myself. My clothes are disgusting. One foot is bare against the cold tile. The other still in my boot with blood and dirt dried the sole.
“Flossie, just let them look, alright?” Jasper says, his voice soft.
“I don’t need?—”
“Five minutes,” Nina cuts in, rolling her eyes. “We will stay outside the door. I will personally threaten anyone who comes near it.”
I hesitate. The door to Cici’s room remains in my peripheral vision. “Fine.”
The agent folds the clipboard into himself and leads us down the hallway. My bare foot smacks lightly with each step. I’m scanning every entrance and exit possible as we move. Not out of fear, I don’t think, but routine. Routine is what I need
A bathroom door sits half open to my right with a light on. I stop. Just a few feet inside is a mirror hanging on the wall. Nobody notices at first. Not until my feet refuse to move.
“Florence?” Nina’s alarmed voice comes from somewhere down the hall.
I don’t answer, because I can’t. My eyes are fixed on the mirror.
The reflection staring back doesn’t look like me.
Slowly, I step inside, inching toward the sink.
The fluorescent lights hum overhead as I reach it, the glow illuminating my bruised and broken features.
The agent glances between me and the others. “Ma’am? Do you need to use the restroom? I’ll wait out here.” I don’t answer as he reaches for the handle, and clicks the door shut behind me.