Chapter 32
Russ
The hallway outside surgery is too quiet.
That’s the first thing that feels wrong.
After gunfire and explosions and engines screaming through the canyon—
This silence feels brutal.
Like the world’s holding its breath waiting for bad news.
I pace once down the hall.
Then back.
Then stop because none of it helps.
The red surgical light still burns above the double doors.
Still closed.
Still keeping me on the wrong side of them.
I drag both hands through my hair and force air into my lungs.
Doesn’t work.
Every time I close my eyes, I see her going limp against me in the truck.
Hear her voice fading.
Feel her fingers slipping from mine.
No.
Don’t go there.
Not yet.
Footsteps echo softly behind me.
I already know who it is before he speaks.
“Russ.”
Miles.
I don’t turn around.
“Tell me something good.”
Silence.
Too long.
That tells me enough already.
“Clay and Lucas got two more kids out,” he says carefully. “Found Hannah and Stephen alive too. The mothers made it.”
Alive.
Good.
Not enough.
“Olivia?”
Another pause.
Goddamn it.
“Still in surgery.”
Yeah.
Figured.
I nod once even though he can’t see it.
“Good.”
Miles steps up beside me now.
“You should sit down.”
“No.”
“You’ve been standing here for hours.”
“I said no.”
He lets it go.
Smart man.
Silence stretches again.
Heavy.
Miles finally folds his arms. “You care about her.”
Not a question.
I stare straight ahead at those closed surgical doors.
At the light still burning above them.
“Yeah.”
One word.
That’s all I’ve got right now.
But the truth behind it nearly cracks my ribs open.
Miles studies me quietly for a second.
Then nods once.
“Good,” he says softly. “She’s gonna need that when she wakes up.”
When.
Not if.
I grab onto that word hard enough it almost hurts.
When.
“Yeah,” I murmur again.
When.
Because there is no other option I’m willing to accept.