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Silence stretched between them.

Charlotte was still watching him, and he hated that she could see it before he even processed it himself. Was he protecting Ruth because it was his job? Or was it something more?

A dark, aching certainty settled in his chest. It was something more.

He inhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. He didn’t have time to spiral, not now.

Noah turned toward Evan and Alex, motioning them to step aside. His voice dropped to a tense whisper. “I need to get her out of here.” His grip on the edge of the bed tightened. “Now.”

Evan didn’t hesitate. He pulled a single key from his pocket, pressing it into Noah’s palm. “I have a place. A ski house in the Black Hills. Off the grid. No one will find you there.” His voice was low, deliberate. “Address is 106 Sparrow Ridge Road, Custer.”

Noah gripped the key, his knuckles whitening. Alex and Brad shoved cash into his hand.

“Whatever you need to keep her safe,” Alex muttered.

Noah didn’t thank them—not because he wasn’t grateful, but because words felt meaningless right now. His focus had already shifted back to Ruth, back to the one thing that mattered most.

His jaw clenched as he turned to Tristan and James. “I need to know—can I move her?”

Tristan exhaled slowly, weighing his words. “It’s not ideal. But if you stay here… it’s worse.”

James frowned. “We need to run some tests. We need about eight to ten hours.”

Noah nodded once. That was the answer. The decision was made.

He turned back to Ruth. She was still searching—for memories that weren’t there, for answers she couldn’t see.

But she didn’t let go of his hand.

And that was enough.

She trusted him.

Even if she didn’t remember why.

Twenty-Seven

Noah hadn’t seen his brother in almost a year. Paul was always busy running an emergency department, Noah was always wrapped up in his own work, and neither of them had ever been the kind to check in unless absolutely necessary.

Apparently, this was one of those times. Paul Kandor—brilliant ER doctor, pain-in-the-ass older brother, and certified ski bunny magnet was supposed to be off in Aspen, indulging in some much-needed downtime. But instead of lounging in a ski lodge, he showed up unannounced, looking for Noah.

Noah didn’t even know Paul was in town until his older brother walked into the hospital room like he belonged there. For a split second, Noah thought he was imagining things. He was running on exhaustion, barely keeping himself upright. But no, it was definitely him—same relaxed stride, same assessing gaze, same Paul. Except Paul never just showed up.

“What the hell?” Noah pushed himself up from the chair. “Paul?”

Paul smirked slightly, like he had expected that exact reaction. “Hey, little brother.”

Noah blinked at him. “What are you doing here?”

Paul leaned against the doorframe, his sharp gaze already flicking to Ruth. His expression shifted slightly—not quite unreadable but guarded.

“I was coming to surprise you,” Paul admitted, his voice even. “Needed a break from work, figured I’d see how my little brother was doing.” His smirk faded. “I pulled up at your house to find it taped off like a scene fromLaw and Order. After proving who I was, they filled me in about the explosion. You okay?”

Noah dragged a hand over his face. Of course Paul knew. “Yeah,” he muttered. “Not exactly how I wanted us to catch up.”

Paul’s gaze flicked over him now, scanning him like a patient. Noah could feel him cataloging the injuries— the bandage on his temple, the stiffness in his movements, the way he was favoring his left side.

“You don’t look great,” Paul said, a hint of disapproval in his tone.