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“Suit yourself,” Doc replies, unfazed. He starts with her lower leg, cutting away the dead skin. The sickening sound of the scalpel slicing flesh echoes through the warehouse, but I don’t look away. I’m here for every moment, no matter how brutal it gets.

“Can’t you use skin grafts or some shit?” I ask, trying not to gag at the sight of her exposed dermis. For someone who cuts up bodies regularly, you would think this would be easy for me, but something about it being Aurora has me acting like a regular human towards the gore.

“Her body’s too scarred and damaged,” Doc answers, his voice steady despite the gruesome task. “There’s nowhere I can take skin from.”

“Fuck,” I mutter, clenching my fists. What those bastards did to her… it’s a miracle she’s still alive.

The hours tick by as the doctor cleans the cuts on herback, removing the infected sections around her skin that were torn from her. My stomach churns, but I force myself to watch. She deserves that much. When he moves on to the most severe part of the surgery, I brace myself for the gut-wrenching reality of what they did to her.

“Her uterus is beyond repair,” Doc informs me, his eyes never leaving his work. “It’s better to remove it than try to fix it.”

“Never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad she won’t have kids,” I mutter, swallowing hard. “Can’t imagine her trying to be a mother after what she’s been through.”

“Sometimes it’s for the best,” Doc agrees, continuing his work.

Seven long, agonizing hours pass before he finally stitches her up and steps back. “That’s all I can do for now,” he says, wiping sweat from his brow.

“Thanks, Doc,” I say, my voice raw with emotion. “You better have done a fucking good job, or I’ll?—”

“Relax, Felix,” he interrupts, raising his hands defensively. “I know what’s at stake here.”

“Damn right, you do,” I snarl, glancing back at Aurora’s unconscious form. “She better wake up from this, Doc. She’s gotta come back to me.”

“Let’s hope so,” he murmurs, gathering his instruments. “I’m going to put her in a coma now and have her transported back to your place, where I will stay and care for her around the clock till we reverse it.”

My heart is pounding as Aurora lies there, so damn vulnerable. The doctor is right, this warehouse is no place for her to be recovering. I grip my phone tightly, fingers tappingimpatiently against the screen. “Niko, I need an ambulance here, pronto.”

“Alright, Felix, I’ll get it arranged.” Niko sighs on the other end. “You sure you don’t want to go home and clean up first?”

“Fuck no,” I growl. “Haven’t been home since we got her out of that hellhole. I’m still wearing the same goddamn clothes.”

I glance down at the bloodstains, dirt, and sweat caked on my shirt. I should feel disgusted, but all I feel is determination. I need to shower, yeah, but I refuse to do any of that shit until Aurora is home where I can see her.

“Fine, fine,” Niko relents. “I’ll send the ambulance over as soon as possible.” This kid is well above his age.

“Damn right, you will,” I say, hanging up the call.

I pace back and forth, feeling like a caged animal. The doctor says Aurora will pull through, but I can’t shake the unease gnawing at my gut. She’s been through too much and seen too much darkness. I know what that does to a person. I see it in her eyes every time she looks at me.

An hour or so later, the ambulance screeches to a halt outside, and I rush to open the doors, guiding the paramedics inside. They load Aurora onto a stretcher, her fragile body looking so small and lost amidst the chaos.

“Please,” I plead with the paramedic, my voice cracking. “Take care of her.” Doc files in beside her, making sure the machines are hooked up, running, and ready for transport.

“Of course,” she replies softly, her eyes filled with understanding. “We’ll do everything wecan.” I’m not sure where or how Matteo got these paramedics on his payroll, but I am thankful.

They carefully manoeuvre her into the ambulance, my heart in my throat. I climb in after them, refusing to leave her side for even a moment. As the vehicle lurches forward, I keep my gaze locked on Aurora’s face, silently begging her to be okay.

“Stay strong, baby,” I whisper, reaching out to brush a strand of her hair from her face. “You’re gonna be alright. I promise.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Felix Greyson

Day seven, and I’m still here. Aurora has been out cold, her chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm like some morbid lullaby.

“Felix,” the doc says, snapping me from my thoughts. “It’s time we try waking her up.”

I nod, clenching my fists. He’s been true to his word, sticking around and watching over Aurora like a hawk. But, damn, I don’t know what’ll happen if she doesn’t wake up. I swallow hard and push that thought away.