Page 54 of An Impossible Love

Emmy opened her eyes and took a long painful breath in. All she could see was ceiling tiles and quick flashes of people looking down on her. It was disorientating. “Orin?”

Duke’s face, drawn and pale came into view. “Baby girl, you’re awake. Thank God.”

“Is Orin okay?”

Duke nodded. “The president is fine, Em. You saved his life.”

Emmy relaxed, but as her adrenaline seeped away, the pain got worse. “Shit. What happened, Duke? Fuck, that hurts…”

Duke smiled despite himself. “You’ve been shot, doofus.” His smile faded, and he held her hand tightly. “It’s bad, Em. They’re going to take you to surgery any minute. You promise me now… you fight, okay?”

She nodded.

“Say it aloud, Em.” Duke’s voice broke, and she tried to smile at him.

“I promise. He’s really okay?”

A tear dropped down Duke’s cheek. “He really is, kiddo. And if it helps, we had to drag him away from you.”

Emmy smiled, then another face hovered into view. “We’re going to take you to surgery now, Emerson, and get that bullet out of you.”

In a matter of minutes, Emmy was in theater and as she was put under, she wondered if she would ever wake up, but was happy knowing that even if she died, the man she loved was alive.

I love you, Orin Bennett…and she was out.