Page 111 of Fallen Empire

For a single man, Jaxson had enough square footage to house a damn army. Every time I came here, I forgot just how massive this place was. Rooms for days. Privacy in abundance.

Shit.

I paused mid-step. Please tell me Ben wasn’t planning on staying.

I continued to walk back into the living area just in time to see Savannah easing herself down onto the sofa. Her face scrunched, trying to hide the wince behind a forced smile, but she was doing it. Moving. Independent as fuck.

She adjusted a pillow behind her and leaned back with a sigh.

“I’m not ready to lay down,” she said. “I’ve been in a bed for what feels like forever. Can’t I just sit here, watch TV, and feel semi-normal?”

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re wearing hospital underwear, you’ve got a hole in your chest, hundreds of stitches across your body, and you flinched putting on a hoodie before your discharge. Define ‘normal,’ Vannah.”

She gave me a tired smile. “Touché.”

“But,” I added, softening a bit, “you can sit up with me as long as you want. Although, I do have to tell you something.” I leaned over, held my hand over my mouth like I was about to spill classified intel. “Jaxson has one of those fancy beds that moves with a remote and shifts from hot to cold, so I expect you to abuse it thoroughly.”

Jaxson stepped into the room with water bottles and raised a brow. “Are y’all already planning your escape route?”

I pointed a finger. “Don’t tempt me, loverboy.” He turned around and walked back to the kitchen, ignoring me.

Savannah giggled, and for the first time in days, it sounded real. I sank down into the oversized chair beside her and grabbed the remote.

“Alright,” I said, flipping the screen on, “let’s pretend everything is fine for a little while. What movie do you want to watch.”

“One that doesn’t make me laugh. Or cry. Or send me back to the hellhole I just escaped from.”

I held the remote in the air. And looked at her. “Cool. Let’s just playI spy.”

That earned a full-blown laugh out of her and she winced as the sudden jarring reminded her that she wasn’t completely healed.

“I’d rather have food.” She said and I jumped up to grab my phone. I didn’t need her to say anything else.

“What would you like?” I asked, pulling up the food delivery app on my phone.

“Actually, I’ve been craving some pasta since you brought it into my room a few days ago.” I wasn’t sure if she said it because she really wanted pasta… or because she knew it was my favorite. Always looking out for others more than herself.

Either way, I clicked a few buttons, ordering pasta and breadsticks for all of us—including Ben. “It’ll be here in twenty.” I said, nodding as I set my phone down on the table.

I glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes had passed since Jaxson and Ben disappeared down the hall, and they still hadn’t come back. I’d watched Jaxson slip into his office after brining us waters, Ben trailing quietly behind him like some ghost of unfinished business.

Part of me wanted to know what they were up to. What secrets were being whispered behind that door. No doubt it hadeverything to do with Aleksei. But a bigger part of me—the part that felt raw and stretched thin—wanted to stay right here. With her.

Savannah shifted beside me, reaching for the blanket on the sofa and pulling it over her legs. Her movements were slower now, the adrenaline from discharge fading and the reality of her recovery settling in.

She didn’t say anything, and neither did I.

Some silences didn’t need to be filled. After a few moments, I saw her eyes begin to drift, her head starting to lull to the side. I’d let her rest as long as she wanted.

She didn’t have to fight alone anymore. Not while I was still breathing.

I’d carry the weight she couldn’t. No matter how heavy it got.

Because if the roles were reversed, I know beyond doubt she’d do it for me.

Chapter 24

Savannah