Page 32 of Fallen Empire

“If it doesn’t hold,” he added quietly, “they’ll move to a trach. But the nurse says her numbers are solid. This is our first real shot.”

I didn’t hesitate.

“We’re on our way,” I said, already grabbing my keys with shaking hands and shoving the phone back into my bag.

I slid my shoes on—the pair sitting by the door—and darted for the elevator.

“I’ll drive,” Ben said as we waited for the doors to open.

Our moment from before, heated and breathless, was gone now. Stripped away by the weight of something far more important.

The one person I would’ve moved heaven and earth for was coming back to me.

I glanced down at the bag he was holding, raising a brow.

“You’re going to eat, Mills,” he said simply.

And my heart softened a little more.

Because it was in that quiet moment—the look in his eyes, the steadiness in his voice—that I realized he’d meant everything he said.

He wasn’t leaving.

Not unless something ripped him away from me.

Chapter 8

Jaxson

“I’m sure Nurse Sheila already shared the good news with you,” the doctor said as he stepped into the room, a tired but hopeful smile on his face.

I nodded. “Yes, she did.”

“Excellent.” He glanced toward the monitors, checking Savannah’s oxygen levels before looking back at me. “Mr. Westbrook, I want to be honest with you. The next twenty-four hours are critical. But what we’re seeing right now… it’s promising. Her oxygen levels are climbing steadily with every breath she takes on her own, and her vitals are holding strong.”

He paused, as if searching for the right words.

“She’s stable, and for someone who came in under the conditions she did, that’s nothing short of remarkable. This woman is a fighter. Extraordinary, really. But I don’t need to tell you that.”

I swallowed hard, jaw tight as I stared at the slight rise and fall of her chest.

The doctor continued. “She still has a long recovery ahead. The trauma her body endured won’t disappear overnight. Rest will be essential, and she’ll need support, not just medically, but emotionally. If her current progress continues, we’ll likely begin discussing discharge in the coming days. That means she can’t be alone.”

He looked at me directly now, no nonsense in his tone.

“She’ll need someone with her twenty-four-seven. To monitor her breathing, help with mobility, meals, stress management—everything. We can’t risk her overexerting herself or relapsing.”

He gave me a moment to absorb that.

“Is that something you’re prepared for, Mr. Westbrook? To care for her once she leaves our care?”

“Absolutely.”

There was no way I was letting her out of my sight. Not after the hell she had been through. Not just this week. Not just the past few months. But every moment I still didn’t know about… the ones she’d survived at the hands of her so-called husband.

Herdeadhusband.

The doctor gave a small nod, as if he already knew my answer. “Alright,” the doctor said, offering a reassuring nod. “We’re going to begin the extubation process shortly. It should only take about fifteen to twenty minutes. Once we’re done, I’ll come back and update you.”