Page 119 of Hacking His Code

My heart races and my grip strengthens around Hunter’s hand.

“It’s going to be okay,” he whispers into my ear.

The minutes it takes for my mother to gain consciousness are the slowest I’ve ever experienced, and that says a lot seeing as how I’ve been kidnapped twice.

When it looks like my mother has some awareness, the doctor says, “Mrs. Sylvan, can you hear me?”

“Where am I?” she rasps.

“Mrs. Sylvan, my name is Doctor Ryan, and you’re at the hospital. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit.”

He continues with, “Three weeks ago, you were placed in a medically induced coma.”

The unmistakable look of fear flashes in her eyes. “Oh, dear…”

Cassius steps in and says, “If I were you, I wouldn’t worry. You’re better than you’ve been in a long time, thanks to your daughter.”

A nurse puts a damp sponge in her mouth to help with the dryness.

“I’m going to give you a few minutes alone with your daughter,” Doctor Ryan says, “then we’ll meet privately to discuss your medical care.”

They leave the room to afford us some privacy, and I prepare to introduce my mother to my first actual boyfriend. Or rather, the man that knocked me up.

“Mom, I’m so glad you’re okay!” I enthuse.

Her face is confused and scared. “Am I, though?”

“Yes, you’re going to be fine.”

Her eyes scan the room, falling on Hunter.

I pull him to my side. “This is Hunter Davies.”

“Hunter, who?”

“He basically got you recommended for the new treatment,” I say. “And…he’s my boyfriend.”

Her eyes grow round. “You couldn’t have introduced us under better circumstances?”

“No! Because I can’t wait to tell you something else, and it’s important that he’s here.”

“What is it?”

“I’m pregnant!”

Her face grows serious. “But your school?”

“She can attend any school she’d like,” Hunter says.

If she gets to cheat death, then I feel like I’m allowed to realign my priorities.

“I don’t care about school, mom. Right now, I can get a job in my field, and I don’t want to waste a year of my life getting a piece of paper that can literally do nothing for me now.”

“But you need—”

“A lot has happened since you’ve been put under,” I say. “I’ve been working for Gabriel and Remi Icor. I’ve been offered a position with the FBI. The Davies family, you know, the super-secret tech family, will hire me in a heartbeat. I just want to live my life.”