Page 69 of Hidden

Julian made a frustrated noise, but before he could say another word, Miles interjected. “Julian, knock it off!” He squared his shoulders, stepping between Finn and the other man. “If you make me warn you again, I’m just going to resort to murder.”

“And how’s that not an overreaction?” Julian protested.

“You are making this aboutFinn!” Miles’s voice suddenly turned dark, and a ripple moved through the air. He wasn’t yelling, nor did he touch Julian at all. But the other man flinched back.

Miles gestured at me. “This is aboutBianca. Get your head out of your ass, because we need you to be focusing on what’s important. We have no idea what is going to happen.”

“Fine.” Julian’s tone turned subdued. “I’ll let it be. But if anything happens to her in the meantime, I’m holding all of you responsible. I can’t…” Whatever he was going to say was lost as his voice trailed off, and his attention drifted toward the floor.

In that moment, Julian’s furious expression faded.

He looked a person who’d just been told someone they loved was going to die.

I was shivering in the aftermath of their argument. The room had turned to ice throughout their heated discussion, and a damp aura lay heavy in the air.

Julian was basically radiating sorrow; the suffocating sensation seemed to come from him.

How powerful were these men?

Worry still pounded away at me.

“You won’t hurt him?” My words sounded strange, breaking through the silence. “You won’t hurt Finn?”

Surprise flashed across Finn’s face. But Julian’s expression captured my attention.

As he met my eyes, there was defeat and devastation in his gaze. But then a new kind of determination washed over him. He seemed different.

He stepped forward, lowering to his knees as he touched my face.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice returning to its normal gentle caress. “I’ve reacted so badly about so many things lately. And I need to thank Miles for reminding me.”

“I’m right here.” Miles frowned at his back. “You could thank me right now.”

“But it doesn’t excuse anything,” Julian continued. Our gazes locked, and I was entranced. “I almost reached my limit. But I’m fine now,” he said. “Can I check everything?”

I nodded, my fears assuaged. His calm was contagious, and he now seemed a different person. I only wished I understood what Miles had done.

But outside of that, my shoulder hurt again. And my neck burned.

Julian frowned, as if reading my thoughts. “Miles.” When he spoke, his voice was authoritative. “Can you bring my bag and her medication?”

“Right.” Miles rushed from the room. As soon as he left, Damen leaned against the back of Finn’s chair.

“So what are you doing first?” Damen’s tone was somewhat wary.

Finn jumped at the sound of his brother’s voice, glancing at the other man in surprise.

“I mean,” Damen cleared his throat. “What medication?”

“She needs morphine.” Julian frowned, touching the skin under my eyes. “After that, I’ll rebandage the other wounds. Then we can see what happens after she takes a suppressant.”

I opened my mouth to protest, out of habit mostly. I had been listening, so I knew this was probably for the best.

But still, I rebelled at the thought. I didn’t want to do anything that would make me weak.

“Please, Bianca,” Julian interrupted. “Only for now? I want to make sure it’s safe.”

It was completely logical, but tears of frustration welled in my eyes.