Page 97 of Ignite (Beneath the Blaze #2)

HALLIE

“ W hat do you think, Finn?” My voice is tiny.

He doesn’t look at me. His jaw is tight.

“It doesn’t look promising, Hallie. We might have to prepare ourselves for the worst.”

My throat closes. But I can’t believe it. Conan is a fighter. He has to pull through.

When we reach the hospital, Finn jumps out and races inside, already on his phone. I follow, every step heavier than the last.

I watch them wheel Conan through the double doors toward surgery. My stomach lurches.

Finn paces, talking in low, angry tones. When he hangs up, his gray eyes find mine.

“Finn…I—I’m scared. Are you going to operate?”

He shakes his head.

“I’ve called in the best surgeon I know. The only woman I loathe as much as she loathes me.”

I stare.

“No. Dr. Quinn. You hate her. She hates you. You can’t let her operate on him.”

His face doesn’t change.

“She’ll relish saving my brother. It’ll give her a win over me. That’s exactly why Conan is safer with her. I’m too…emotional to do it.”

If I didn’t already feel like I was dying, I’d punch him. Emotional? Finn?

“I’ll be in there to oversee. I need to go.”

“Wait—”

“Go to your office. I’ll send Declan and the men to escort you to Conan’s room once I have it.”

He turns to leave, then hesitates. His eyes soften—just a flicker—and it rattles me more than anything.

“These men are here to protect you. Don’t be scared, okay?”

I can only nod. He disappears through the doors.

I stand there, swallowing bile.

I pull out my phone to call Lily, but then I see the blood on my hands. Conan’s blood.

“Hallie?”

I crumble. My knees give out and I slide down the wall.

“Can you come to my office at the hospital?” My voice breaks. “I need you.”

“I’m coming. Right now.”

My phone clatters to the floor. I bury my face in my hands, trying to quiet the sobs.

A hand touches my back. I jerk upright.

“Hallie. It’s me, Charlotte.”

I look up, eyes blurred with tears. Declan is behind her with the twins. More men filter in behind them.

Declan looks wrecked but is trying not to show it.

“Come on,” Charlotte whispers. “We need to get you safe in your office. Can you walk?”

I nod. She links arms with me and guides me down the hall.

At the sink, she gently washes my hands.

“All gone.”

I let out a shuddering breath. My tears don’t stop.

She wraps her arms around me, and I break.

“He’s going to be okay, Hallie. I promise.”

But Declan’s eyes say something different.

“Conan would want us to protect you,” he says quietly. “But more than that, he’d want you to know how much he loved you. You were his person. That makes you part of our family. No matter what happens.”

I can’t hold it in.

“I—I’m pregnant.” I blurt it out. I have to tell someone. I feel like I’m spiraling. I need them.

His eyes widen.

“I can’t lose him. He needs to know.”

My voice shakes. My hands won’t stop trembling.

“You’re having my brother’s baby?” Declan’s voice goes soft.

I nod, wrapping my arms around my stomach.

Charlotte sets a hand on my shoulder.

“You’re not alone in this. How far along?”

“I don’t know. Six weeks? I only just tested.”

She takes a slow breath.

“We should check on the baby. This was a lot of stress. Do you know someone here who can help?”

I nod. My chest feels like it’s splitting in two.

“Yes. But I don’t want to leave. We need to be here when they move him.”

“I’ll wait,” Declan says. “Charlotte will stay with you. I’ll send word when I know anything.”

As Charlotte and I start down the hall, she leans close.

“I’m pregnant too,” she murmurs.

My tears fall harder.

“How far?”

“Thirteen weeks. We were going to announce it this weekend.”

I manage a weak smile.

“Our kids…they’ll be cousins.”

“They will.”

And I try to cling to that tiny flicker of hope, but it hurts more than anything. Conan might not get to see this. I bet he’d love that, seeing his and Declan’s kids growing up together. Causing havoc like they probably did as kids.

Fuck.

I can’t do this.