Page 99

HALLIE

T he armed men outside Conan’s room nod silently as Lily guides me past them.

The moment we step inside, the stillness hits me like a brick.

It’s too quiet.

Too clean.

It doesn’t feel real that he might not be here to fill it with that deep, rumbling voice ever again.

I sink into the nearest chair, my body too heavy to hold itself up anymore.

Lily moves behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

I close my eyes, letting her hold me together because I don’t think I can do it on my own.

The clock on the wall ticks, every second loud and deliberate, counting out my punishment.

I feel like I’m trapped in a loop—waiting for someone to come and tell me the last shred of hope is gone.

When the door finally creaks open, I jerk upright so fast I see stars.

Finn steps in, still in his blue scrubs.

My stomach lurches when I see the blood splattered across his chest.

Conan’s blood.

His red-rimmed eyes scan the room and land on mine.

Something in them flickers—something so raw it makes my heart ache.

“Finn.” My voice comes out hoarse. “Say something, goddamn it.”

I shoot to my feet, swaying where I stand.

If he doesn’t speak, I think I might collapse.

He scrubs a hand down his tired face.

“We’ve stabilized him,” he says finally, voice low. “We got the bullet out and repaired the internal damage. His heart is functioning as expected.”

I grip the back of the chair so hard my knuckles burn.

Every word feels like it’s being pulled from him, like he doesn’t trust that saying it out loud won’t make it disappear.

“We’re monitoring him in intensive care,” he goes on, his eyes pinned to mine. “He’s still out of it, and he will be for a while. We’ll keep running tests, and once we’re satisfied, we’ll bring him back here.”

Declan moves in beside me.

Without a word, he wraps his arm around my shoulders.

It’s the only thing keeping me standing.

“He’s in the clear?” Declan asks, his voice breaking. “He’s going to pull through?”

Finn’s jaw ticks.

“So long as there are no complications, yes. I don’t anticipate any. The team did an outstanding job.”

A strangled sound leaves me.

It takes me a second to realize it’s a sob.

I turn and bury my face against Declan’s chest.

His arms close around me, and I let myself shake.

Relief. Grief. Hope. All crashing over me in a wave I can’t outrun.

I pull back, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

It doesn’t matter if I look like hell.

I don’t care about anything except that he’s alive.

I step toward Finn.

He straightens, like he’s bracing himself for impact.

I can see it now—the exhaustion he’s hiding, the brittle edge of fear he refuses to let slip.

“Thank you,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “Thank you for saving him.”

He swallows hard.

His mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

Instead, he just gives me the smallest nod, like if he tries to speak, he’ll break too.

“Get some rest, Hallie,” he says at last, voice rough. “I’ll come and get you when you can see him. Okay?”

I nod because it’s all I can manage.

But inside, my heart is already running to him.

I want to bury my face in his neck and never let go.

I want to tell him that our baby is safe. That he’s safe.

And that this time, I’m not going anywhere.