Page 186 of In Death, Love Survives

We look over to see his foot propping open an exit. We run toward it as fallen wood planks burn into ashes.

Sprinting like I never have before, I know that freedom is right there.

We burst through the doors, and I collapse onto the grass. Feeling lifeless, I don’t know if I have any energy left in me.

My eyelids feel heavy as I welcome darkness to take over. As my eyes shut, I can feel someone picking me up and being slung over a shoulder.

“Baby, stay with me. Just stay with me,” Wolfe pleads.

Darkness washes over me.

A beeping soundthat I can’t make out rings through my head. It’s loud and consistent, and all I want is for it to just stop so I can go back to sleep.

Stretching in bed, I wiggle from side to side.

“Angel,” a voice rasps.

I hum in acknowledgment.

“Nova, angel, please wake up, baby.”

I hum again.

“I’d do anything for you to wake up.”

“Wolfe,” I whisper.

“Nova,” he booms.

My eyes start to prick open, feeling shut from some type of liquid. It hurts to peel them open, but I do.

It takes a few moments for them to adjust to the light and my surroundings. As I come to, I see Wolfe sitting next to me in a chair beside our bed. My gaze falls to his hand holding onto mine.

“What’s going on?” I ask breathily.

“Baby, I’ve been so worried about you. So fucking worried.”

Wolfe’s voice cracks as his head falls to where our hands are intertwined. Using my free hand, I run it through this shortened hair.

“I’m okay. I’m okay.”

He nods in my lap.

As he sits back upright, I see an exhausted version of Wolfe—not from stress or late nights, but from misery.

Suddenly, I remember.

“Wait. We were at the warehouse. Sam. Sam, he… Oh my god.”

“Sam is back in jail.”

I look at Wolfe, and my eyes start to well up.

“He didn’t die.”

“No, baby. He’s alive.”

“How long have I been asleep?”