Page 128 of The First Cut

“I want to be strong and say I’ve got this. I survived labor after all. But between you and me, I don’t think I’ve got this.”

This time, her smile is full of sympathy. “Honey, you don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s exhausting. Now you’ve had a rough night, and you’re hurting, so cut yourself some slack and let me help you.”

“Okay.”

She gives me a wink and holds out a little paper cup with some pills in it. “Think you can swallow these?” she asks, eyeing my throat.

I nod. “It’s sore, but I can manage.”

“Great. Let me grab your water. Here you go.”

I tip the pills into my mouth before taking a large mouthful of water and swallowing them down. “Ouch, that hurt more than I thought it would.”

“Taking tablets is no fun at the best of times.” She looks at her watch before taking the water and empty paper cup from me. “My shift is finishing in thirty minutes, but if you need anything, one of the other nurses will be by to check on you in a little while.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. Get some rest. It will speed up the healing process.” She turns and leaves.

She’s gone for maybe a minute or two before the door opens again.

“Did you—” My voice trails off when I realize it’s not Hannibal in the doorway but his daughter looking at me with wide-eyed horror.

“He said you were okay,” she whispers, a teddy bear falling from her arms to the floor.

“I am, I promise. This all looks worse than it is.”

“Really? Because you look like shit.”

“Millie,” Hannibal’s voice rumbles from behind her.

Her voice cracks. “You said she was okay.”

“And she is. She’s a little banged up, but bruises heal, Millie. She just needs rest.”

“Ugh, so everyone tells me. I’m gonna be so bored,” I joke, hoping to ease the tension.

“I’ll look after you. I won’t let you get bored.” She walks into the room, moving closer to the bed. She hovers, unsure what to do next. “I was so scared,” she admits in a whisper.

“Come here, honey.” I open my arms for her, and she steps into my embrace. I bite back a wince as my bruised body protests. “You were so brave. Thank you for keeping Evan safe.”

She sobs into my shoulder. I look up as Hannibal moves to stand next to her. Byte stands just inside the door.

When she lifts her head to look at me, I wipe her tears away before they trigger my own. “I don’t think I’m the only one who needs rest.”

“I’m staying?—”

“You can stay all day with me, every day until they let me out. But sleeping here isn’t necessary. I’ll just be sleeping myself. Stay with your brother for me. I like knowing his big sister is watching over him.”

“Okay,” she reluctantly agrees.

“Thank you.”

She takes a step back and allows Hannibal to wrap his arm around her shoulder and tug her away as Jolene walks through the door with my sleeping boy in her arms.

Now, I have no chance of holding back my tears. I hate that one day, I’ll have to tell him the truth about who his father is. I never ever want him to feel tainted in any way. As far as I’m concerned, Evan was never Driller’s. He was always mine.

“I thought you might want to see him.”