Page 159 of The Wrong Husband

"That’s exactly right." He reaches under the seat, pulls out an emergency blanket, and wraps it around me.

"Hold on, almost there." His voice is calm, but I see the strain on his face.

"If something happens to me—" I touch the sparkly hairband around my wrist.

I brought it with me when I left her.

"Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Brody growls.

"If something… Happens to me… Tell Phe… I’m sorry… I didn’t…keep my promise and—" Darkness overwhelms me. I feel him slap my face again and manage to flutter open my eyes.

"You stay the fuck with me, Connor, you hear me?"

I manage to nod.

Then the vehicle screeches to a stop. Hands descend on me. I give in to the darkness.

My body feels weightless, untethered. The pain is gone. There are no more sensations—no heat, no cold, no breath. Only a vast stillness. And an overwhelming peace. It’s so comfortable. Quiet. Serene. A soft, shimmering light in the distance beckons.

I gravitate toward it, reaching for it until?—

“Connor.”

Her voice lassoes around me, halting my progress. I’m suspended, unable to move.

“Connor!”

Her voice again, calling me back, dragging me to the surface. I don’t want to go.

“Open your eyes.”

I want to resist, but the insistence in her tone resonates with something deep inside me. I need to return.

I turn to the light one last time. I can’t. Won’t. Not yet. My eyelids twitch, then flutter open—and I see her.

Hazel eyes drowning in fear. Tears streaming down flushed cheeks. Her chin trembling. “Connor.”

“I’m here.”

She kisses my mouth.

The taste of her detonates in my bloodstream—a lightning strike of adrenaline, a tidal wave of life exploding through my veins.

With that, the pain returns, slamming into me with such force I gasp and cough.

Something beeps too loudly, too fast. Warmth crashes over my body—and with it, white-hot agony. I feel like I’m being sliced in two.

I groan aloud, closing my eyes against the relentless blows of pain.

“Don’t you dare leave me,” she cries.

Through the searing hurt, through the sensation of my body being torn in every direction, I snap open my eyes.

“You don’t tell me what to do,” I grit out.

Her gaze widens.

“Except this time.” I try to smirk, end up coughing again.