The pain is intense, but I’m fully aware of everything happening around me.Security guards are leading a handcuffed Steven toward the elevator.Others are rushing down the stairwell to check on Joshua.Somewhere in the distance, sirens wail, growing louder.
“You’re going to be fine,” Caleb says, one hand keeping pressure on my wound, the other holding mine tightly.“Just stay with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I repeat, squeezing his hand.
His face is so different from the contortion of fury I saw moments ago.Now it’s open, vulnerable, his eyes bright with fear and something else—something I’m not quite ready to name.
“Why did you do that?”he asks again, softer this time.“You could have been killed.”
I meet his gaze steadily.“Same reason you charged at him like a madman, I guess.”
Understanding passes between us, silent but profound.
The elevator doors open again, and paramedics rush out, wheeling a stretcher.Everything moves quickly after that.They assess my wound, start an IV, lift me onto the stretcher.Through it all, Caleb refuses to let go of my hand.
“Sir, you need to step back,” one of the paramedics says as they prepare to wheel me to the elevator.
“I’m going with her,” Caleb says, in a tone that brooks no argument.
The paramedic looks at his colleague, who shrugs.“Fine, but stay out of the way.”
As they wheel me toward the elevator, I can see Ethan watching us, the laptop secured under his arm.He gives me a small nod.
“The campaign—” I start to say.
“Will be fine,” Caleb finishes, still holding my hand as we enter the elevator.“Ethan will handle it.”
“But tomorrow?—”
“Tomorrow will take care of itself,” Caleb says firmly.“Right now, you’re all that matters.”
The elevator doors close, and as we descend, I look up at Caleb’s face, still tight with worry but determined.Despite the pain, despite everything that’s happened, I feel oddly calm.We caught the mole.The campaign is safe.And Caleb is here, holding my hand like he never intends to let go.
As the ambulance doors close behind us and the siren wails to life, I hold on to that thought.Whatever comes next, we’ll face it together.
Iwake up to the steady beep of machines and a dull throbbing in my side.The hospital room is bathed in soft afternoon light filtering through half-drawn blinds.As my vision clears, the first thing I see is Caleb.He’s asleep in the chair beside my bed, his broad shoulders hunched uncomfortably, head resting on his folded arms at the edge of my mattress.His usually perfect hair is a disheveled mess, and there’s stubble darkening his jaw.Even in sleep, his brow is furrowed with worry.
A rush of tenderness rushes through me at the sight of him.I reach out, my movements slow and slightly clumsy from whatever painkillers they’ve got me on, and run my fingers through his hair.
The door opens with a quiet click, and I look up to see Helen Wilder step into the room.My eyes widen.Caleb’s mother.What is she doing here?
“Mrs.Wilder?”I croak.She looks at me and smiles.
“Eve, you’re finally awake.”Her voice is gentle but relieved.“How are you feeling, dear?”
I blink.“I—My stomach hurts.”
“It should,” Helen says, reaching for a water bottle and retrieving a straw from her bag.Opening its seal she inserts it into the bottle and holds it out to me.“Here, drink.Very slow sips.”As I take a few grateful sips, she continues; “The knife narrowly missed your vital organs.You’re lucky.They had to do a minor procedure, but they stitched you up.I’m so glad to see you awake, my dear.”
“Did I pass out in the ambulance?”I ask, trying to piece together my fragmented memories.
Helen nods.“Yes.You lost a fair amount of blood.”
My eyes drift back to Caleb, and worry squeezes my heart.“Is he okay?”
Helen follows my gaze, her eyes lingering on her son with an expression I can’t quite read.“He is now,” she says quietly.She reaches out and smooths my hair back from my forehead in a surprisingly maternal gesture.“The last time I saw Caleb shed tears was when he was five and scraped his knee on the pavement outside our house.You really have a hold on my son’s heart.”
“What?”I can’t hide my shock.“Caleb cried?”
