“It’s okay, I’ve got you.” I stroke her hair. “You’re safe now.”
I’m not sure which one of us I’m trying to convince.
Mila cries quietly to herself, and I hold her, staring at the wall as my tired mind drifts to my father.
I know all too well the grief she is being consumed with right now. I felt that very same ache in my chest ever since he died, and it’s never quite faded.
Except, the grief has morphed into something else. All the memories I used to cherish are now tainted by what I learned about him. He wasn’t the man I thought he was, and yet…I still miss him.
What does that say about me?
When the doctor finally returns a couple of hours later, he tells me that all of our tests have come back normal.
“You’re both free to go. But I recommend rest and perhaps talking to a professional. I’d be happy to recommend someone for you.”
“That’s very kind, thank you.” I reach for my phone to text Ronan.
We’re allowed to leave
The door to our room opens barely a second after I hit send.
He’s been waiting just outside the whole damn time.
Ronan strides into the room without looking at me and goes straight to Mila, helping her climb off the bed and guiding her gently out of the room.
I follow silently behind them as we leave the hospital and head out into the parking lot where Ronan’s SUV is parked.
The ride back to the Sullivan estate is quiet.
Mila stares out the window again, and Ronan and I sit in silence once more.
But I know the rest of the fight is coming. There’s no way Ronan is going to let me get off this easily.
Mila doesn’t even protest when I lead her inside the house and take her upstairs to one of the guest rooms. Even when I go and grab a pair of pajamas from my room and help her change, she keeps her eyes downcast, her cheeks damp with tears.
She’s always been such an unstoppable force of nature that it’s a little unnerving to see her so vulnerable and broken.
My throat thickens with tears as I climb into the bed beside her and stroke her hair until her breathing turns heavy and she’s finally asleep.
When I finally make it back to my room, Ronan is waiting for me, sitting on the edge of the bed. His arms are folded over his chest, and his face is completely unreadable.
I close the door.
“You need to take care of yourself too. You’ve been running on fumes for hours.” His voice is rough but gentler than before, which I take as a good sign.
“Surprised you even care,” I mutter without thinking.
His jaw tightens, and before I can even blink, he’s on his feet and crossing over to me.
His eyes burn into mine as he backs me into the wall. “You really think I don’t care? You think I was angry because I didn’t care? I was fuckingterrified, Ciara. I was terrified that I was going to lose you.”
My breath catches at the intensity in his eyes, his voice. It’s not anger, but pain.
He really does care.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” His forehead drops to mine as he inhales deeply. “You don’t get to scare me like that ever again, do you understand?”
It’s all I can do to nod before I sink my fingers into his shirt and pull him close.
