The machines next to the bed beep.
His chest rises and falls.
And I lower my face against it, carefully avoiding his ruined shoulder so I can feel his steady heartbeat beneath my ear.
That familiar rhythm that has lulled me to sleep so many times starts to calm me the longer I stay like this.
Each thud a reminder that he’s alive and there’s hope.
I close my eyes, trying to bring myself back to those moments in front of the fireplace, or talking in the treehouse yesterday. The beautiful moments spent together before everything went to shit when I had hope that there may be a way out that didn’t end like this?—
Liam’s hand twitches in mine.
That tiny movement hits like a bolt of lightning slamming into me and restarting my heart.
I jerk upright and search his face. “Liam?”
His brow furrows.
His eyes slowly flutter open.
Glassy.
Unfocused.
Confused.
He blinks a few times.
That mossy green gaze finally meets mine.
“Oh, my God!” I scramble to press the call button at the side of the bed for the nurse, then take his face in my hands, leaning over him. “Liam. I’m right here. Can you hear me?”
The tiniest flicker of a smile pulls at his lips.
I glance toward the door. “Willow!”
My scream comes out a little unhinged, but after waiting for so long, after feeling like I wasn’t breathing since the moment his eyes last closed, I can’t contain the emotions bubbling inside me any more.
A second later, she pops her head around the corner, her eyes wide with concern. “What?”
Tears stream down my cheeks as I release a choked laugh and smile at her. “He’s awake!”
LIAM
Footsteps move away.
I blink a few more times, trying to clear away the dark fog enveloping my mind.
Slowly, bits and pieces of memories filter through it.
Lucky waking me…
Giz growling…
Movement outside…
The men in black with guns…
