The hospital is quiet when I arrive. Visiting hours are technically over, but the night nurse waves me through with a sympathetic smile.
“He's been asking for you,” she says softly.
Kai is awake when I slip into his room, propped up against pillows, TV on mute. He brightens when he sees me. The chaos outside this room fades. He's my calm in the middle of everything falling apart.
“Hey.” His voice is still rough from sleep. “Thought you weren't coming.”
“Wouldn't miss it.”
I lean down to adjust his blanket. A reflex. Before I realize what I'm doing, my lips brush his forehead. The kind of gesture I've only allowed myself when he's asleep.
He's not asleep now.
I freeze, heat rushing to my cheeks. “I… sorry, I didn't?—“
His hand catches mine before I can pull away. Eyes heavy with painkillers, but there's a warmth there that makes my chest ache.
“Hey,” he says softly. “I missed you.”
I sink into the chair beside him, still flustered, still holding his hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Better now.” He tugs me closer. “You look tired.”
“Long day.” I force a smile. “Client dinner ran late.”
“How'd it go?”
“Fine.” I force my voice to stay light. “Boring. You know how those things are.”
He frowns, thumb tracing slow circles on my wrist. “Emma.”
“What?”
“You're doing that thing with your voice.”
My stomach tightens. “What thing?”
“The thing where you go up at the end. Like you're asking a question instead of making a statement.” His eyes search my face. “What happened?”
“Nothing. I'm just tired.” I squeeze his hand. “Long day, that's all.”
He doesn't look convinced, but the painkillers are pulling him under. His grip on my hand loosens, his blinks growing longer.
“We'll talk tomorrow,” he mumbles. “You'll tell me. Right?”
“Sure,” I whisper. Another lie. “Get some sleep.”
He drifts off within minutes. I sit there in the dark, listening to the beep of the monitors, and let myself fall apart silently so he doesn't hear.
The walk home is cold. February has claws tonight, the wind cutting through my coat like it isn't there. I should have called a cab, but I needed the air. Needed to feel something other than the numbness spreading through my chest.
I'm halfway to my building when I notice him.
A figure on the opposite side of the street. Male, I think. Tall. Walking when I walk, slowing when I slow.
My heart stutters.James. The name flashes through my mind like a warning siren. Maddox said he was being tracked. Said he hadn't been near Kai. What about near me?
I speed up. The figure keeps pace.
