“Thanks for being here,” I murmur. “I’m going inside. I want to be there when he wakes up.”
And he will.
I have faith in him.
In us.
Chapter 61: A NEW LIFE
The incessant bragging wakesme up.
“Genius. Like I said, I’m a fucking genius. I knew the motherfucker had nine lives.”
Sebastian snorts. “Rex, I think you should meet someone who also thinks he’s a genius. Our hacker, Alek—Ow. What’s that for?”
“We don’t talk about him. He’s dead to us.” That’s Sofia.
“If Elias doesn’t die from the wounds, he’ll die because of you guys.” A deep, stern voice.
Maxwell.
My lips twitch, pain ricocheting up my spine as my eyes open.
Bright fluorescent lights sear into my pupils, and I wince. My instinct is to shut them, but I don’t.
Because Lana’s hovering above me.
Her beautiful, thick hair drapes over my face. She presses a soft kiss on my forehead, her roses wrapping my heart in a hug. A faint trace of smoke clings to her dark strands, a reminder we survived.
I inhale, my fingers flexing and curling over her hand on my blanket.
Her breath catches, and she freezes.
Her luminous gray eyes, framed by tear-tipped lashes, snare mine.
“Elias,” she lets out a tremulous smile, the first rays of sun breaking through twilight, “you’re awake.”
“How long was I out?” I rasp, my throat aching and raw.
“Two days.” Tears spill as she throws her arms around me. “Oh my God, you’re finally awake. I was so scared.”
“Lana, I canneverleave you. Even if I die, I’ll be haunting you the rest of your life.”
She lets out a choked laugh and sob, pressing her forehead to mine, trembling against me. I shush her, smoothing her frail frame with my hand.
Too delicate—her ribs press against my fingertips.
When we get home, I’m feeding her properly. Then I’ll haul her over my lap and—
I stiffen.Home.
Will she even want to go home with me?
Edon and Agron are dead—that much I remember. The others are probably scattered to the wind. She doesn’t have the evidence that could take down The Association. And I took care of a big problem for Gabriel Caruso by taking out the Berishas.
The threat is gone.
Except for the biggest one—me.
