He lay shirtless, bruised and bandaged, the sharp cut of his collarbone now darkened with splotches of violet and red.
His side was wrapped in gauze stained with pink where it pressed against one of the deeper wounds. His shoulder had been popped back into place. He was a mess, but he was here.
I could still hear the rasp of his breathing when he’d tried to shield me. The crack of his ribs when they’d kicked him.
That animal sound in his throat when he went down. The kind of sound that didn’t leave your head, even when the room was silent.
Beau had brought me tea hours ago. I let it go cold on the nightstand. I hadn’t touched it.
Callum had come in once, quiet and grim, placed a steady hand on my shoulder. I didn’t respond. Didn’t speak.
I just kept watching Rafael breathe, like if I looked away for too long he might stop.
It wasn’t until near dawn that Rafael stirred. He groaned low and ragged, his lashes fluttering against the swell of bruising along his temple.
“James…?”
I leaned forward so fast the chair legs scraped against the hardwood. “I’m here. I’m right here.”
His eyes cracked open, dazed and glassy. But when they found mine, I saw something sharp behind the pain. Something real. Something stubborn.
“You okay?” he rasped.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “You’re the one who almost bled out and you’re asking about me?”
His lips curved. Barely. A weak attempt at a smile. “Just making sure.”
“You’re insane,” I whispered, reaching up to brush a curl back from his forehead. “You know that, right?”
“Probably,” he murmured, voice thin. “Still mad?”
“I’m not mad,” I said softly. “I’m terrified.”
He winced, trying to shift. I moved quickly, pressing a hand to his shoulder to keep him still. “Don’t. You need to rest.”
His hand caught my wrist with surprising strength. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
My chest tightened. “What?”
“I know that look,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Whatever’s going through your head right now. Don’t. Don’t go picking fights or storming off trying to fix this alone.”
“I’m not?—”
“James.”
His grip tightened, just enough to make me pause.
“I mean it,” he said, eyes locking with mine. “Don’t be reckless. You’re not alone anymore. I know you think carrying this alonekeeps people safe, but it doesn’t. Let me help. Let them help. Promise me.”
I hesitated. My mouth said the right thing. “Okay, I promise.”
But inside, something had already splintered. Because I had to do something. I couldn’t sit still and wait for someone else I loved to get hurt.
I couldn’t watch the people I care about bleed just because I was too scared to take a risk. This wasn’t over. Not even close.
And if Avery had made one thing clear, it was that he had no intention of backing down.
“I mean it,” Rafael whispered again, his voice cracking at the edges. “Don’t shut me out.”
