Page 32 of The Oath Operation

The memory of his time in the military flooded back, unbidden. He had always been the one to run out first, charging ahead with bravery. The last time he'd braved the front, it was those behind him who met the bullets, who paid the price for his boldness. Jules thought of him as a snowplow, but while he was bulldozing through, she'd gotten buried in the wake of his recklessness.

"Jacqui, he didn’t mean for this to happen," Noah said, trying to calm his wife. He placed a reassuring hand on Fish’s shoulder. "You did what you thought was right at the moment."

Jacqui sighed, her expression weary. "I'm going in to see her."

After Jacqui's departure, the tension in the air settled slightly, but not enough to ease the weight on Fish’s shoulders. He stood there, feeling the sting of Jacqui’s words lingering like a wound that refused to heal. His chest tightened as he replayed the moment over and over in his mind—the hike, the drink, the panic in Jules’ eyes before she lost consciousness.

Noah, always the steady presence, gave Fish’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. He opened his mouth to speak, likely to try and assuage Fish's guilt, but Fish gave a shake of his head.

“In our past jobs, mistakes got people killed. This was no different. I almost killed her.”

As a soldier, Noah understood the weight of guilt Fish was carrying. He’d been there too, haunted by the what-ifs, the close calls that could have gone another way. “You didn’t know, man. You were trying to help.”

"You know what she called me? Her snowplow. Because I move obstacles out of her way. But what if I'm the obstacle?"

“You’re being too hard on yourself. You made it out when others didn’t. You’ve been carrying that with you, and now you’re using it to punish yourself. But you’re not in a war zone anymore. Jules is your wife. She needs you to be here with her, not trapped in the past.”

He was trapped in the past, just the more immediate one. Fish couldn't shake the vision of Jules collapsing in front of him. He had moved every obstacle out of her way today, only to lead her into danger with that hike and then place a bomb in her hand filled with sugar.

Fish took one last look at Jules, her beautiful face framed by the hospital pillows. Amari was still in the room, writing something on a clipboard. Jules looked tired but defiant, strong despite everything. He loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. But sometimes love meant letting go.

He turned away from her door, the decision weighing heavily on his shoulders. He started to walk down the hallway, each step feeling like he was leaving a piece of his heart behind. He had to trust that Jules would be okay, that Amari would take care of her.

ChapterTwenty-Four

Jules lay in her hospital bed, staring at the ceiling as the sounds of the hospital buzzed around her. It had been forty-eight hours since she was admitted, and she felt like she was starting to go stir-crazy. The constant beeping of the machines, the sterile smell of antiseptic, and the too-bright fluorescent lights were all starting to wear on her nerves.

Amari had come to check on her several times each day, his cologne overpowering the hospital smell every time he walked in. He tried to be charming, suggesting they get back together. Jules ignored him, her focus elsewhere. She couldn’t even muster the energy to argue with him. Jacqui, on the other hand, had taken up residence in the room, her glares at Amari making it clear that his presence was not welcome.

Her grandmother, Nãinai, and her cousins had all stopped by, their visits brief but comforting. They brought flowers, books, and their warm, loving presence, each one trying to lift her spirits. There was one notable absence.

Fish.

She knew he'd been here. He'd brought her. He'd stayed in the waiting room. But he'd never once come to her room.

Noah had assured her that Fish was at the bakery, working overtime to get everything in order for her. It was a small consolation, knowing he was still trying to move all obstacles out of her way for when she got out, but it didn’t stop the ache in her heart from growing.

He'd been a fixture in her life since the first day he'd come to work in Chow Town. Stopping by for a pastry, lending a hand in the bakery, and then standing by her side during the worst moments of her life after the fire.

She couldn't remember a day without him. Though she was sure there had been some. Right now, she missed him desperately and couldn’t shake the feeling that he blamed himself for what happened.

"Jules, you need to eat something," Jacqui said, pushing a tray of hospital food toward her.

Jules wanted to tell her big sister that she wasn't hungry, which was true. But she knew that those words would only land her with a lecture. And so she sighed, sitting up in the bed.

"I'm not trying to helicopter you, but I can see your numbers."

The blasted machines gave Jules away. She took the food offered to her and chewed but tasted nothing. Though it was tasteless, she did feel the texture. It was even less appetizing. Tasteless, weirdly textured healthy foods were one of the reasons she’d started making her own food. Just because she was diabetic didn't mean that food had to be unappetizing.

"I know, I know," said Jacqui. "But it's all they had in the cafeteria. I'll make all your favorites when we bust you out of here."

"I love you, Jacqs."

"I know you do. I love you too, Jule-bug."

Jules looked down at her hands. The hospital band around her wrist felt heavy. It read Jules C. Pike. She hadn’t expected the name to have such an impact, but seeing it there, so official, made her chest tighten with a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite untangle. It wasn’t just a name; it was a connection, a bond that had formed so quickly, yet felt as though it had always been there, waiting for her to realize it.

"I love him, too."

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