Page 47 of Mercy

Her sage green eyes meet mine, filled with a vulnerability that makes my heart clench.

"It's gonna be okay, Meg," I murmur, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides.

The doctor excuses himself, and soon a nurse arrives to take Meghan for her tests.

As they wheel her away, I feel a physical ache at the loss of contact.

"I'll be right here when you get back," I call after her, my voice rougher than I'd like.

Once she's out of sight, I slump against the wall, running a hand through my hair.

Fuck.

This is all my fault.

I should've gone with her to the pharmacy.

Should've protected her better.

I push off the wall, needing to move, to do something.

My feet carry me out to the waiting room where I spot my old man, Runes, sitting with his head in his hands.

"Dad," I call out, my voice barely above a whisper.

He looks up, worry etched deep in the lines of his face. "How is she, son?"

I drop into the seat next to him, feeling the weight of everything crashing down on me. "They're running tests. CT scan, bloodwork. Doc says it's standard, but..." I trail off, unable to voice my fears.

Runes places a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm and grounding. "She's tough, Tor. She'll pull through this."

I nod, wanting desperately to believe him. "Yeah, she is." I pause, swallowing hard. "But Dad, I can't help thinking... what if this wasn't just a random carjacking? What if someone's targeting her because of us, because of the club?"

A nurse appears in the doorway, her eyes scanning the room before landing on me. "Tor, she's back in her room now and she’s asking for you."

I'm on my feet in an instant, my heart pounding against my ribs.

As I follow the nurse down the sterile hallway, my heartbeat pounds intensely.

The moment I step into Meghan's room, I know my instincts are spot on.

She's sitting up in bed, her ashy blonde hair tangled around her face, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The sight of her like this, so vulnerable and broken, makes my chest ache.

"Meg," I breathe, rushing to her side. "What is it, baby? What's wrong?"

She looks up at me, her light sage green eyes swimming with pain and fear. "Tor, I can't... I can't do this anymore."

I reach for her hand, but she pulls away.

The rejection stings, but I push past it. "Can't do what, babe?"

Meghan takes a shuddering breath. "This. All of it. I need to leave, start fresh. Get away from the club."

Her words hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. "I'm constantly in danger if I stay in Tallahassee, and don't try to argue with me, because you know it's true."

For a moment, I'm stunned into silence.

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