Page 127 of His to Save

“The doctor says she and the baby are both fine.”

He drags a spare chair over so it’s next to mine. “Any idea when she’ll wake up?”

“I wish I knew.” The uncertainty of it all has me on edge. They’ve told me over and over that she’s fine—because God knows I’ve asked every single person who’s walked into her room. But seeing is believing, and I know I’ll be a damn mess until I see her pretty hazel eyes and hear her sweet voice.

“Not to be that guy, but…” I can already tell from the tone of his voice I’m not going to like what he has to say. “…have you heard anything else from Scarlet?”

My shoulders tense at the mention of her name. “She hasn’t stopped blowing up my phone. I had to turn the damn thing off.”

He sighs and leans back in his seat, the hard plastic creaking under his weight. “You gonna talk to her?”

“Fuck,” I groan, running my hands through my hair and tugging on the ends. “I don’t know, man.”

“Talk about a rock and a hard place.”

“I—I just… the rational part of my brain knows it’s not her fault, but at the same time, I…” Tears burn the back of my eyes as I look over at Nora lying on the bed in front of me. She looks so small and fragile. “I could’ve lost them both.”

“I know.” He reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. “No matter what you decide there, I’m with you.”

“Appreciate it.” Those two words aren’t nearly enough to convey how much his support means to me. Not just in dealing with Scarlet, but in how he’s had my back from the start.

He never once gave me shit over her diary. He didn’t balk at the idea of moving her into our house. He didn’t say shit when things went from friendly tomore.Hell, I put his entire job on the line today when I went after Nora, and he. Didn’t. Say. Shit.

Ellis-fucking-Wilder is the living embodiment of loyalty, and if it takes the rest of my life to repay him in kind, then so be it.

“I mean it,” I say, my voice a rough whisper. “I fucking appreciate you.”

Ellis huffs, and I know that, like me, he’s trying to keep his emotions at bay. “I know, man. I know.”

Silence settles back over us as we both go back to watching Nora.

It feelslike days have passed, even though according to the clock on the wall, it’s only been an hour, when I feel the slightest twitch of her fingers against mine.

“Pip?” I jolt out of my chair as her fingers spasm again. “Open those pretty eyes, baby.”

I wait with my heart in my throat, hope surging violently inside of me, but nothing happens.

“Come on, Nora,” I whisper brokenly, desperate for her to wake up. “Come back to me.”

The room falls silent once again, save for the steady beep of her heart monitor.

“Man, are you sure—” Ellis starts to say.

I cut him off. “Positive.” I felt her move. She wants to wake up. She’s trying. I know she is. My girl may look tiny, but she’s a fighter. Hell, she’s easily the toughest person I know.

“I’m here, Pip.” I lean down and sweep my lips over her forehead in a barely-there kiss. “Come back to me.”

I repeat those same four words, over and over, begging her—the universe, right along with anything or anyone that may be listening—for her to wake up.

Right as I lower myself back down into my chair, she gasps, her fingers clutching at mine.

“Nora?” I scramble back to my feet, trying my best to give her space as not to overwhelm her.

She opens her mouth as if she’s going to speak, but nothing comes out. Panic flares behind her eyes as she clutches her throat.

She wants to say something, but the torment Rand put her through bruised her vocal cords. “Take your time, Pip.” I brush my knuckles over her cheekbone. “Want some water?”

She nods fervently, wincing slightly as I grab the jug from Ellis’s outstretched hand.

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