Page 32 of Rampage

Then it hits me like a ton of bricks. Fuck. I start my residency at the local hospital in the pediatric wing in a few days.

Her breathing deepens and I stand with her in my arms, trying not to wake her.

I carefully make my way down the hallway, Lily's weight comforting in my arms. Her body is warm against my chest, her breath soft against my neck. Each step I take is measured, deliberate, trying not to disturb her peaceful sleep. My bedroom door stands partially open, and I nudge it wider with my foot, the hinges giving a slight creak that makes me freeze momentarily.

Moonlight spills through the blinds, casting silver stripes across my king-sized bed. The sheets are still rumpled from this morning. I hadn't bothered making it, never expecting to bring her here tonight. Never expecting any of this.

I lay her down with the care you'd give something irreplaceable. Her brown hair fans out against my pillow, and she instinctively curls onto her side, one hand tucked beneath her cheek. The sight of her in my bed, wearing my clothes, hits me somewhere deep in my chest.

"Fuck," I whisper, the word barely audible even to myself.

I pull the comforter over her, tucking it around her shoulders. She sighs in her sleep, a small sound that somehow manages to both tighten and loosen something inside me. Her face in repose looks younger, the constant vigilance erased by unconsciousness.

Moving quietly, I grab a spare pillow and blanket from the closet, the familiar scent of detergent filling my nostrils as I shake them both out. I spread them on the floor beside the bed, positioning myself between Lily and the door. Anyone coming through would have to go through me first—exactly how it should be.

My back against the bed frame, I settle down, the hardwood floor uncomfortable against my ass, but I've slept in worse places. I check my gun with practiced movements, the metal cool against my palm as I ensure it's loaded before placing it within easy reach.

The weight of responsibility settles over me as I look over my shoulder and watch Lily's peaceful form. Tomorrow's going to be complicated as hell. My residency at the pediatric wing starts in two days, something I haven't even told her about yet. Most people are surprised when they learn a Sinner is also a doctor, but medicine has been my calling since I was a kid.

Christ, what a fucking mess. The meeting with Tiffany, our lawyer, the continuing threat from Frank, my new job—it's all converging at once. But looking at Lily's sleeping face, I know what takes priority.

Every creak of the house has me on alert. The wind whispers against the windows, and my eyes snap to the source of the sound. The faint tick of the kitchen clock reaches me even from here. This hypervigilance isn't new—growing up in the club teaches you to sleep with one eye open—but the stakes feel infinitely higher with Lily under my protection.

Around three in the morning, she stirs. A small whimper escapes her lips, her breath quickening. Her face contorts, brows drawing together, lips parting on what looks like a silent plea.

"No," she murmurs, fingers clutching at the blankets. "Please don't?—"

I'm on my knees beside the bed instantly, close enough that she might sense my presence but not touching her. Never touch someone having a nightmare without warning them first—that's a lesson I learned early.

"Lily," I whisper, keeping my voice low and steady. "You're safe. It's just a dream."

Her eyes fly open, wide and unfocused, filled with a terror that makes my blood boil. For a moment, she doesn't see me—she's somewhere else, with someone else. Then recognition dawns slowly, the panic receding like a tide, replaced by relief so profound it makes my throat tight.

"Reid," she breathes, her voice small in the darkness. She reaches for me, her hand trembling slightly.

I take it, her fingers cold against my warm palm. "I'm right here," I tell her, giving a gentle squeeze. "You're at my place, remember? You're safe."

She nods, glancing around the unfamiliar room, taking in the shadows and shapes. "Why are you on the floor?"

"Didn't want to presume," I say, though the truth is more complicated. I want her—fuck, I want her more than I've wanted anyone—but not like this. Not when she's vulnerable, running scared.

The moonlight catches the curve of her cheek as she shifts to look at me more fully. A strand of hair falls across her face, and I resist the urge to brush it away.

"Will you…" She hesitates, biting her lower lip in a way that sends heat through my veins. "Will you hold me? Just until I fall asleep again?"

My heart hammers against my ribs, and I'm grateful for the darkness that hides whatever expression is on my face. "You sure?"

She nods, scooting back to make room on the bed. The sheets rustle as I slide under the covers beside her, keeping a respectful distance until she moves closer, fitting herself against my side like she was made to be there. Lily’s head finds my shoulder, her arm draping tentatively across my chest, her fingers resting over my heart.

"Is this okay?" she whispers, her breath warm against my neck.

"More than okay," I assure her, wrapping my arm around her slim shoulders, drawing her closer.

We lie like that, our bodies curved together in the darkness. Her warmth seeps into me, and I feel her muscles gradually relax, the tension melting away as sleep reclaims her.

I stay awake, savoring the weight of her against me, the trust implicit in the way she's surrendered to sleep in my arms. My thumb traces small circles on her shoulder, and I listen to the rhythm of her breathing.

"I'll keep you safe," I promise in a whisper, though she can't hear me. "Always."

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