Page 37 of Faron

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River met my eyes.

This wasn’t a hit.

It was a purge.

Blue

Pain flared deep as I shifted, but I forced myself upright. Faron moved fast, adjusting the bed like he could physically keep me still with his stubbornness alone.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I need my laptop.”

“No.”

“Faron—”

“No, Blue.” His voice cracked like a whip. “You almost died. You’re not documenting patient notes today. You’re not researching treatment plans. You’re healing.”

I blinked. “You’re terrible at being gentle, you know that?”

He leaned closer. “You don’t need gentle. You need someone who won’t let you destroy yourself proving you’re strong.”

He paused, brushing hair from my cheek. “You already are.”

I bit the inside of my lip. “They’re not going to stop.”

“Neither are we.”

His phone buzzed. One glance at the screen and his jaw locked tight.

“What is it?”

“They got Diego,” he said. “And he gave us something. There’s a list.”

36

Blue

Iwasn’t supposed to be out of bed.

And I sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be dragging my IV pole like a petulant toddler on wheels.

But I couldn’t sit still. Not with those words echoing in my skull—there’s a list.

I barely made it to the hallway before Faron caught me. He looked exhausted. Hair a mess. Eyes wild. Protective fury simmering just under the surface.

“Back in bed. Now.”

“No.” My voice didn’t shake. “I need to see it. You said Diego had a list.”

“Blue—”

“I’m not a child. I’m not breakable. I’ve treated cartel victims since before I met you. If I’m on that list, I deserve to know who else is.”

He stared at me for a beat too long. Then, quietly, he sighed and took my arm.

“Alright. But you sit down first.”

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