Page 69 of Into the Fire
He was bent low, forehead nearly touching her temple, thumb stroking her soot-smudged hand. His voice came out hoarse, strained, like he was pouring every ounce of strength he had left into her.
“Come on, baby, don’t do this.”
The siren wailed above them, the flashing lights painting everything in frantic red and white as the ambulance raced toward the hospital, Levi refusing to let go of hope or her hand the entire way.
“I need you, Emery,” he begged.
Her chest rose with an unsteady pattern.
“I need you. I want it all. The farm, the house, the mornings,” his voice broke. “Hell, even the damn PTA meetings. I want every part of this life with you. Only you.”
He tightened his grip on her hand, brushing a knuckle against her cheek.
“I need you to come back to me. Because I can’t do this without you. I won’t.”
The ambulance jolted slightly as they took a fast turn.
“Hold on, baby,” he whispered again, leaning closer. “Just hold on a little longer.”
25
The hospital room was so loud, monitors beeping, carts rolling down the hall outside the door, conversations and low laughter from the nurse's station just two rooms down. But Levi couldn't hear a thing. The rest of the world continued as normal while he was frozen. He sat in a chair that felt like it was made of concrete, elbows braced on his knees, hands locked together tight enough that his knuckles were white. Thankfully, June had been with his mom when this whole nightmare happened, and Margaret had called saying she would take care of June until further notice while Levi focused on Emery.
His hat sat on the windowsill, forgotten. Soot stillclung to the torn sleeves of his shirt, his body aching from the brawl with Cole, his split lip was now clotted, his knuckles bruised and cracked, but all he could focus on was the pale stillness of the woman lying in that hospital bed.
She looked small in the sea of white sheets and wires, her hair tangled and matted by sweat and ash. An oxygen cannula rested below her nose, and the occasional rise and fall of her chest was the only thing keeping Levi from losing his damn mind.
“Come on, Em,” he muttered, voice hoarse. “Don’t make me wait.”
His knee bounced restlessly. He hadn’t left the room since they’d brought her in. Not when the doctors came in and out to draw blood or do exams. Not when Lainey had barged in before clocking in for her shift to check on her and assure Levi that the staff taking care of her was the best they had. Not when Jess brought him a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold on the side table. Not even when the nurse suggested he stretch his legs and get checked out himself.
He couldn’t.
His mind kept looping back to the fire—the moment he’d realized Emery wasn’t out of the barn. The rush of panic he hadfelt. The way her name ripped from his throat. And now here she was. Hooked up to machines, silent. Too damn still.
Dragging a hand down his face, he quietly said, “I’ve pulled calves outta frozen rivers and been followed on trails by mountain lions, but nothin’… nothing scared me like runnin’ back into that fire for you.”
He shook his head, eyes locked on her face. “You’re not just the girl who showed up and cleaned up my mess. Not just the one who made June happy and really laugh again. You're mine, Emery. I can't lose you.”
He leaned forward, elbows on the bed now, and brushed his thumb across the back of Emery’s hand. Her skin was warm. She was fighting, even if it didn’t look like it.
“Come back to me, Em,” he whispered. “Please.”
And then just barely—her fingers twitched in his grasp.
He froze.
“Em?”
Her eyelids fluttered once. Twice. And then finally, slowly, they opened.
Levi shot to his feet, gripping her hand now with both of his, his chest tight with relief.
“Fucking hell, Emery,” he said, voice cracking. “Took you long enough.”
She blinked, dazed and confused, her lips barely moving. “Levi…?”
“Yeah, I’m right here,” he murmured, brushing her hair back gently. “You’re okay. I got you.”
