AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“She looks okay,” Grant soothes, his tone controlled and confident, as always. Nothing phases this guy, not even the most dangerous of situations. Treacherous fires, horrible accidents, life-threatening rescues—he faces all of them without blinking.
“She was unconscious,” I hiss at him, trying not to let Thea hear me. “Locked in a closet. The fire would have reached her in minutes.”
Ryan is talking to Thea, making silly little jokes and trying to get her to laugh. She forces a smile for him, but her hand reaches for mine and grabs it tightly.
“I know,” Grant answers, pitching his voice low. “But her responses are good. She’s alert, talking, fully aware of her surroundings. We’ll take her to the hospital, of course, but I really think she’s okay. You know I wouldn’t bullshit you.”
I know that. And I want to believe it. It’s just… finding Thea in the closet, thinking she could be dead… I need more reassurance than just his words.
“Okay.” Ryan stands up and flashes Thea an everything-is-great smile. “Are we ready to head to the hospital?”
“I don’t want to go,” Thea protests, squeezing my fingers hard. “I just want to go home.”
“It won’t be for long, Thea. Just a precaution.” Ryan lifts his chin at me, sending a silent message.
“He’s right.” I force down all the simmering rage and the choking fear still lingering. Thea needs me to be calm and supportive right now, not an angry and panicking boyfriend. “I’m sure it’ll just be for a few hours.”
Her chin juts out, trembling a little. “But what about Laila?”
“My mom can pick her up. It’ll be fine. We can get Laila after dinner. Okay?”
Thea sighs, which turns into a hacking cough. Her blue eyes shimmer with tears. In a small voice, she says, “Okay.”
I can tell she’s barely keeping it together. And I’m right there with her.
Once we’re in the ambulance, we decide to forgo the stretcher and Thea curls into my arms, burying her face in my neck. A tiny sob escapes, and my heart fractures along with it.
As I stroke my hand down her hair, carefully avoiding where she was struck, Thea chokes out, “The library. All the books.”
Oh. My eyes burn, and my throat goes tight. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I promise.”
No matter what I have to do.
Chapter 16
THEA
It was the first argument I’ve had with Ben since we started dating.
He didn’t want me going to the meeting with Cole and Leo. Jaw tight, lines of worry etched into his forehead, he was adamant. “You can’t go, Thea. You have a concussion. You need to be resting, not sitting through a stressful meeting.”
I pushed myself off the couch, standing up to face him. “I need to go, Ben. I’m the one who was knocked out and shoved in a storage closet. My library was set on fire. Of anyone who should be there, it should be me.”
“No.” He bit out the word. “You were unconscious. That’s not just a little bump on the head. You should be in bed. Look at you.” His eyes swept me up and down, appraising. “You’re white as a sheet, the light is making you flinch, and you’re swaying on your feet. I’m sorry, Thea. I can’t let you go.”
“Let me?” Anger flared hot. “You don’t get to choose what I do.”
“I do if you’re making a bad decision.”
I stepped forward and poked him in the chest, my voice rising. “A bad decision? Are you serious? Someone tried to kill me, Ben. I’m not hiding my head in the sand.”
There was a second of silence, and then his face crumpled. “I can’t stop seeing it. I thought… just as I opened the door… I didn’t know if you were alive. It was the worst—”
And just like that, my anger cooled. Softening, I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m sorry. I can’t imagine. If it had been you—”
“I just want you safe,” Ben whispered into my hair. “I can’t lose you.”
After that, we came to a compromise.
