Her breathing slowly steadies beneath the chaos around us.
Still shallow.
Still fragile.
But there.
Alive.
For now, that’s enough.
I sit beside her while Hannah finishes wrapping the wound and the others keep watch around us.
Olivia stays leaned against me the entire time.
Like it’s natural.
Like she belongs there.
And maybe that’s the problem.
Because somewhere between carrying her through gunfire and hearing her say my name like I was the only thing keeping her conscious—
Something changed.
Something dangerous.
I look down at her pale face resting against my shoulder and realize one brutal truth.
If I’d lost her out there—
It would’ve destroyed me.
11
Olivia
Warmth presses around me before I even open my eyes.
Solid.
Steady.
Breathing.
For one strange second, I think I’m still dreaming.
Then the ache in my side pulses sharply enough to drag me fully awake.
I inhale too fast.
Pain follows immediately.
A low hand tightens carefully against my back.
“Easy.”
Russ.
