Page 120 of Hard Bargain

Then it clicked.

Knox.

They were tangled together, closer than when they’d fallen asleep. Dominic’s arms were still wrapped around him, legs intertwined, Knox’s back pressed flush against his chest. Knox stirred, shifting against him with a soft inhale before going still again.

The phone kept ringing.

Knox jerked awake. He twisted enough to fumble for his phone on the nightstand. “Hello?” Voice rough, thick with sleep. “Yeah—yeah, I’m her son.”

Dominic watched his face change. Sleep gone. Focus snapping into place like a switch. “She’s awake?”

Knox was already sitting up, pushing the covers back, moving before the call ended. “I’ll be there. I’m coming now.”

He hung up and swung his legs off the bed, running a hand through his hair, adrenaline replacing sleep in an instant. “They said she’s awake,” he said, like he needed to say it out loud to believe it. “I need to go.”

“I’ll take you,” Dominic said.

Knox glanced at him. “You don’t have to—”

“Knox.”

He shut up, nodded, and got dressed.

* * *

Dominic leaned against the hospital wall outside the room, arms crossed, eyes fixed on nothing in particular.

Knox had gone in a few minutes ago. The door had closed behind him, shutting Dominic out from whatever was happening inside. He didn’t try to listen. Whatever was being said in there wasn’t his. Not his place, not his business. Still, his gaze flicked to the door more often than he’d admit.

When it opened again, Knox stepped out looking worse than when he’d gone in. Dominic pushed off the wall. “Is she okay?”

“Yeah. She’ll survive.”

That should’ve sounded better than it did.

A doctor approached before Dominic could respond. “Mr. Wolfe? I’m the attending physician. I wanted to go over what happens next—”

“I know how it works,” Knox said. “Seventy-two-hour hold. Evaluation. Clearance before discharge.” He didn’t look at either of them, his hand dragging over the back of his neck. “It’s not the first time,” he mumbled.

Dominic went still.

The doctor adjusted smoothly. “Then you understand. We’ll keep you updated on her condition.” Knox just nodded, and the doctor moved on.

Dominic didn’t look away from Knox. “Not the first time?” he repeated.

Knox didn’t answer right away, eyes fixed somewhere down the hall.

Dominic took a step closer. “How many times?”

Knox let out a short breath, like it caught on the way out. “Fourth.”

Four times.

Dominic’s stomach twisted. “You found her all those times?” Disbelief bleeding into his voice.

Knox shook his head. “No. Once my dad did.”

That didn’t make it better.