Page 12 of Carver’s Crusade

“Could’ve belonged to someone else in the area,” Raven adds, her voice steady now. “Maybe it’s unrelated.”

Shield doesn’t look convinced.

Neither am I.

But he doesn’t push. Not here. Not now.

“Alright,” he says after a moment. “If you remember anything, anything at all, you call me.” He pulls a card from his pocket and sets it on the tray beside her bed. “Day or night.”

“I will.”

Tally takes back control.

“I’ll get your discharge papers started,” she says, flipping a page on the chart. “You should be able to go home shortly.”

Raven nods, relief flashing across her face.

Tally’s eyes move between us. “Do you have someone to take you home?”

“I can take her,” I say immediately.

The words are out before I think about them.

Raven looks at me, surprise flickering in those green eyes. Not fear. Not resistance. Just… something softer.

“Actually—”

The door swings open again.

Raven’s mother and father enter.

“How are you feeling?” Sade asks her daughter. “Were you able to get any sleep?”

“I slept,” she says, offering her mother and father a soft smile. “Although, I’ll sleep much better in my own bed. Dr. Chambers is springing me.”

Tally gives a small nod. “She’s stable. She needs rest and to follow the care instructions I mentioned.”

“We’ll take her home,” Sade says immediately, not even looking away from Raven.

Of course they will.

I feel it then—that pull to stay, to make sure she’s okay, to see this through. It sits heavy in my chest, unwanted but not going anywhere.

Raven glances at me again. There’s a flicker of something there—gratitude, maybe an apology.

I give her a short nod.

“Looks like you’re covered,” I say.

It comes out rougher than I intended.

I step back, giving them space, even though every instinct I have is telling me to do the opposite.

“Thank you for watching over my daughter,” Karl says, shaking my hand. “She’s precious to us.”

“No problem. It was my pleasure,” I assure him before locking eyes with Raven. “Take it easy.”

Those green eyes hold mine for a beat longer than necessary.