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“Zeke,” Logan said sharply. “Let the nurse know she’s awake.”
“On it,” he called out.
Logan couldn’t concentrate on the fumbling conversation. Izzy was actually looking at him. Actually saw him, rather than doing that sleepy dreaming she had for the last two days.
Her eyes filled, realization crashing into her. “It wasn’t a dream.”
He’d have given anything to tell her it was a bad dream. To roll over with her and hold her close and make it all go away. He bowed his head and kissed her temple, kissed the tears melting into her hairline, and finally a soft kiss to her chapped lips.
“No.” She tried to curl into him, but hissed out a breath.
“Iz, you gotta be still, okay? Shh. Stay still.”
She swallowed and drew in a shuddering breath. Her shoulders shook. “Tell me it isn’t true. That you got her out.”
The arrow landed deep inside his heart and embedded itself. It grew roots and bloomed through his veins and fed on his own sorrow. “I couldn’t. She was…” He swallowed down his own tears. “The explosion was too much.”
“Why? I shouldn’t still be alive.”
“Don’t you say that.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Don’t ever say that.”
She turned her face away from him to look out the window. He understood why she did it, but she gutted him nonetheless.
“Izzy, please.”
“I’m tired.”
He tucked a loose lock of hair around her ear. She turned her face further into the pillow and he drew back. “I’m not going anywhere, Isabella.”
She hunched her shoulders up, but didn’t say anything else.
Seething anger pushed him across the room and out the door. “Where the fuck is the nurse?”
“Baby’s coming a few rooms down. She said she was on her way.”
“Where are those flowers?”
“I took care of them, Lo.” Zeke moved in front of him and put a hand up. “You are not going to go scare the crap out of the candy-striper.”
“Did you ask her where they came from?”
“She said they were on the cart this morning.”
“Was there a note?”
Zeke clenched his jaw. “Yeah.”
“Give it to me.”
He drew it out of his pocket. When Logan reached for it, he flicked it out of reach. “Don’t play her game.”
“Give it to me.”
Zeke let him take the card.
Sorry for your loss.
That was all it said. Not even a signature. Not even her pretend one. Absolutely benign.
