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He flinched and said quietly, “Did Cem tell you the truth about what happened the night you passed out before the raid, or did he say it was nothing more than a panic attack?”
I stilled. I dropped my hand. I didn’t like where this conversation was going because I’d always suspected it’d been so much more. “What’s the truth?”
Çetin winced harder this time. “I can’t be sure, as I didn’t have the equipment to do an echocardiogram, but...in my trained opinion, I believe you suffered a silent myocardial infarction.”
“What the hell is that?”
“A mild heart attack. Normally, most people aren’t aware of them. That’s why they’re called silent. But...your system was under immense stress. It had been for years. I’m not surprised you passed out.”
“Wait. You think I had a heart attack?” I stumbled back and shot a look at Neri and Ayla strolling out of listening distance behind us.
“Only mild. You’re young and strong and will most likely be fine, but...I wouldn’t be doing my duty as a doctor if I didn’t warn you that the excessive use of electricity could have caused permanent scarring on your heart. Next time you’re back in Turkey, come to me, and I’ll run some tests. I work at the local hospital now. You need to be aware of your risk of stroke or future health complications—”
“I’m fine.” I sliced my hand through the air. “We won’t mention this again.”
“But—”
“I said, I’m fine.”
He’d nodded, gone to say farewell to my wife and daughter, all while I trembled with fear.
It’d been my dirty secret until last year when my left arm had gone numb, and I’d lost my balance that I prided myself on. Considering I was well used to hopping when others walked and stayed in shape with strength, cardio, and weight training, my power didn’t protect me from the slam of dizziness as my heart twisted strangely in my chest.
I’d fallen over in the kitchen.
Neri had come running and called an ambulance.
I’d cancelled that nonsense, but Teddy insisted on driving us to the hospital, which involved numerous tests and meeting with cardiologists.
Turned out, Cem had ruined me...just not in the way he’d hoped.
Mentally, I was stronger than ever, but physically, I had a weak spot.
Just one.
The very thing that existed to love Neri was the one thing that would end up killing me.
Neri had withdrawn from me for a little while, absorbing the ramifications of living with a soulmate that had a dicky heart. Any moment, it could stop. I could live for decades, or I could die tomorrow.
No one could predict my future.
No one could say if the random palpitation attacks might one day be the episode that eradicated me. All they could do was recommend drugs—which I wasn’t interested in taking. And suggest a healthy, stress-free lifestyle—which I was already living.
I’d fallen so deeply down the rabbit hole of health that I now freedived with Neri often (because breathwork and cold-water exposure were scientifically proven for longevity). We had daily saunas (because same thing) and ran on the beach most mornings, my blade cutting through the sand as effortlessly as Neri’s two feet.
Teddy and Eddie knew, and I was insanely grateful we had paperwork that meant Ayla would always have two other fathers to step in if fate decided I’d had my dose of allotted happiness.
Outwardly, I was still the same unkillable refugee turned billionaire. Inwardly, I valued my life all the more. I surrendered to every day and everything in it. I never grew angry because time was too short. I let go of my temper because I preferred total bliss. I was free in ways that no fear or worry could find me.
Thanks to her.
She was my anchor.
My heartbeat, my breath, my blood.
As long as I had her, I would live forever.
“I can feel you watching me, you know,” Neri whispered, turning onto her side and catching my eyes across the sphere. “By the way, my heart skipped just before. Was I sensing you, or am I just getting carried away with the view again?”
