Chapter 154
Chapter 154:
In the blackness, she dreamed of the ocean — the crushing weight of it, the cold pressing in from every direction, the slow surrender of sinking. And then she dreamed of an arm closing around her waist, pulling her upward through the dark water toward the surface and the light.
Hilliard’s arm.
Even in the nightmare, he was the one who saved her.
She hated herself for it.
The helicopter banked hard and began its descent toward the welcoming, indifferent lights of the city below.
The private wing of the hospital was a sterile, hushed world removed entirely from the chaos of the ocean.
Ashely rushed in, her face drained of color. “Where is she? Where is Elia?” she demanded, making straight for Kegan, who stood like a grim statue outside the trauma room doors.
“Cailin is resting — severe pneumonia and hypothermic shock,” Kegan said, his voice low and measured. “Elia is fine. Shaken, but fine. They’re keeping her under observation.” His eyes moved past Ashely, sharpening. “Where are the boys p>
“In the car with one of your men,” Ashely said, twisting her hands together. “Aron saw the news feed before I could turn it off. He’s furious p>
“Good,” Kegan said. “Keep them away from here. Hilliard is on his way, and I don’t want him anywhere near them p>
As if summoned, the elevator doors slid open.
𝘑𝗈𝗶ո 𝗼ur 𝖼о𝘮𝗆uո𝗶𝘁𝘆 оn
Hilliard stepped out. He had been taken to a different hospital for a brief examination and had changed into plain gray scrubs, but nothing about him looked rested or composed. He looked like a man who had been taken apart and hadn’t quite managed to reassemble himself. His gaze swept the hallway and landed on Kegan. He walked forward, his steps heavy and deliberate.
“How is she p>
“No thanks to you,” Kegan said.
Before Hilliard could respond, a side door swung open and two police officers wheeled a gurney into the corridor. Charla was strapped to it, handcuffed, her wet hair matted against her face, her expression a shifting mask of disbelief and barely contained rage.
“Hilliard!” Her voice cracked when she saw him. “They are arresting me! Help me! Tell them it was a mistake — tell them you know I would never p>
Hilliard turned to look at her. Whatever had remained of the man who had once been engaged to her was gone, burned cleanly away by the hours that had just passed.
He turned his back on her.
“Officer,” he said, his voice clear and unhurried in the quiet hallway, “take her full statement. My legal team will be in contact. I will be pressing charges — conspiracy and attempted murder p>
Charla screamed his name — a long, raw, desperate sound that echoed down the corridor as the gurney rolled toward the elevators. Then the doors closed, and the hallway was quiet again.
Hilliard turned back to Kegan. “I am here for Cailin. I am not leaving until I know she is okay p>
“She doesn’t want you here,” Kegan said.
“That is a decision she can make when she’s conscious,” Hilliard replied. He crossed to a hard plastic chair directly opposite Kegan and sat down, arms folded over his chest, gaze fixed on the closed doors of Cailin’s room. “I’m not leaving p>