LOGINWe step out into the corridor together, heading towards the room we’d seen him go into. “Hey,” I call as we spot Jake’s assistant leaving the room opposite. “Have you seen Jake?”She looks up, relief flickering across her face as if she’s glad it’s not another emergency.“Yeah,” she says. “He stepp
**Poppy’s POV **After the tree of death tried to kill me, we head back into the clinic for breakfast. Jake leaves to check on his patients, promising to catch up with us soon. I want to tell him no, that I need him with me, but that will only worry him and Leo. I feel fine; the chill I had last ni
His mouth twitches slightly, but he doesn’t quite smile.“Good,” he says.Good? I stare at him.“That’s not an answer.”“No,” he agrees. “It isn’t, but you also didn’t ask a question.”My hands clench at my sides, which is more Leo’s style than mine. I force them to relax.“Ronnie…”“When something
** Jake’s POV **That baby should have died. The thought swirls in my mind, no matter how many times I try to push it aside. I’ve seen enough births to know the difference between a close call and a miracle. That wasn’t a close call; it was impossible.I stand at the end of the bed, watching as the
“Poppy,” Jake’s voice calls, softer than before.I glance over at him. He’s watching me now.A flicker of unease slides through me.“Yeah?” I call back, forcing a small smile.His gaze narrows slightly, as if he’s trying to piece something together that doesn’t quite fit.“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Jake watches me closely.“I’m fine,” I insist, before he can say anything. I know he doesn’t fully believe me, but he doesn’t argue.We step out into the corridor together, and I hear a few voices drift in the distance. “Jake,” Leo says quietly beside me. “What’s going on?”Jake exhales slowly as
I rub a hand over my jaw, still watching the enforcers. “All right. But make it quick. These guys aren’t stable. They’re twitchy, and I don’t know if it’s shock or something worse.”“When you say twitchy,” Callen says slowly, “are we talking nervously, twitchy, or full-on 'I’m going to eat your brai
Jake nods from where he kneels beside her. “Her vitals are strong. Whatever she did burned through her reserves. Her body’s catching up. I don’t think it will be long before she wakes. She’ll still need to rest though.”Remy grunts and tosses two more bundles from the pile. One at Callen, one at me.
“You’re safe,” I whisper. “They’re safe, and I’m here. I’m right here.”She sucks in a breath, something loosening just a little.“Lie down.”She obeys, slowly lowering herself onto the mattress. I settle beside her, propped on one elbow, watching her face in the soft light.She’s beautiful like thi
A boy about Jaxon’s age clutches his father’s hand and whispers, “What if the bad men are hiding?”The father swallows hard, eyes darting. “They’re not. The enforcers checked…”“But what if…” His voice breaks, and his dad pulls him in tight.Ryder stiffens beside me.This fear is what he was talking







