I wanted that to reassure me, but the truth was I was too damn terrified, so I simply nodded.
When the elevator doors opened on another floor, Dr. Jones led me down another hall, punching a code into two double doors. He guided me through a maze of rooms until he stopped outside an open door. “Talk to her. It might help.”
I swallowed, trying to clear the lump in my throat, and then I moved inside. The smell of antiseptic nearly took me out at the knees. Memories of countless days spent with Clara as she underwent treatment. Memories of sleepless nights by Grae’s bedside. But I forced my feet forward.
The sight of Grae did me in. Her body looked so tiny in the massive hospital bed. Her face so pale. She had gauze wrapped around her neck, and wires protruded from beneath her hospital gown.
But I didn’t let myself stop. Not until I sank into the chair next to her bed.
I gingerly took her hand in mine, lifting it and pressing my lips to her skin. “I’m right here, Gigi. I’m not going anywhere.”
It was a vow. An oath.
The tears came as I watched her chest rise and fall. I didn’t try to stop them; each one held all the love I felt for the woman beside me. I let them fall onto our joined hands, hoping they’d magically bring her back to me.
I slid my hand into my pocket and pulled out the necklace I’d carried with me for eleven years. Ever since the EMTs had taken it off Grae to place paddles on her chest and shock her back to life. I laid it over our joined hands. Some part of me believed holding on to it for so long had brought her back to me once. I just needed it to do it again.
My lips ghosted over her hand. “Need you, Gigi. Please, don’t leave me.”
49
GRAE
The faint beepingsound grated against my ears. “Turn it off,” I grumbled.
I tried to turn over, but pain ricocheted through me in angry pulses.
“Take it easy, Gigi,” a rough voice warned as warm, gentle hands gripped my shoulders, shifting me back to the mattress.
I blinked rapidly at the sound, wanting more of it. Light filled my vision, almost hurting my eyes.
“There she is.”
Caden’s face came into focus in snapshots. Brief glimmers of the man I loved with everything I had. But he looked rough. Thick stubble covered his jaw. Dark circles rimmed his eyes. His hair was a mess as if he’d run his fingers through it a hundred times.
“What’s wrong?” I croaked.
His hand came to my face, thumb stroking back and forth across my cheekbone. “You gave us a scare. Your pump ran out of insulin, and you went into ketoacidosis. You were in a coma for over twenty-four hours.”
Everything came back to me in short bursts. Opening the door. The Taser. The cabin. The fire. My body jerked, making a fresh wave of pain cascade through me. “Eddie.”
Caden kept one hand on my cheek and the other curved around mine, squeezing. “He’s gone. You’re safe.”
“Gone?”
Caden nodded.
Tears filled my eyes, spilling over. Not for the person who’d terrorized me but for the friend I’d lost. “His mind got so twisted.”
Caden leaned over me, pressing his forehead to mine. “I know.”
“Why?” I rasped.
“Not sure we’ll ever completely understand.” Caden straightened, searching my face. “Police found some journals. After Megan died, it was like he fixated on you. Needed you to keep going. But that need turned dark, obsessive.”
My chest grew tight, and I gripped Caden’s hand tighter. “I didn’t see it.”
“I know. No one did.” Pain flashed in Caden’s face. “I’m so sorry I left you alone.”
