Alex’s POV
I woke to bright sunlight cutting through the hospital blinds, slicing across the white sheets like sharp blades. My whole body felt heavy, as if invisible weights were pressing me down. The pain in my arm was constant deep, throbbing, alive with every heartbeat.
For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, lost between waking and memory. Then it all came rushing back , the warehouse, Rebecca’s gun, the smell of smoke, the sound of gunfire, Maya’s face above me as the world faded to black.
A nurse entered quietly, checking the machines beside my bed.
“Good morning, Mr. Stone,” she said softly. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got shot twice,” I muttered, my throat dry.
She smiled faintly, adjusting my IV. “The surgery went well. You’re very lucky—no major organ da
