Lena's POV
The world came back to me in pieces, slow and hazy, with the steady beeping of a heart monitor counting out each second like a metronome.
When I finally opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Rhys sitting beside my hospital bed, his face unshaven, his eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, and his hand wrapped around mine as if he had not let go since they brought me in.
He looked worse than I had ever seen him, with fresh bandages peeking out from under a clean hospital gown, a bruise darkening along his jaw, and the kind of fear in his eyes that told me I had scared him more than any gun ever could.
I tried to speak, but my throat felt raw and dry, so I squeezed his fingers instead to let him know that I was awake, and the relief that washed over his face made my chest ache.
