[Adrian's POV]
The smell of antiseptic always made me nauseous. It reminded me of too many nights stitching up brothers in back alleys. But for Mom, I'd walk through hell.
I adjusted the collar of my jacket to hide the bandage on my neck and grabbed the bouquet of lilies, her favorite.
When I walked into the private room, the steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound.
"Mom?" I whispered, my voice barely holding together.
Jane turned her head slowly on the pillow. Her face was pale, the bones more prominent than I remembered from the detective's photos, but her eyes... they were the same warm, forgiving blue.
"Ryan?" she breathed, using the middle name I'd used in my emails for the past thirteen years to keep her safe. She blinked, her gaze focusing, and then her eyes widene
