Page 195 of The Sinner's Bargain

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

THORAN

Naya’s heart stopped.

For twenty-three seconds, my world nearly collapsed to nothing. The grating scream of machines as it flatlined would be my new nightmare. I knew it as I stood back helplessly as doctors rushed to bring her back. Her filthy sweater was torn down the front and shock paddles were prepped. Men and women yelled words I didn’t understand.

Then the faint beep.

Then another.

The little jagged hills on the monitor had everyone glancing at the screen as she came back on her own.

There was more shouting, but she was back, and I nearly sank to the floor.

I did.

I sat wherever I was. The icy linoleum bit through the fabric of my trousers, but I couldn’t give a shit. I let my head drop back against the wall and shut my eyes.

Oliver.

What the fuck?

What was he doing?

What the hell was that room?

How was there a whole space behind the walls I never knew about?

It didn’t matter. None of that mattered. I needed to know what the fuck he injected into Naya. I needed to know what it was going to do to her. I needed to know what the fuck was taking the fucking doctor so fucking long.

I felt the space next to me get occupied. We didn’t brush, but I knew it was Cyrus.

“She’s going to be okay,” he murmured softly.

“I should have left you with her,” I replied. “I shouldn’t have listened to her. You should have stayed.”

“Oliver—”

“I don’t ever want to hear that fucker’s name again.” I lowered my head and fixed my eyes on him.

Cyrus dipped his chin once. “He’s still alive. I ... I got him in the shoulder, but...” His brows furrowed and he lowered his gaze. “It was my fault she was hurt.”

“It was his fault,” I corrected sharply. “You saw an opening and took it. It could have been a lot worse if you’d waited.”

Like emptying the entire toxin into her vein. The fact that it wasn’t enough could have been the thing that saved her.

Cyrus said nothing.

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