Page 224 of Dare To Live

“It doesn’t matter. He’s dead. You’re both alive.”

“At what cost?” I turn and walk past him to the door. “Why the fuck are you still here, anyway?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m okay. Now fuck off.”

“Eli—”

I spin to face him. “If you fucking Eli me one more time, I’ll happily go to prison for your fucking murder.”

“If you do that, you won’t get to spend the rest of your life with Arabella.”

“What room is she in?”

He doesn’t reply, so I step outside into the hallway. If he won’t tell me, I’ll just check every fucking room until I find her.

“Fuck’s sake, Eli. Fine! Just remember, she thought you were dead. She’s been out of it, not really focused on what’s going on. I’ll take you to see her, and then you need to get your stubborn ass back into bed.”

“I just need to see her.” I need to know she’s alive.

“This way.” It’s a slow walk, but we eventually stop outside a room. There’s a curtain pulled across the window, shielding the occupier from view.

“Mr. Travers! You should be in bed.” A nurse hurries over to us.

I sigh. “Not you, as well.”

“I told him he could see Arabella, and then he’ll go back to his room.”

The nurse smiles. “Five minutes. She’s just woken up and is a little tired and confused.”

My hand is shaking when I reach for the handle and push the door open. I step through and my eyes immediately lock on the figure in the bed. She looks small, fragile, and she’s crying quietly.

I let the door close behind me.

“Hey, Kitten.” My throat is tight and that’s all I can force out.

She doesn’t respond straight away. I move closer.

“Ari?”

Her head lifts from the pillow. “Eli?” Her voice is small, disbelieving. She shakes her head. “No, you’re dead.”

“I’m not dead.”

“But Miles said—”

“I haven’t seen Miles.” I cross the room and sink down on the edge of her bed.

She doesn’t make any move toward me, staring out of huge blue eyes. “It must be the medication they gave me. You’re not really here. I just wish you are.”

“I’m really here, Kitten.”

“B-but he shot you. I saw you on the ground. There was blood …” Tears well in her eyes. “So much blood.”

“I know. They wouldn’t let me come and see you sooner. The bullet hit me just below the shoulder. It went straight through. I think I hit my head, which knocked me out.”

“But you’re dead.”

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