Page 106 of Shadows of Recovery

* * *

The ambulances metthe convoy at the border, and the patients were swiftly transferred on board. Brad, still on the phone, received updates from his team. "They're on their way," an officer reported.

"Good." Brad exhaled a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. "Keep them safe."

As the ambulances rushed toward the hospital, Brad had one more critical negotiation to handle. The Whitlock men had committed numerous crimes, and then there was Damon, pure evil. Nathan couldn't control his baby brother, and despite pleas from the wives and his mother, he agreed to turn him in.

The chief of the tribe entered the Whitlock property with a group of tribal enforcers, and they oversaw Nathan Whitlock and his brothers, minus Damon, surrender to the highway patrol. Damon, tied and subdued, was handed over with a grim nod from Nathan before he surrendered.

With the Whitlock men in custody, Brad rushed to the hospital to check on Sophie, Tristan, Kay, Emma, and her son.

* * *

Sophie sat in the sterile,too-bright hospital waiting room, her nerves frayed and her exhaustion finally catching up with her. The adrenaline that had kept her going for hours on end had drained away, leaving her feeling hollow and numb. Her family and Brad were there beside her, their presence comforting. She felt like she was floating, detached from everything, as if this entire nightmare wasn’t quite real.

"How are you holding up?" Brad’s voice was soft, careful, as if he knew how fragile she was.

She could feel her hands trembling, the cold sweat on her skin. "I’ll be okay once I know they’re all safe," she whispered, her voice barely holding steady. The truth was, she wasn’t sure if she would ever be okay again. Not until she could see Tristan and know he was really, truly going to be alright.

The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. Every sound in the hospital seemed amplified—the distant beeping of monitors, the hushed conversations of nurses, the squeak of shoes on linoleum. It all grated on her nerves, reminding her just how much was at stake, how close she came to losing everything.

Finally, her friend Jenna emerged from the ER, her expression serious but calm, the kind of calm Sophie clung to desperately. She stood up so fast, she nearly stumbled, her heart hammering in her chest.

"We’ve stabilized Tristan and Kay," Jenna said in a steady and reassuring voice. "Kay is in surgery, and Tristan is being moved to the ICU. They both have a long road to recovery, but they’re in good hands now."

Relief hit Sophie like a tidal wave, crashing over her and knocking the breath from her lungs. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stepped forward and hugged Jenna tightly. "Thank you," she managed to choke out, her voice breaking.

Brad was beside her in an instant, squeezing her hand in his strong, steady grip. "You did it, Sophie," he murmured, his voice filled with a quiet pride she wasn’t sure she deserved. "You saved them."

Jenna smiled gently, her eyes warm. "You did, Sophie. You were incredible."

But Sophie shook her head, feeling the tears finally spill over. "So did you, Brad.” Her voice trembled with emotion. She looked at him, really looked at him, and saw the same exhaustion and relief in his eyes that she felt in her heart. They had both been pushed to their limits, and somehow, miraculously, they had made it through.

Sophie’s legs felt weak, her body drained of all strength. She sank back into the chair, her hand still gripping Brad’s as if it were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. The relief was so overwhelming, it was almost painful, but underneath it all, there was still the fear, the worry that something could still go wrong. She knew they weren’t out of the woods yet, but for the first time in what felt like forever, she allowed herself to hope.

As she sat there, surrounded by her family and friends, Sophie realized just how much she had to lose, and just how hard she had fought to keep it all. Tristan was alive, and so was Kay, and that was enough to keep her going.

* * *

The rhythmic beepingof machines was the first thing Sophie noticed as she stepped into the ICU. The room was dimly lit, the shadows making everything feel muted and surreal. Her heart clenched at the sight of Tristan lying in the hospital bed, pale and fragile, a far cry from the strong man she loved. Tubes and wires connected him to the machines keeping him stable, and the sight made her breath catch in her throat.

For a moment, she just stood there, unable to move, as if any sudden action might shatter the fragile peace of the room. She wanted to be strong for him, to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over, but seeing him like this broke something inside her. Slowly, she walked to his bedside, her footsteps soft on the cold floor. She reached out, her hand trembling as she gently took his, the warmth of his skin a small comfort in the midst of her fear.

“Tristan…” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

As if sensing her presence, Tristan’s eyes fluttered open, his gaze unfocused at first. It took him a moment to register where he was, and then his eyes found hers, and a small, tired smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Sophie…” he croaked, but there was a depth of feeling in that single word that brought fresh tears to her eyes.

She squeezed his hand gently, her thumb brushing over his knuckles. “I’m here,” she whispered, leaning in closer so he could see her clearly. “I’m right here.”

Tristan swallowed, his throat dry, but he managed to speak. “You… you saved me. Thank you, Soph. You saved my life.”

Sophie shook her head, tears spilling over despite her efforts to hold them back. “No, Tristan. We saved each other,” she confessed, her voice trembling. “I couldn’t have done any of this without you. You kept me going… even when I didn’t think I could.”

Tristan’s eyes softened, his hand tightening slightly around hers. “I love you,” he whispered, the words coming out with all the strength he could muster. “I’ve loved you for so long… and I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you the way I wanted to.”

Sophie’s heart ached at the raw vulnerability in his voice. “I love you too, Tristan.” She leaned down, pressing her forehead against his, her tears falling freely now. “I’m in love with you. And you did protect me… You’ve always protected me. You’ve always been my strength.”

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