Page 139 of The Assignment: Room 3

The door opens, and Pierce comes striding in, only to find his wife and her friend on the floor.

“Pierce, you have to do something. She’s hysterical. I’ve been trying to snap her out of it, but it’s not working. She’s spiraling.”

Freya stands from my side and takes a seat before Pierce’s arms slip under me, scooping me up into his arms. “I’ve got you, little sub.” He sits next to Freya, setting me on his lap, and holding me tight to his chest. “It’s going to be okay. We’ve got you.” Freya reaches over and clasps my hand as I curl against her Dominant’s chest.

Pierce rubs slow, soft circles on my back, letting me cry my heart out. He doesn’t let go or force me to speak. When my tear ducts dry up, exhaustion takes over, pulling me back to the darkness, where I can find Flex, living, breathing, and holding me in his arms. It’s welcome when it comes.

Beeps and whirs of Flex’s machines wake me up, but I’m no longer in Pierce’s arms. He laid me next to Flex, the warmth of his body soothing me. I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep, but I make no move to open my eyes. If I do, I’m worried they will take me away. I know I’m overwhelmed and traumatized, but I need to feel Flex’s skin on mine, the rise and fall of his chest, even if it’s a machine doing it for him.

As I lay a hand over his heart, its beat is slow and steady. Strong. I need him to come back to me. I will gladly beg every moment of every day until he wakes up and gives me that smile. The one that calls out to my soul. Two halves made whole when we found each other.

“Has she been here all night?” I recognize the voice speaking to the nurse who takes Flex’s vitals every couple of hours. It’s my boss and Flex’s best friend, Dalton. He must hate me.

“Yes,” I answer.

“Oh, you’re awake. I don’t know if you’re aware that they gave you a sedative last night. You were in bad shape, so Pierce gave you something to help you rest.”

“What about Flex? Any news.”

“Pierce says they will be doing some tests today to check his brain activity. He’s still not off the vent, which is concerning at this point.” The desolation in his voice echoes my own.

“I’m so sorry, Dalton.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” His tone isn’t even the slightest bit accusatory. “We would have helped you.”

“I thought that part of my life was over. It had been four years with no sign of Michael. I changed my name the day I left him, and I swore never to tell anyone my true identity for fear that he would find me. Celest Monroe was born the day Helena Maxwell died.”

“What about your mom?”

“I waited three years before I reached out to her. I made sure there was no paper trail. It was selfish of me, but I wanted Gracie to have her Gan Gan. I should’ve left it as it was. She had no idea where I was or who I purported to be.”

“He’s gone now. You and Gracie can live a normal life.”

“Not without Flex.”

He takes a seat at his best friend’s bedside. “I want him back as much as you do. He got me through losing my mom. He’s my brother in all the ways that matter. DNA means nothing to Flex. That’s one of the many things I love about him. He has no family, but he finds his own in friends… and now with you and Gracie.”

“She called him Daddy the night Michael came for us. Shemade him promise to come back as soon as he got me out of there. One of the last things he said to me was to let Gracie know that he wanted to stay…” I choke out, “… and that he wanted to be her daddy.” I burst into tears.

“He deserves to have a family to call his own. I know how much he loves you and Gracie. He wanted her to have a mommy and daddy.” That’s when it hits me.

“Can you take me to his apartment? It’s a long shot, but I might be able to give him something he never allowed himself.”

I sit upright in the bed, wearing sweats and a hoodie. Freya must have changed me after I passed out.

“What?”

“It’s his story to tell when he’s ready, but I know how he lost his parents. I need to get to his place as soon as possible. Can you take me? Or you stay here, and I’ll go.”

“I’ll drive you. Naddie is on her way to sit with Flex. We’ve had someone with him twenty-four-seven.”

“How long can he stay like this before we lose hope?”

“That’s a question for Pierce, but right now, I’d say we keep hoping he’ll come back. Flex is a fighter. He’s survived worse odds when he was a Navy SEAL.”

“Did he ever tell you why he enlisted?” I’m trying to gauge how much Dalton knows. Flex told me no one else knows the circumstances of his parents’ death.

“No. He kept his motivation close to his chest. All I know is that he lost his parents when he was around thirteen. When I met him, my mom became his surrogate mother. She loved him as if she’d given birth to him. We were a happy family.” His gaze drifts to his best friend. It’s then that I notice the dark circles under Dalton’s eyes. He’s sleep deprived. His hair is a mess, and he’s in a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so casual. An odd observation I guess, but everything else feels wrong. I need something stable to hold onto. I’m floundering and I need Flex to wake up. He’s my anchor in any storm.

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