Page 69 of Rupture

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Finn sprintedwith Rose in his arms.

He’d pulled her clear of the seething nanobots at the last second, ripped her mask off. Confirmed her pulse as Ethan had tugged the door closed using the rope they’d tied on before dropping the hatch on them.

The swarm was contained.

But Rose?

His lungs burned as he barreled into the med bay.

“Put her here,” Duke ordered, already pulling on sterile gloves.

Carefully, Finn laid her on the white-draped examination table. He grabbed gloves too and removed her contaminated boots.

Blood matted the hair on the back of her head where she’d slipped and hit herself before he pulled her free.

Duke bent, gently parting her hair to examine the wound while Finn fought to keep still, to let him work. Each touch that made Rose’s head loll lifelessly sent a fresh surge of fear through him.

“She used herself as bait.” His words tasted acrid. “To draw the swarm into the desalination tank.”

Duke’s hands stilled. “She did what?”

Finn nodded and wiped cold sweat from his forehead with his forearm. “Is she?—”

“Let me check her pupils.” Duke pulled out a penlight, gently lifting each eyelid to shine the light. “Equal and reactive, that’s good. The laceration isn’t as deep as all this blood suggests.” He pressed a sterile gauze pad against the wound. “No signs of skull fracture or severe concussion, but we’ll monitor her closely. She’ll need a few stitches, and she’ll have one hell of a headache when she wakes up.”

Finn’s legs gave out, and he sank into a nearby chair, the relief making him lightheaded. She was going to be okay.She’s going to be okay.

“Areyouokay?” Duke eyed him.

“Sure. Yes.” Finn pushed back to his feet, sucking in a steadying breath.

“Hold this,” Duke said, guiding Finn’s hand to hold the gauze while he prepared the suture kit.

Finn watched Rose’s chest rise and fall, each breath calming his own racing heart. “God, when I saw all that blood...” His jaw clamped hard.

Duke shot him a glance. “She’s important.”

Finn nodded, seeing the question in Duke’s eyes. That this woman meant something to him. Something more than the mission they’d both been assigned to. “Yes. She is.” She hadn’t flinched when he’d told her about his past, about the prison time. Instead of seeing a violent ex-con, she’d seen him. For the first time in far too long, he wanted a future.

He waited as Duke carefully applied five neat stitches to the back of her head.

“Finn?” Ethan stormed into the med bay, his voice sharp.

Finn turned. “She’s going to be okay.”

Ethan blew out a breath, his gaze sliding to where Duke was working. “She’s got balls. That was one crazy move.”

“The swarm?”

Ethan gave a clipped nod. “Definitely contained.”

“Wha—” Rose stirred.

“Easy there,” Duke said. “Just finishing up some stitches. You took a nasty fall.”

Finn was at her side in an instant, taking hold of her hand. She blinked groggily up at him as he smoothed loose hair from her face. “How are you feeling?”

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