Page 99 of Mortify

The relief nearly drops me to my knees.

"What happened?"

"Subchorionic hemorrhage," Vail supplies from the corner. "Bleeding between the placenta and uterine wall. Scary as hell, but baby's okay for now."

For now.

The words hang heavy.

"Dad?" Everly notices Kraken hovering by the door. "You're here too?"

"Where else would I be?" he says gruffly. "You're my little girl."

Tears slide down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. About everything. About lying, about?—"

"Shh." He moves closer, takes her other hand. "None of that matters. You're what matters."

And standing there, covered in blood from killing the man who terrorized our family, watching Kraken accept what I am to his daughter, holding the hand of the woman carrying a baby that's mine in every way that counts...

I realize sometimes endings and beginnings happen at the same time.

The Patriot's dead.

The threat he posed for years is over.

But this—Everly, the baby, the family we're building—this is just beginning.

"I love you," I tell her, not caring that her father's watching. "Both of you."

"Love you too," she whispers. "Did you... is it done?"

I know she's asking about the Patriot.

About the mission.

About Dylan's world crumbling.

"Yeah," I say simply. "It's done."

She closes her eyes, tension leaving her body. "Good."

"The warehouse he was at is gone," Kraken adds. "Nothing will be left but the foundation by the time the fire is done. And the Patriot..." He glances at me. "Rio got justice. For Flora."

"Good," she repeats, stronger this time.

A knock at the door interrupts us.

Dr. Sims enters, chart in hand.

"How are we doing?" she asks Everly.

"Better now that they're here," Everly admits.

"Good. Support is important." The doctor's eyes flick over Kraken and me, taking in our appearance. "Rough night?"

"You could say that," I mutter.

"Well, I have good news and cautious news," she continues. "The good news is the bleeding has slowed significantly. Baby's heartbeat remains strong at 165 beats per minute, and there's no sign of placental abruption."

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