Page 98 of Mortify

"She'll always be your daughter."

"Yeah, but now she's your woman too. Mother of your kid." He's quiet for a moment. "You're a better man than I gave you credit for."

The hospital appears ahead, lit up like salvation.

We park near the entrance to the ER, not giving a damn if we’re supposed to be there or not.

Security starts toward us—two bikers covered in blood and smoke—but Kraken nudges him.

"My daughter's in there," he snarls. "Move."

We burst through the doors, probably looking like we're here to finish someone off rather than save them.

I bark out her full name at the desk nurse. "Where is she?"

The woman's eyes go wide, taking in our appearance. "Are you family?"

"I'm her father," Kraken says. "This is her... boyfriend."

Boyfriend.

First time he's acknowledged it without sneering.

"Third floor," the nurse says quickly. "Room 312."

We don't wait for the elevator, taking the stairs three at a time.

My heart's pounding harder than during the firefight.

This is a different kind of terror.

The kind where violence won't help, where all my skills mean nothing.

Where I can't protect her from her own body.

Room 312.

I stop at the door, suddenly afraid to enter.

Afraid of what I'll find.

But Kraken pushes past me, and I follow.

She's so pale against the white sheets.

IV in her arm, monitors beeping, and she looks small.

Fragile.

Nothing like the woman who stood up to Dylan in a grocery store.

I'm at her side instantly, taking her hand. "Goldilocks?"

Her eyes flutter open, focusing slowly. "Regnor? You're here."

"Of course I'm here." I brush her hair from her face. "How are you? The baby?"

"Still there," she whispers. "Still fighting."

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