Page 125 of Cold Hard Truth

I blink my eyes open, and it takes a moment for me to focus. Everything is white—so white.

First, I think I see Sage standing over me, but then another face draws my attention beside him.

Ellie.

Her dark hair is braided like it always was, and she smiles so big her face splits open with sunshine. A white light so bright I can’t look at it.

“Lyla.” She reaches her hand out, but I’m too weak to take it.

“I miss you, Ellie.”

And I burn.

From my chest to my bones. Every part of my body aches, and I want to let go.

“Not yet, Lyla.” Ellie’s voice fades in and out, and I’m not sure what she’s talking about. “Not yet.”

Her lips don’t move with her words, but her voice is echoing around me.

“I love you.”

I don’t know if she says it, or I do. Ellie smiles, her bright blue eyes shining through the blinding white light. So bold and saturated they’re all I see.

A smile so big her face fills with sunshine again. And when I blink at the brightness of it, she fades away.

Sage steps into my line of sight, blocking the beam of sun shining through the window.

“Sage.” His name comes out hoarse.

He squeezes my hand. “Take it easy.”

Sitting down on the side of my bed, he holds my hand in his lap.

“You tried to leave me again.” His thumb brushes over the back of my hand, back and forth.

“Doesn’t ever work.” The smile hurts my cheeks, but I can’t help it because he’s real and I’m still here. “You always find me.”

“Always will.” He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it.

Sage holds my hand on his thigh. His shirt is splattered with blood, and there are dark streaks painting his jacket.

“How long has it been?”

“About twelve hours.” He shakes his head. “Your heart stopped, but Doc got it started again.”

His eyebrows tense, and his jaw clenches.

“Hey.” I rub the back of his hand with my thumb. “I’m okay now, right?”

He nods. “You’re stable now, yeah. But fuck.”

Sage stands up, running his hands through his hair and pacing the side of my bed.

Wherever we are, it’s not a hospital. It’s a regular bedroom, so maybe it’s a room in the neighborhood.

“Sage.”

“You can’t do that, Lyla.” He leans down so he’s caging me between his arms, looking down at me. “I can’t lose you like that.”

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