Page 254 of Ignite

He swallows hard.

His mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

Instead, he just gives me the smallest nod, like if he tries to speak, he’ll break too.

“Get some rest, Hallie,” he says at last, voice rough. “I’ll come and get you when you can see him. Okay?”

I nod because it’s all I can manage.

But inside, my heart is already running to him.

I want to bury my face in his neck and never let go.

I want to tell him that our baby is safe. That he’s safe.

And that this time, I’m not going anywhere.

Chapter 99

CONAN

Song, Ordinary Love- Alex Warren.

Iblink, trying to adjust to the bright lights.

Where the fuck?

I try to sit up and groan. No chance.

The blur starts to clear, and two figures are beside my bed.

“Finn?”

I’d recognize that flat cap anywhere.

“Conan. How you feeling?” he asks.

“Umm. Like I’ve jumped off a cliff onto a load of rocks, then got shot?”

He chuckles and steps closer.

“Not far from the truth. Car crash, then a shooting. Oh, and I may have broken some ribs doing the CPR.”

My mouth falls open.

“Where is Hallie?”

I vaguely remember the moment before I lost consciousness. She was holding me.

It was warm and safe. Like I was finally home.

The monitor beside me starts to beep. My heart rate picks up.

“She’s fine, Conan. Right outside that door.”

He gestures to the chair beside me.

“And that’s where she’s been sat pretty much the entire time.”