Page 103 of Fallen Empire
Because after everything—after the bruises and the surgeries and the shattered bones—there was still someone out there. Still chasing me. Still trying to silence me or steal what wasn’t theirs to take. And knowing that? Knowing there was another threat looming, another man who thought he could play god with my life?
It opened something in me. I felt the switch flip. As soon as Jaxson said the words. My veins, still thick with pain meds, ran cold.
I took another step, drawing strength from my anger. Resilient.
The walker groaned beneath my grip as I leaned forward and dragged my leg forward. Then another. The pressure in my chest swelled with every inch I forced my body to move, but I didn’t stop.
I couldn’t.
If I had to stop Alex myself—to keep him from touching anyone else—I would.
If I had to burn down everything to make sure the next Diane Walker lived, I wouldn’t hesitate.
This time, I wouldn’t stay quiet. I wouldn’t freeze. I wouldn’t wait for anyone to save me.
Because I was done just surviving.
I was going to fight.
Before I realized how far I’d walked, I was standing in front of the window Millie had been at earlier, staring at the same AC unit. I closed my eyes and pictured her standing here, imagined the distance from the bed—andfuck.
How was I going to get back?
All this bravery had done was walk me into a place I didn’t have the strength to return from.
I glanced over at the sofa. It was closer. Safer. Millie was still beside me, silent. No one had said a word while I fought for each step.
“I want to sit there,” I told her, nodding to the open seat.
“Yeah, absolutely,” she said softly, angling herself to guide the walker toward it.
This time, I didn’t refuse her help. My body was already trembling, exhausted.
“Uh-uh,” Nurse Ruth called from behind me.
I turned my head just enough to see her without using more muscles than necessary.
“You have to come back to the bed,” she said.
“Why? I just walked all this way. I can’t take a little break?”
It was Jaxson who spoke next.
“If she wants to sit down and take a break, she can—”
“No.” Nurse Ruth cut him off sharply. “If she wants to get out of here tomorrow or the next day, she’ll come back to the bed. She’ll put in the work so I can see she’s ready.”
Their eyes locked. I saw the edge of Nurse Ruth’s eyebrow lift in challenge, and when I glanced back at Jaxson, I caught the tick in his jaw.
Neither of them was going to back down.
Then, without a word, Jaxson stomped over to the bed and yanked it forward with both hands, dragging it closer to me. Two feet less distance between me and my goal.
A low huff of laughter slipped out from the corner of the room.
Ben.
I turned my head slowly, just enough to catch the faint smile tugging at his lips.
