Page 43 of Eden and her Mercenary
This time I was sure—her fingers squeezed mine, just barely, but definitely intentional.
"Eden?" I leaned closer. "Can you hear me?"
Her eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. Confused, unfocused, but aware. The most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.
"Hey," I said softly, barely able to speak around the lump in my throat. "Welcome back."
She tried to speak but couldn't around the ventilator tube. Her eyes found mine, wide with questions and fear.
"You're safe," I assured her quickly. "You were shot, but you're going to be fine. The tube is helping you breathe—they'll remove it soon."
She squeezed my hand again, stronger this time.
"Stella's safe too," I added, knowing that would be her first concern. "She's with Wren, waiting for you to come home."
Tears gathered in her eyes—relief, pain, gratitude, all mixed together.
"I love you," I said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "And I'm never letting anyone hurt you again."
She couldn't speak, but her eyes said everything I needed to hear.
Chapter 14
Royal
The next morning brought Dr. Reeves with cautiously optimistic news. Eden's lung function had improved enough to remove the ventilator, though she'd need oxygen support for several more days if not weeks. I watched nervously as the medical team worked, Eden's eyes never leaving mine as they extracted the breathing tube.
Her first words were barely a whisper: "Stella?"
"Safe," I assured her immediately. "Wren's taking excellent care of her."
"The... the people who..." Her voice was raw, each word an effort.
"Handled," I said simply. "They won't be coming after you anymore."
She studied my face, reading the things I didn't say. After years of living on the margins, transporting rescue dogs through dangerous situations, Eden understood the language of necessary violence.
Dr. Reeves checked her charts, his expressionprofessionally neutral. "Ms. Wade, your recovery has been remarkable. We should have you moved to a regular room by tomorrow."
After he left, Eden struggled to sit up slightly. "His last name," she croaked. "Reeves."
I nodded. “Brother to the head security at Junction and Whitmore's son-in-law," I confirmed quietly. "But he's been treating you properly. Our people have verified everything."
She nodded weakly, then asked, "How long?"
"Five days. You've been unconscious for five days."
Tears gathered in her eyes. "Stella must think I abandoned her."
"Never," I said firmly. "Dogs understand loyalty better than most humans. She knows you're coming back."
Over the next few hours, Eden drifted in and out of sleep, her body demanding rest to heal. I remained by her side, fielding updates from Ryker and Declan. Whitmore had made several frantic phone calls but hadn't yet contacted authorities nor called off the hit for Eden and Stella. His twenty-four hour deadline was approaching.
When Eden woke again that evening, she seemed stronger, more alert.
"Tell me what happened," she said. "All of it."
I gave her the full story—the sniper, the connection to Whitmore, the human testing program we'd uncovered. Her face grew paler with each revelation.
