Chapter 20

The ambulance came. They carried Damien out covered in blood.

"Is he alive?" she asked the medic riding along.

"He's not stable. We're about to start on him."

It took twelve hours.

He survived.

Badly. Possibly permanent disability.

The relief she'd just let herself feel tightened up again.

After he regained consciousness, she went in to see him.

He was half-awake. He used everything he had to get his fingers around her wrist.

"Sera. I finally did something right."

"Sera, I'm not using this to force your hand. I'm asking — don't keep shutting me out. Wipe everything else off the ledger. One more chance."

Each sentence left him panting.

His eyes were red. He waited, stubborn, for her answer.

Her throat closed. She gently pulled her wrist free.

She didn't say yes. She didn't say no.

She didn't say anything.