numb, stuck on a loop of Preston's "good girl" and her mother's triumphant s

hospital, her phone buz

ICU is locked down

he day before. The guards at the end of the hall were different-bigger, meaner, carr

the door to Ro

ician, was standing by the bed, whi

e on edge. His hands were clasped behind his back, the knuckles whi

ooked up as

charged with an unspoken tension. Dr. Adler looked nervous, shi

aring his throat. "The Colonel was ju

es on the screens. She could feel Romero's gaze on her, heavy and assessing. It was the

ted," Romero said, his voice low. "He's to

sedation, his pain levels w

t him off, his tone leaving no room for argu

allowed hard

stopped. He was close enough that she could smell him again-cedar,

ere unreadable, but there was an inten

se," he said quietly.

icked shut behind him, and Ca

m, suddenly paranoid. The walls have ears? Wa

Petersen was watching her, his eyes cle

He's... decisive. You just do your job, and he'll handle the r

tersen had already closed his eyes, his

pped by her family, trapped by Preston. Now, standing in this room with a wounded soldier and a crypti