Chapter 16 - The VigilI spent the next forty-eight hours pacing the halls of a private, high-tech hospital ward.
Julian had undergone two major surgeries to repair the damage from the gunshot wounds.
Silas stood outside his door like a stone gargoyle, refusing to let anyone in.
“How is he?” I asked for the hundredth time.
“The doctors say he is stable, Miss,” Silas replied stoically.
“I need to see him.”
Silas finally stepped aside, opening the heavy wooden door.
The room smelled of antiseptic and expensive flowers.
Julian was lying in the massive bed, hooked up to a dozen different monitors.
He looked paler than I had ever seen him, stripped of his usual intimidating aura.
I pulled up a chair and took his cold, heavy hand in mine.
“You promised to protect me,” I whispered to his sleeping form.
“But you never said who was going to protect you.”
His long eyelashes fluttered, and his dark eyes slowly opened to focus on me.
“You are still here,” he rasped, his voice rough from intubation.
May you like
“Where else would I be?” I asked, tears springing to my eyes.
“Anywhere safe,” he replied weakly, pulling his hand away from mine.
