Chapter 41 — When Silence Breaks
The hospital room was too white.
Too clean. Too quiet.
Kiera sat upright on the narrow bed, her fingers twisting the edge of the blanket as if it were the only thing anchoring her to reality. Machines beeped softly beside her, each sound a reminder that she was still here. Alive. Breathing. Safe.
Safe felt unfamiliar.
The door opened gently.
Kade stepped inside.
He hadn't slept. That much was obvious. His suit from the docks had been replaced with dark jeans and a simple shirt, but the exhaustion clung to him more stubbornly than fabric ever could. His eyes found her instantly, as if the rest of the world blurred unless she was in it.
"You should be resting," he said quietly.
Kiera let out a hollow laugh. "I'm tired of resting."
He nodded, understanding more than she expected. Kade moved closer, stopping just short of the bed, as though afraid his presence might overwhelm her.
"How do you feel?" he asked.
She searched for the right answer.
