(Mira)
I stayed with Ridge all day. Sitting in the uncomfortable hospital chair. Watching him sleep. Watching him wake up in pain. Watching him try to hide how much it hurt.
The nurse came in every few hours. Checked his vitals. Changed his bandages. Gave him more pain medication.
Each time, I saw the blood. Saw the wound. Saw how close I'd come to losing him.
Five men died tonight. Five brothers.
They had families. Old ladies. Parents.
And now they were gone.
Because of this war. Because of Carter.
Because Ridge had to protect us.
I looked at him. Lying in the hospital bed. Pale. Exhausted.
He'd almost died.
And I couldn't stop thinking about it.
"You okay?" he asked.
I looked up. He was awake. Watching me.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"You're a terrible liar."
I tried to smile. Coul
