Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 238

Chapter 238: Chapter 238.

A sob rips out of me so hard it actually hurts my chest.

Then another.....Suddenly I’m crying so violently I can barely stay standing. Noah holds me tighter immediately.

"It’s okay," he whispers quickly, one hand pressing against the back of my head. "I’ve got you. I’ve got you."

But I can’t stop....i can’t.

"I thought he died," I choke out between sobs. "Noah, I thought he died in front of me..."

My fingers clutch desperately at his shirt like I’m drowning.

"He was bleeding so much," I cry. "There was so much blood and I couldn’t stop it and Margaret got shot and..."

My voice completely falls apart as Noah just holds me tighter, like he’s trying to shield me from everything at once.

"You did good," he says softly, firmly. "You hear me? You did everything you could."

I shake my head violently against his chest.

"It’s my fault..."

"No."

"I should’ve stayed upstairs....."

"No, Elaine."

"If something happens to them...."

His grip tightens immediately.

"Listen to me."

His voice breaks through my panic just enough that I finally look up at him, to see his eyes are red too.

"They’re alive," he says carefully, like he needs me to hold onto those words too. "They made it here alive. That matters."

A broken sound leaves me bcause I know what he’s really saying. That sometimes...that’s all you get.

I star crying harder and Noah just stands there in the middle of that cold hospital hallway holding me while I completely fall apart in his arms.

"I can’t handle this..."

The words leave me in a small broken whisper .My hands are trembling so badly I have to lace them together tightly just to hide it. Even then, they still shake. Noah slowly leads me toward the waiting room, one hand steady against my back the entire time like he’s afraid I might collapse if he lets go and Honestly? he’s probably right.

The waiting room is almost empty when we step into it. Just a few scattered people sitting under harsh fluorescent lights, all wearing the same exhausted expression. The same fear, hel helplessness

Noah sits me down gently on one of the chairs and the second I sit, the weight of everything crashes into me again.

Zane.Margaret and my Grandpa.

Oh God.

A fresh wave of tears burns my eyes immediately.

"I can’t do this," I whisper, staring blankly at the tiled floor. "I can’t... Noah, Grandpa’s already here too. He’s sick and now Zane and Margaret and..." My voice cracks badly. "How am I supposed to cope with all this at once?"

The words come out messy..Noah crouches in front of me slowly, his expression softening in that older-brother way that makes me feel about five years old again.

"You don’t have to cope with all of it at once," he says quietly.

I let out a weak laugh that sounds more like a sob.

"Well my life apparently disagrees."

That almost earns the tiniest smile from him.

Almost but it disappears quickly.

He reaches over and brushes some hair away from my face gently.

"You’ve been strong all night."

I look at him immediately.

"No."

"You need a shower, sleep and clean clothes."

"Noah....."

"I’ll stay here," he says gently. "If anything changes, if anything happens, I’ll call you immediately."

I shake my head before he even finishes.

"I can’t leave."

"You’re exhausted."

"I don’t care."

"You’re barely holding yourself together."

"I said I’m not leaving."

The sharpness in my voice surprises even me. But the thought of leaving? Of not being here when Zane wakes up?Or if something happens?

No.Absolutely not.

Because if I leave and something goes wrong while I’m gone...i will never forgive myself.

"I won’t be able to rest anyway," I say more quietly now, staring down at the coffee in my hands. "I’ll just keep thinking about them. Wondering if they’re okay. Wondering if he woke up asking for me."

My voice breaks again near the end and Noah watches me silently for a moment. Then he nods slowly.

"Okay."

He leans back into the chair beside mr and for the first time since arriving here, I let myself breathe a little.