Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Chapter 242.

"Elaine....."

"No." I sit up straighter beside Zane instantly. "Absolutely not."

My voice comes out sharper than I intend, but I honestly don’t care anymore....not after tonight, not after blood on my hands and gunshots and operating rooms and almost losing hi.

I turn toward Zane instinctively. He still looks pale against the hospital sheets. There are dark shadows beneath his eyes now, exhaustion etched into every line of his face no matter how hard he tries to hide it and somehow Lucas expects me to leave him here? In this condition? After someone literally just tried to gain access to this floor?

"Not happening," I say firmly.

Lucas folds his arms.

"He won’t be unprotected."

I laug a Humorless laugh:

"Someone literally got past security ten minutes ago."

"That won’t happen again."

"How do you know?" I shoot back instantly. "Because from where I’m standing, every time we think things are under control, somebody ends up bleeding!"

The room falls quiet after that , because nobody can argue with it.

Lucas’ jaw tightens slightly.

"I have men outside this room already."

"And someone inside the hospital still managed to get up here."

My chest feels tight all over again. God. I’m tired, so tired. But the thought of leaving Zane alone right now makes panic rise so violently inside me I can barely breathe through it.

I glance toward the door unconsciously, lkie I expect someone else to walk through it any second, with another person I love dying in front of me.

No. I can’t do that again.

"I’m staying," I say more quietly this time. "End of discussion."

Lucas looks like he wants to argue more but Zane speaks first.

"She stays."

His voice is rough and weak from surgery, but there’s still enough authority in it to cut through the room immediately.

Lucas looks at him.

"You’re both targets right now."

"And she’s safer with me than separated from me."

I look at Zane quickly, something warm and painful twists in my chest at the words.

Lucas exhales sharply.

"You’re impossible."

"Runs in the family," Zane mutters.

That almost earns a tiny smile from me, Lucas notices anyway and his expression softens slightly.

"You both look like shit by the way."

"Thank you," I deadpan automatically.

Zane lets out the faintest huff beside me before immediately regretting it as pain flashes across his face.

I turn toward him instantly.

"See? That’s your punishment for laughing."

"I wasn’t laughing."

"You were."

"I was breathing aggressively."

"Alright," he says finally. "You can stay tonight."

Relief immediately loosens something tight inside me.

"But," he adds firmly, "I’m doubling security on this entire floor. Nobody gets in without clearance directly from me or Noah."

I nod quickly.

"Fine."

"And if anything feels off, you call immediately."

"Lucas," I say dryly. "I literally fought two armed men tonight. I think I understand danger."

"That’s exactly why I’m worried."

That shuts me up bcause underneath the frustration in his voice...He sounds scared and I suddenly remember the phone call earlier. My voice shaking while I begged for help. The thought must hit Lucas too because his expression changes slightly and he walks closer and rests a hand briefly on my head like he used to when we were younger.

"You scared the hell out of me tonight," he says quietly.

My throat tightens immediately.

"I know."

Lucas’ hand stills slightly against my hai, for a second his composure cracks. Just a little.

"I drove like a fucking madman getting there," he admits quietly. "I genuinely thought I was about to walk into that house and find...."

He cuts himself off sharply bt he doesn’t need to finish.i already know, emotion clogs my throat immediately.

Lucas pulls me gently into a hug before I can completely spiral again.

"You’re okay," he murmurs quietly. "You’re here."

I close my eyes briefly.

"Barely." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

His grip tightens for half a second before he pulls back. Then he looks toward Zane lying in bed.

"You too," he says pointedly.

Zane gives him a tired look.

"Unfortunately."

Lucas snorts softly despite himself. Then his face hardens again as his eyes flick toward the door.

"I’ll be outside handling security," he says. "Try to get some rest if either of you still remembers how."

"Doubtful," I mutter.

"Fair."

He leaves after that and the room grows quiet again almost immediately as I I slowly settle back beside Zane carefully, trying not to jostle his injuries. His eyes are already half closed now, exhaustion and the drugs his on finally winning. But when I lie beside him again, his hand automatically reaches for mine beneath the blanket, almost like instinct.

I lace our fingers together tightly and for the first time all night...Neither of us lets go

———

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