Chapter 119: Sofia

There’s a soft knock at the door, pulling me from a dream I can barely remember. I mumble, “Mmm,” shifting under the hospital sheets, my body achy but finally warm.

I blink, adjusting to the dim light of the room, and I see one person step in… then another… and then a third. It takes a second for my groggy mind to register who it is, but when it clicks, my heart skips a beat, and I sit up straight, eyes filling with tears. My men—they’re here.

Before I can fully process it, Nate rushes over to me, wrapping me in his arms and lifting me onto his lap, holding me with a care I’ve never felt from him before. His gaze is everywhere—checking me over, taking in every bruise, every scratch. “Baby,” he murmurs, voice rough with emotion, “you don’t know how fucking happy I am to see you right now.” His hand strokes my back, his touch tender and shaky, and I press my face into his neck, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of him.

Then Riley steps forward, leaning in with that familiar glint in his eyes, but this time it’s filled with relief, raw and unfiltered. He lowers his head, his lips brushing mine gently at first, but it turns into something deeper, like he’s trying to pour all the days we’ve been apart into one kiss. He’s careful not to touch the IV in my arm, but his hand cups my face, thumb gently brushing my cheek as he kisses me, making my heart race.

Danny’s next, and before I know it, he’s lifting me off Nate’s lap and pulling me into a tight hug. I gasp, laughing softly, feeling the strength and warmth in his embrace. But Nate shoots him a frown, his voice a little sharper now. “Hey, careful, man.”

I chuckle, brushing it off. “My injuries aren’t that bad, guys,” I say, trying to sound reassuring, even though I can feel the bruises aching.

They exchange looks, glancing at one another like they’re sharing some secret. But none of them says a word about it, and instead, they keep their focus on me, eyes filled with relief, with love.

“I missed you so much,” I whisper, looking at each of them in turn.

I settle back onto the bed, finding myself surrounded by them, each one watching me like I’m the most precious thing they’ve ever laid eyes on. I let out a shaky breath, glancing between them, and then I just start talking, the words spilling out as I try to piece together everything that happened.

“I… I escaped the cabin by stabbing one of the guards,” I admit, glancing around to see their reactions. I half expect them to look horrified, but all I see is pure pride, unwavering and strong. Danny’s lips quirk into a grin, and Riley’s eyebrows shoot up with a flash of admiration.

“Atta girl,” Riley murmurs, giving my hand a gentle squeeze, and I feel a wave of warmth rush through me, the fear I’d felt in that moment melting away under their approval.

I nod, swallowing back the emotion. “I ran through the forest, but I didn’t know which way was toward the city. I just… I kept going, hoping I’d find something. And when I finally saw a road, I didn’t even recognize it. I walked along it for… I don’t know how long. The last thing I remember is seeing a truck’s headlights, and then… then I woke up here.”

Nate’s hand rests on my shoulder, his thumb tracing small, soothing circles. “You did more than enough, baby,” he says softly, eyes shining with an intensity that makes my heart ache. “You fought hard. You got yourself out.”

Danny nods, his fingers grazing my knee as he looks at me, voice steady but filled with a raw emotion. “We’re proud of you. You’re safe now. And we’re not letting you out of our sight.”

At Danny’s words, a fresh wave of horror hits me, freezing my whole body in place. My mind is already taking me back to that rooftop—the blood, the screams, the sight of Leo and Cole going down as I was forced to leave them behind. Before I can stop it, a violent sob tears from my throat, the tears rushing forward uncontrollably.

Nate tightens his arms around me, but even his warmth can’t pull me out of the crashing waves of guilt and grief. I can’t breathe; I can barely speak through the sobs. “I’m sorry,” I choke out, my voice raw and trembling. “I’m so, so sorry.”

The guys all look at me, worried, holding me close as if their touch alone could make it better, but I’m too far gone, the images replaying in my mind. I can’t shake the memory, the certainty I’d felt that I’d lost them forever.

Finally, when my sobs start to subside, I manage to whisper, my voice broken and hoarse, “I… I couldn’t do anything for Leo and Cole.” My voice cracks on their names, and fresh tears spill over as I bury my face in my hands. I was helpless, unable to save them as they were hurt, left bleeding on that rooftop.

Riley’s hand cups my face, and he lifts my chin gently, his eyes filled with a tenderness that makes my heart ache. “Sofia,” he says softly, “they’re okay. Leo and Cole are okay. They’re alive, and they’ve been waiting for you to come home.”

I blink, staring at him, barely able to process what he’s saying. “They… they’re alive?”

Nate nods, his voice thick with emotion. “Yeah. They made it. They’re safe, Sofia.”

A new kind of relief floods through me, so overwhelming I can barely keep it together. They’re alive. I didn’t lose them. I cling to Nate, letting out a shaky breath, the weight of all those fears finally lifting.

words and steady hands. “You should get some rest,” Nate murmurs, tucking the blanket around me as he brushes a stray strand of hair from my face. “We’ll talk to the nurse about getting you discharged, and we’ll take you home.”

I nod, too exhausted to argue. The relief of knowing they’re here and safe starts to lull me, drawing me back into a heavy, peaceful sleep. Riley lies down beside me, his fingers gently combing through my hair, each touch soft and grounding. I feel Danny’s warm hand on my arm as he sits close, rubbing slow circles that drift to my belly, his hand resting there with a tenderness that surprises me.

I’m slipping further into sleep when I catch Danny whispering to Riley, his voice thick with emotion. “Man… how can I have missed something so much I didn’t even know existed?”

Riley’s hand finds mine, his voice equally raw as he murmurs back, “I’m so fucking happy to have them back.”

Their words don’t make complete sense in my drowsy state, but I don’t care. Their touch, their whispers, the soft movements of Danny’s hand circling my belly—it’s enough. They’re here, safe, and I’m finally, fully wrapped up in them.