Chapter 54

Chapter 54
Iris

The nurse came in and smiled softly at me, but I kept watching Ryker move with purpose throughout his dining area. He grabbed weapons and ammo out of a safe in the wall that I would have never known was there. “Iris, how are you feeling? How is the pain?” The nurse said softly, getting my attention. The physical pain was not fun, but the mental anguish was going to kill me. I grimaced as she helped me sit up straighter on the love seat. She pulled out the bottle of pain medicine and put two in her hand. “This will help you rest without the intense pain.” She smiled. I knew better. I knew, due to my past, and the addiction in my family, it was best I took as little pain medicine as I could. I was watching a man I have grown to love greatly to walk out the door to face a danger I didn't want to think about, and I just didn't want to feel any of it anymore. I took the two pills and small glass out of her hand. I closed my eyes and dropped the little pills into my mouth, with three small drinks of water, I knew I would feel better.  

As the nurse checked my bandages, her hands moving with practiced care, I tried to focus on her voice, but my mind kept drifting to the sound of the door closing behind Ryker. Every second that passed felt heavier, like the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for news from the mission unfolding far away. I leaned back against the love seat, my body aching not just from the wounds but from the weight of helplessness. The thought of Ryker confronting Claud filled me with fear and a strange sense of pride; he was fighting for me, for us, but I knew the darkness he was stepping into might be impossible to leave behind. The nurse's soft hums as she worked brought me a small measure of comfort, though her presence was a fleeting distraction from the storm of emotions swirling inside me. I caught her glancing at me, her expression a mix of concern and understanding, as if she knew the battle I was waging within myself. Somewhere in the silence that followed, I felt the edges of exhaustion creeping in, the painkillers dulling the sharp edges of my thoughts, yet not enough to erase them completely. My eyelids grew heavy, and as I surrendered to the pull of rest, I whispered a silent plea into the stillness of the room—for Ryker’s safe return and for the strength to face whatever awaited us both on the other side of this chaos. 

As the medicine began to take hold, I found myself caught in a haze between awareness and fleeting rest. The nurse’s gentle murmurs faded into the background, replaced by the sound of faint footsteps in the kitchen—a reminder that life within the house was still moving, though hers felt suspended in uncertainty. My thoughts lingered on Ryker’s departure, the way his eyes had hardened with resolve, yet softened just enough in those final moments to convey a promise of return. I clung to that promise, even as apprehension gnawed at me, imagining the darkness he was confronting and the man he might become in the process. The fear that he might not return at all. The soft hum of the television and the nurse’s occasional movements seemed to blur together, creating an odd cocoon of comfort and dread. Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I hoped that the strength I had always relied upon would resurface, not just to endure the pain but to face the changes that would inevitably come when Ryker stepped back through the door—if he did. My heart whispered a prayer for the safety of the man I loved, for the end to the chaos that had become our lives, and for the flicker of peace we had tasted before the phone shattered the stillness. 

Deacon’s voice sounded like it was coming through a tunnel. My vision blurry as my eyes adjusted to being open wide again. “Iris? Are you there? Can you hear me?” He said, his voice strained and hurried. “I can hear you.” I said hearing a crack in my voice. “Are you okay?” I said louder, not hearing a response. “Yes.” Deacon said, concern in his voice. Suddenly, I could hear Ryker clearly, he had taken the phone, but it didn't sound like him. The voice was darker, angrier, fierce. I stopped breathing, cutting out all sound so I could hear him. The nurse must have noticed the shift in my expression as I strained to focus on the faint voice leaking through the call. I sat up straighter, the ache in my side momentarily forgotten as I clutched the phone tighter. "Ryker," I whispered, my voice trembling with both hope and dread. His voice cut through the static, sharp and commanding, yet laced with an edge that sent a chill down my spine. "Stay with the nurse. Do not leave the house," he said, the finality in his tone brooking no argument. I wanted to ask if he was safe, if Claud had been found, but the line went dead before I could utter a word. My pulse thundered in my ears as I stared at the darkened screen, my mind racing with possibilities and fears. The nurse placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding me in the moment, yet not enough to quell the storm within. I leaned back against the loveseat, my body heavy with exhaustion and unease, as my thoughts wove a tangled web of what might be happening beyond the walls of this house. Somewhere in the quiet hum of the room, I resolved that if this darkness was to persist, I would need to find my own strength, not just for myself, but for the man who had fought so fiercely to protect me.

I stood up slowly and walked in the dining room to grab a glass of whiskey. “You really shouldn’t drink on top of that medication, sweetheart.” The nurse said, but both she and I knew I was in no mood to listen. I took back two shots and poured another glass. Why did he call me? Was someone coming for us? I heard engines outside and a shiver went down my spine. Were they here? I stood, frozen, leaning against the bar. The nurse walked to the window and looked outside. “I think it is more security.” She said looking back at me. “He sent more men to watch over us.” She smiled. I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but I wanted to tell her that there was nothing to smile about. I took another few drinks and grabbed a weapon I knew was hidden in the dining room drawer. I sat down at the dining room table and sat it in front of me on the table. My head was slightly spinning but it was a familiar feeling, and nothing I couldn’t handle. I didn't know what the call was for, but I knew I wasn’t going to be sitting in fear while Ryker was out there being so strong and fierce. They could come for me, but some of them damn well would be going down with me.