Kapitel 69: Promises and Guarantees

Riley

I wake up to a dull ache pulsing through my face, the kind of pain that makes it impossible to forget what happened last night. My left eye feels swollen, and my skin stings where the medic's antiseptic had cleaned the cuts. 

I shift slightly, realizing my head is resting on Damien's chest, his arm draped protectively over me.

For a moment, I don't move. I focus on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear, the rise and fall of his breathing. It's grounding, but it also reminds me why I'm here, why my face feels like it's been used as a punching bag. 

I think about Tasha, the look in her eyes as she pressed her boot against my face. And Callum… bleeding out in front of me, apologizing with words I thought I'd never hear.

All of it circles back to one thing: Damien.