Evelyn's world came back in pieces.
First, the warmth.
Something solid and comforting wrapped around her hand.
Then, the sharp ache in her side.
And finally, the sound of her name—spoken in a voice so raw it sent shivers through her.
"Theo..."
Her eyelids fluttered open, and the first thing she saw was him.
Sitting beside her, eyes red-rimmed, his face paler than she'd ever seen. His hand was gripping hers as if letting go would make her disappear.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"You're awake," Theo breathed, his voice almost disbelieving.
Evelyn tried to move, only for pain to flare up in her side. She winced, and immediately, his other hand was on her arm, steadying her.
"Don't," he said quickly. "Just—just stay still."
She blinked at him, trying to gather her thoughts. The last thing she remembered was—
Kade. The gunshot..
Her stomach clenched. "What... happened?"
Theo swallowed. "You were shot." His grip on her hand tightened. "You almost—" His voice caught, and he inhaled sharply. "You scared the hell out of me, Evelyn."
His words hit deeper than she expected.
She had seen Theo angry. Frustrated. Even irritated.
But this?
This was something else entirely.
A raw, unguarded version of him.
Evelyn exhaled slowly. "I'm okay."
Theo let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "You got shot, Evelyn. You are not okay."
She managed a weak smirk. "Still breathing, aren't I?"
He didn't smile.
Instead, his hand came up to her face, his fingers brushing against her cheek so gently it made her heart ache.
"If you hadn't woken up..." He trailed off, his jaw tightening. "I don't know what I would have done."
There was something in his tone that made her chest tighten.
Something dangerous.
Something terrifying.
He meant it.
And not in the way people threw words around carelessly.
Theo Bennett didn't speak unless he meant every syllable.
Evelyn reached up, placing her hand over his. "But I did wake up."
Theo exhaled sharply, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, finally—
"I pushed you away," he admitted. "That night. After..."
The almost-kiss.
Evelyn's throat tightened. "Yeah. You did."
Theo clenched his jaw. "I thought I was protecting you. But all I did was push you into danger. And when you got hurt—" He broke off, his fingers tightening around hers. "I swore I'd never let anything happen to you. And then I almost lost you because of my own damn choices."
Evelyn searched his face. "Theo, you didn't—"
"I did." His voice was firm. "And I'm not making that mistake again."
She frowned slightly. "What does that mean?"
Theo held her gaze.
And then—softly, but without hesitation—
"I'm done pretending."
Evelyn's breath caught.
Something shifted in the air between them.
A silent understanding.
A line neither of them had dared to cross before.
And then—before she could even process his words—the door swung open.
Ethan.
Theo's entire posture changed instantly, the raw emotion vanishing behind an unreadable expression.
Ethan blinked between them. "Uh... did I interrupt something?"
Silence.
Theo stood abruptly. "No." His voice was back to its usual controlled self. "She just woke up."
Ethan's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Good. Because I brought food, and knowing Evelyn, she'll murder us all if we don't feed her."
Evelyn snorted. "Finally. Someone understands my priorities."
Ethan grinned, walking over to place a bag on the table. "Also, Theo hasn't left this room since we got back, so I think he needs food more than you."
Evelyn's gaze snapped to Theo, but he was already turning away.
Her stomach clenched.
He was retreating again.
But not because he was pushing her away.
No.
This time, she could see it in his eyes.
He was afraid of what would happen if he stayed.
And she wasn't about to let that happen.
---
Later That Night
The safe house was quiet.
Ethan and Liam were in the other room. The lights were dim.
And Evelyn couldn't sleep.
Her mind kept replaying Theo's words.
I'm done pretending.
What did that even mean?
With a frustrated sigh, she carefully pushed herself up from the bed.
Every movement sent a dull ache through her side, but she ignored it.
She needed answers.
And she knew exactly where to find them.
With slow steps, she made her way down the hall, stopping in front of Theo's door.
She knocked.
Silence.
Then—
"Come in."
Evelyn pushed the door open.
Theo was sitting on the edge of his bed, elbows resting on his knees, head lowered.
He looked... exhausted.
But when his eyes met hers, something flickered in them.
Something that made her heartbeat stutter.
She stepped inside, closing the door behind her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"You should be resting," Theo said quietly.
Evelyn ignored that. "You said you were done pretending."
Theo inhaled deeply. "I did."
She took a step closer. "So what does that mean?"
His gaze locked onto hers.
And then—without a single ounce of hesitation—
"It means I almost lost you, and I can't keep lying to myself about what that would have done to me."
Evelyn's breath hitched.
He stood slowly, closing the distance between them.
Her heart pounded.
Theo reached out, his fingers brushing against her hand. "I need you, Evelyn." His voice was soft, raw. "And for the first time in my life, I'm admitting it."
Evelyn swallowed hard.
She could hear her own heartbeat.
For a moment, she thought he might kiss her.
But he didn't.
Instead, he lifted her hand, pressing a featherlight kiss to her knuckles.
A quiet, unspoken promise.
Something warm bloomed in her chest.
Maybe they weren't ready for everything yet.
But this?
This was enough.
For now.
End of Chapter 34