Henry swallowed hard, his throat tight with everything he wanted to say but couldn't. He tried to steady the tremor in his voice, to cage the storm twisting violently in his chest. "I'm so damn glad you're safe, Eliana," he breathed, each word weighted with relief and fear. "You have no idea—the thought of losing you…" His voice cracked, and he exhaled shakily, forcing the rest out past the lump lodged in his throat. "It terrifies me. Those men of his, they sound… efficient." He dragged a hand through his hair, pacing a few steps before blurting, "But listen—I can come get you right now, okay? Just hold on for me. I'll be there in minutes."
For a long moment, there was nothing—only the faint, sterile hum of hospital machines bleeding through the phone line and the muffled shuffle of footsteps on her end. He strained to catch her breath, her voice, anything that might tell him she still needed him.
