I left Roman’s room a little while after the events of his surgery to listen to what the doctor had to say about his condition. He was still asleep at the time that I left, and I had to wipe away the wet tears that had escaped my eyes as I stared down at him.

I knew my eyes were puffy when I left the room, and, from the look on Lori and Lauren’s face as they cast me a quick glance my way, the rest of me didn’t look too great, either. But that was the furthest thing from my mind as I listened to what the doctor had to say.

I walked up to Lori and Lauren and listened in as I stood next to them to what the doctor had to say, "Fortunately enough," he began, "the bullet did not puncture any vital organs, and the surgeon on call was able to remove it without causing internal damage."

I breathed out a sigh of relief. Things could have been worse. They could have gone and ended up in a far worse sort of situation, and I was glad that they hadn’t.

"Can we take him home?" I asked quietly, wondering when exactly it would be safe to move Roman with his injury. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust the capabilities of the hospital, but the mansion was more fortified and easily guarded.

"We would like to keep him here for a few days to monitor his situation. Although he may be safe and clear for now, we still have to assess various other things," I listened intently to what the doctor said, "such as any lingering effects or anything we may have missed in primary inspections."

"Do you think anything could be wrong with him?" I questioned skeptically, wondering if the doctor was telling us everything.

"Right now, no." I could tell it was an honest answer as soon as the doctor elaborated on his concerns. "However, being shot has negative effects on more than just the body. It’s his state of mind I am more concerned about. Roman is a healthy and active young man, and I have no doubt his body will recover."

I nodded slowly as the doctor continued. "However, it’s just a precaution I would like to take as a doctor."

I looked to Lori and Lauren for a moment to gauge their opinions. They both nodded to me, telling me it seemed like a good idea to them.

I looked back at the doctor and agreed to have Roman stay just a few more days. I figured nothing bad would happen to him in the hospital. If anything did, there was medical care right at his doorstep.

My heart dropped to my stomach for a moment as the image of him on that operating table flashed into my mind again. It was a sight I wished I would never have had to see. But it was not something I would allow myself to forget easily, either.

I was going to remember that image for the rest of my life and use it as motivation to protect not only Roman, but Lori and Lauren, too. I didn’t ever want to see any of them in that sort of situation ever again.

"Hannah." Someone pulled me out of the awful memory as a hand squeezed my shoulder. When I came back, I noted Lauren looking at me and that the doctor was gone.

Lori’s attention, however, was caught by something else. Rather, it was two things. The figures of Ed Martinez and Marcus Delaney were what caught her attention as they approached us. I didn’t fail to notice the left arm of Marcus that was slung in a sling.

"Hey," Ed said as he approached us and stood in front of me. "Is he alright?"

I nodded my head as I turned it to the room where Roman was currently resting and then turned back to Ed.

"The bullet didn’t hit any vital organ." I caught Ed and Marcus up on the situation that had unfolded. "That is what the doctor said anyway. We agreed to let him stay at the hospital for a few more days because they think it would be more helpful to him than being home right now."

I turned to look at Marcus, who was staring down at Lori. She, in turn, was looking at his injured arm. Turning my attention onto him, I asked Marcus the question I knew my little sister was too concerned to ask.

"Are you alright?" I looked at Marcus and then indicated to his injured arm. "That looks a bit painful."

Marcus let out a soft chuckle at my poor attempt at a joke in this current situation. He only shook his head before responding to me. "It hurt like a b*tch when I first got it, but the doctors filled me up with some pain meds and got the ugly thing out of me." Marcus turned to Lori when he said his last words. "I’m fine."

Those words seemed to snap her out of whatever she was thinking about, and she began fussing over him.

Turning my attention away from the two bickering people I looked to Ed again and asked him a question. "What happened?"

He only sighed deeply. Looking at Ed, I noted the way the space beneath his eyes was dark. I wasn’t sure whether it was from lack of sleep or stress. Maybe it was both. The night must have been unimaginably tiring and busy for these three boys.

"It was a d*mn trap." My blood was cold as Ed explained what had happened. "They knew exactly who was coming, what time, and what we were bringing. They were waiting for us like hunters catching some game. God, we were so stupid! Outnumbered and outgunned ten to one. We barely made it out of there alive."

Ed gritted his teeth together as his frustration poured out of him in waves. Even Marcus, who had been trying to fend off a fussing Lori, turned to our conversation and added his side of the story.

"How is Roman?" he asked. I explained that he was doing alright and that his surgery was a success.

"Your man saved my life you know." I blushed at the way Marcus referred to Roman. A swell of pride lit up in my chest. "If it wasn’t for him, I would’ve been dead meat for sure."

"Don’t joke about stuff like that Marcus." Lori chastised in a soft voice, but he only shook his head.

"I’m serious. He turned back to get me and made sure that the two of us were out before he was. That was the reason why he got shot. He was covering both our asses while trying to come up with a plan all by himself. I’m only sorry we couldn’t have been more helpful to him when he needed us."

"Ever he a hero that one," I mused before continuing to speak. "But don’t speak about yourself like that Marcus. You were all overwhelmed and caught off guard by the situation. Anything could’ve happened to any one of you. I’m just glad you all made it out safely."

Marcus nodded and retreated from the conversation in favor of going to sit down with Lori in one of the chairs placed against the wall. I watched the two of them interact with one another for a moment before turning back to Ed and Lauren in front of me.

"What do we do now?" I asked them in a hopeful tone, wondering if there was even a way forward from here and what the agency would have their two agents do next considering now that one was injured.

"At the very least," Ed explained, "we did have some more arrests tonight once the backup team moved in. Not the people we were aiming to get, but the fewer of those creeps out there in the world the better. Not to mention the girls we managed to save."

I nodded my head as he began explaining the entirety of the situation but excused myself a moment after. I left Lauren and Ed to speak with each other as I went back into Roman’s room and sat by his side.

I stared at him for a long time, hoping and praying to any deity that would listen to give him a fast recovery so I could see those gorgeous eyes of his wide and open again. Tears were falling on the hand I clutched in my two hands before I realized it.

I wasn’t sure if the tears were because of sadness or joy—maybe it was both—but I let myself cry for Roman. Roman, who had sacrificed so much in such a short amount of time of knowing me, and who had willingly and without question put not only himself, but his entire life, at risk to help and aid in a cause he believed in.