novelraw Chapter 79: We are safe
Chapter 79: We are safe
Chapter 79: We are safeThe night stretched on in endless silence, broken only by the distant howl of the wind and the rustling of leaves.
The stars above seemed indifferent to their suffering, twinkling against the vast darkness, while Ethan sat on the cold ground, holding Mara close.
Something was wrong.
Her skin was too warm against his. Feverish. Her breaths were shallow, uneven. This wasn’t good, not for her, not for the baby.
Ethan swallowed the panic rising in his throat. He had been trying to stay calm trying to convince himself that rescue would come soon. But now, seeing her like this, shaking and barely able to keep her eyes open, fear gripped him.
"Mara, stay with me," he murmured, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. "You’re burning up."
She tried to reply, but her voice was weak, barely a whisper.
Ethan cursed under his breath, quickly pulling off his shirt. It was thin protection against the cold night air, but right now, she was all that mattered. He laid her down gently, pressing his warm skin against her feverish body, wrapping himself around her in a desperate attempt to keep her from slipping further into exhaustion.
Mara shivered, instinctively curling into him. His warmth, his scent everything about Ethan made her feel safe. She knew she should fight it, should push him away, but in this moment, she couldn’t.
"I won’t let anything happen to you," Ethan whispered, his lips pressing against her forehead. "To either of you." His hand splayed protectively over her stomach, where their baby grew.
Mara’s eyes fluttered open, glassy but
Back in Salvador
The hospital room smelled sterile, the bright white walls a stark contrast to the jungle they had just escaped from.
Doctors and nurses moved quickly, checking Mara’s vitals, running tests, ensuring that both she and the baby were okay. Ethan stood by the door, hands in his pockets, watching helplessly as they hovered around her.
Steve arrived not long after, his face unreadable. He gave Mara a quick once-over, then turned to Ethan.
"Outside. Now."
Ethan sighed, already knowing this was coming. Yeah. He was about to get his ass handed to him.
The moment Ethan stepped out of Mara’s hospital room, Steve was waiting.
Arms crossed. Jaw clenched. Eyes burning with pure fury.
"You reckless, arrogant son of a—"
Ethan sighed, already bracing himself.
"You hijacked her trip, flew her into danger, and now she’s lying in a hospital bed with a fever and a near-death experience. And for what? To prove a point?" Steve’s voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet hospital hallway like a blade.
"You think that makes you some kind of hero?"
Ethan didn’t flinch. He let Steve rage, let him throw out every accusation, let him vent. And when he was done, when he was standing there, waiting for Ethan to defend himself, Ethan simply said,
"If I wasn’t there, Mara would have been alone with a stranger. Is that what you would have preferred?"
Steve’s mouth snapped shut.
Ethan took a step closer, his voice low but steady. "Do you think some random pilot would’ve stopped a snake from attacking her? You think someone else would’ve risked getting bitten just to protect her?" His eyes darkened.
"Would someone else have landed that plane safely? Or would she have been another tragic news headline?"
Steve clenched his fists, his anger not as sure as before.
"I’m not expecting a thank you, Mr. Shepherd," Ethan said, shaking his head. "But hostility? After everything? Damn, man. That’s rich."
Before Steve could fire back, another voice cut in—
"Enough."
Both men turned to see Stefan standing in the doorway, arms resting casually at his sides, but his tone left no room for argument.
"Now’s not the time for this." His gaze flickered between them, then settled on Steve. "Let it go. For now."
Steve exhaled sharply, visibly forcing himself to calm down. After a tense beat, he nodded, shooting Ethan one last glare before turning away.
"I’m going to check on my sister," he muttered before disappearing into Mara’s room.
Ethan watched him go, running a hand through his hair. He wanted to be in there with her, but right now, he knew he’d only be making things worse.
Stefan studied him for a moment before giving a nod toward the nurses’ station. "You should get checked out too. That snake bite might not have been poisonous, but you still look like hell."
Ethan smirked dryly. "You always this charming?"
Stefan didn’t even blink. "Only when I’m holding back."
Ethan chuckled but didn’t argue. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets and started down the hallway.