Page 884 of Coal Hearts

“Hey.” I flung up my hands. “Don’t look at me. I’m not getting in the middle of this.”

“And after all the times I shared my blanket with you in the dungeon.” Peter sniffed dramatically. “Rude.”

All of us chuckled.

My heart flew to the ceiling and bounced like a helium balloon.

“You’ve got to give me some details, Paavak,” Henri muttered. “I need to know how this is possible.”

“Jesus, alright. Rushing my hello. You always were impatient.” Smiling at Henri, he added. “You want the quick story or the one that the docs tried to tell me full of medical jargon, long winded words, and lots of technical stuff?”

“Simple. Short. Concise.” Henri crossed his arms. “And go.”

Peter laughed under his breath. “Fine. The short version. Well, according to the docs, the bullet went through my right shoulder blade and out my chest. It made quite a mess and nicked my lung.” He chuckled as if it was funny. “I suffocated, fancy that. I’ve envisioned my death a million times, but I never thought I’d go that way.”

Henri scowled. “I’m not sure how I feel about you having a sense of humour about this.”

Peter smirked. “You try being a prisoner for five and a half years only to die and somehow not die.” He tilted his head back with a heavy exhale. “Anywho, I woke up here. In paradise.” He pointed at the window. “The sun is shining, and I haven’t been called to serve. People bring me food. I’ve been able to watch shitty TV for the first time in half a decade. Life is good. Great, even.”

Henri shook his head, his temper fading beneath Peter’s radiant joy. “You know what, Pete. Life is good.” He cast me a look, his gaze welling with blazing affection. “So fucking good.”

My heart danced as a wash of unbearable gratefulness fizzled in my blood. I wanted to cry and fly and bury myself in both these men’s arms and live happily ever after.

Despite all the emotions clanging inside me, I had no words.

None.

All I could do was stare and stare and stare.

I stepped closer and stroked his cheek again.

He smiled and wrapped his fingers around my wrist. “It’s okay, Ily. I’m real. I’m not a ghost.”

Fresh tears wobbled on my eyelashes. “Y-You took a bullet for me.”

“Cool, huh?” He pulled my hand away from his face and kissed my palm. “Pretty heroic if I do say so myself.” He threw a beaming grin at Henri. “Always told you I was the good guy in all of this.”

“I’d say you earned that title fair and square.” Henri chuckled. “I’ll wear the title of bad guy happily.” He sighed. “I honestly don’t know how to thank you, Paavak. Truly. I’m...I’m fucking speechless at what you did.”

“You would’ve done the same thing.”

“I would’ve.” Henri nodded. “For you too.”

The moment stretched, all of us struck with the aching truth that we were bonded in ways that transcended ordinary friendship. We’d seen each other at our worst, our most pained, our most broken, miserable, and terrified.

We’d been treated as toys, barely seen as human, yet we’d survived.

Together.

Because of each other.

Rolling his shoulders back as if shedding the stress from the past, Henri said, “So...you came back from the dead. You got shot and survived. I’m beginning to think you were a cat in another life.”

Peter chuckled. “If that’s true, I’m pretty sure I used up nine lives surviving Joyero.” Shifting higher up his pillows, he raked his eyes over Henri. “Speaking of lives...are you alright, Ri?” He cocked his head. “You know...I’m the one who’s just come out of some stupid coma, yet you look like you’ve been in that dungeon until yesterday. What’s up with that?” His brown eyes flickered to mine. “Ily? What did I miss?”

I smiled and sat on the side of his bed. “Let’s just say...Henri’s been a little busy.”

“Oh?” Peter quirked an eyebrow. “Doing what?”