Page 887 of Coal Hearts

I couldn’t get a read on him. Didn’t know how angry he was. “I merely told them that we’d been prisoners on an island. That we lived in a palatial castle. That we were made to play in certain games and that...we all looked out for each other. I...I didn’t go into specifics. They don’t know what they did to you. They just know how strong you were. How brave. They’re incredibly proud of you. Your mother showed me your baby album. It gave them peace to talk about you, but now... God now?” I burst into tears. “They’re going to probably have a heart attack when you walk through the door.”

A smile quirked his lips then a soft chuckle escaped. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“You’re laughing about this?”

“No, I’m imagining being the prodigal son who finally returns home.” Grinning at Henri, he pressed a button on a remote resting on the sheets. “New plan. I’m not going to call them. I’m going to see them.”

“Wait, what?” Henri frowned. “But you just said the doctors have a strict plan for your rehab.”

“Meh, I’m not gonna die just because I can’t use my arm. I’ll deal with that later. For now...I want to come back from the dead for my parents.”

“How about you wait a few days and—”

A nurse appeared. “You called, Mr Chauhan?”

“Yeah, I need to leave.”

“Leave?”

Grabbing me in a fierce hug as the nurse looked at him as if he was crazy, he whispered into my ear. “You told us we’d make it out, jaanu. I had my moments of doubt but...you did it.”

“We did it.”

“Thank you for making me hope.” He kissed my cheek. “I love you. I’ll come find you when I’m a bit stronger, and we’ll catch up properly, okay?”

Letting me go, he passed me back to Henri and held out his hand. “Master H.”

Henri’s face went black as he accepted the handshake. “Don’t even joke—”

Peter laughed. “Can you do me a favour and get your billionaire brother to summon a plane for me? I think it’s time I go home.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

...............................

Henri

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“WE CAN’T ACCEPT THIS...can we?” I fisted the key to the gatehouse, hesitating to cross the threshold.

Ily stood beside me. Her cheeks pink from the cold walk across the frozen meadow.

Somehow, in the mayhem of killing and healing, we’d missed the new year and slipped quickly into March.

I’d turned thirty while keeping vigil over Ily in a coma. She’d shared my birthday in her sleep. Just like in the dungeons when she’d admitted we shared the same day, my mind couldn’t comprehend the connections.

How had I found this woman?

How had I been lucky enough to love this woman?

How many years would it take for me to look at her with peace instead of heart-jolting shock that she was mine?

“I don’t know...he’s your brother.” Ily stepped past me, entering the gatehouse. “You tell me.”

Yesterday, we’d found Peter alive. Q had arranged for a doctor to travel with him to England, and we’d waved him off on a private plane with a car waiting at the other end to take him home.

I missed the bastard, but knowing he was alive? Goddammit, I didn’t think I could survive another surprise like that.