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Relief hits me so hard my knees almost give out.

The doctor turns to us, offering a reassuring smile. "She's stable, Miss Alexis. I'm going to stay overnight just to monitor her closely, but she's out of any immediate danger."

Cain steps forward, his broad frame filling the doorway, his eyes dark and sharp. "What caused this? What's the issue?"

"Severe dehydration paired with a sudden drop in blood pressure," the doctor explains calmly, gesturing to the IV bag. "She wasn't drinking enough fluids with her morning medication, which brought on a sudden bout of vertigo and faintness. It looks terrifying when it happens, but with proper fluids and a minor adjustment to her dosage, she'll make a full recovery."

Once the doctor and nurse step out of the room to discuss her care plan, the overwhelming wave of adrenaline that kept me standing completely collapses. I collapse into the armchair beside Milly's bed, bury my face in my hands, and let out a shaky, painful sob.

All the fear, the constant threat of the Devlins, and the terror of losing the only family I have left comes crashing down on me at once.

Cain doesn't tell me to stop. He doesn't make empty promises or tell me not to worry. He simply steps around the bed, drops down on his haunches in front of me, and pulls my hands away from my face.

"I'm sorry," I choke out through my tears, sniffling as I try to pull myself together. "I'm sorry for crying like this."

Cain gently cups my face in his warm, calloused palms, his thumb sweeping away the tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Don't apologize," he rumbles softly, his dark eyes filled with a raw, fierce tenderness. "You're allowed to be scared, Alexis. You don't have to be strong all the damn time."

He pulls me up from the chair and leads me over to the small leather couch in the corner of the bedroom. Cain settles back, pulling me into his lap and wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, anchoring me flush against his chest.

I press my face into the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent as he holds me through the quiet of the room, letting me feel safe enough to break.

I cry for a long time, letting the months of built-up fear, stress, and adrenaline bleed out against his chest. Cain never moves, never fidgets, and never tells me to pull myself together. His large hands just stay firmly anchored around my waist, his thumb rubbing slow, soothing circles against my back until my ragged breathing finally slows to a quiet murmur.

Once I’m completely calm, he calls for a spread of warm food from the kitchen, refusing to let me skip a meal. He sets the tray in front of me and stands over me like a hawk until I finish every last bite.

"You don't have to stay here all night, Cain," I say, dabbing my mouth with a napkin and looking up at him. "Milly is completely out of danger, the doctor is right down the hall, and the safe house is crawling with security. You can go back to the office and handle your business. I'll be fine."

Cain simply rolls his dark eyes, pulling his jacket off and tossing it over the back of the couch. "I'm not going anywhere, Alexis. I'm staying right here with you."

I can't help the soft, genuine warmth that spreads through my chest at his stubbornness. We sit together in the quiet room, the steady monitor beeps and Milly's calm breathing filling the space between us.

As the hours drag on toward night, my body silently protests the emotional exhaustion of the day. My eyelids grow heavy, and my limbs begin to feel like lead.

"Go to bed, doll," Cain rumbles softly from beside me, noticing the way my head keeps drooping. "I'll keep watch. You need to sleep."

"No," I mutter stubbornly, blinking hard to fight off the heavy fog creeping over my mind. "I'm not sleeping. I'm staying up."

Cain lets out a low, amused chuckle, leaning back against the leather cushions. "Sure you are."

I force my eyes to stay open for a few more defiant minutes, staring fixedly at the wall across from us. But sleep is a wave that eventually drags me under, and before I can even formulate another thought, I slip into a deep, dreamless darkness.

When my eyes slowly flutter open again, the soft gray light of early morning is filtering through the curtains. I find myself curled up comfortably on the small leather couch, a warm, thick blanket draped gently over my shoulders.

I sit up softly and glance over at the armchair beside Milly's bed.

Cain is sitting there, his broad frame sprawled out in the oversized chair. His tie is completely loosened, the top few buttons of his dress shirt undone, and his long legs are stretched out in front of him. His head is tilted back, his eyes closed in a rare, peaceful sleep.

He stayed the entire night. In a cramped, quiet bedroom, with no active threat, no syndicate business to handle, and nothing to do but keep watch over me and the woman I love.

A soft, irrepressible smile curves my lips as I pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders, watching him sleep.

Grandma Milly wakes up about an hour later, blinking against the morning light. The doctor slips back into the room shortly after to run a quick series of checks, making sure her vitals and blood pressure are back to normal before giving us a resounding all-clear.

"You terrified me, Grandma," I say, sitting on the edge of her mattress and holding her hand, unable to keep the gentle scolding out of my voice. "You have to drink enough water, especially when taking your medication."

Milly offers a soft, apologetic smile, squeezing my fingers weakly. "I know, sweetheart. I'm so sorry for scaring you both."