*Lucas*

My heart was hammering against my ribcage, the sterile hospital lights too bright, too harsh as they carted Lauren in on a gurney. Her golden hair, usually so vibrant and full of life, lay limply across the stark white pillow. The sight of her like that—vulnerable, hurt—sent a shockwave of fear through me that I couldn't control.

"Lucas?" Michael's voice came from somewhere to my left, but it sounded distant, muffled by the frantic beating of my own pulse in my ...