Chapter 8 - The Sanctuary
Nia pushed open the door to Room 314.
The room was warm and quiet now. A top-tier pediatric trauma specialist from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, flown in personally on Colonel Sterling’s orders, had replaced the corrupt Dr. Pendelton. The new doctor had stabilized Elise’s fractures, administered proper pediatric analgesia, and ensured that the little girl was resting in comfort.
Sarah Vance was sitting quietly by the window, keeping watch. When Nia entered, Sarah gave her a small, respectful nod and stepped out into the hall, closing the door softly behind her.
Nia approached the bed.
The harsh fluorescent lights had been dimmed, replaced by the soft amber glow of a bedside lamp.
Elise was awake.
Her swollen eyes looked toward the door, and when she saw her mother, a faint, fragile smile touched her bruised lips.
"Mom?"
Nia sat on the edge of the bed, carefully taking Elise’s tiny, uninjured hand between both of hers. "I’m here, bug."
"Did you find the pin?"
"We found it," Nia said gently, kissing the tips of Elise’s fingers. "We found the pin, and we played it for everyone. The whole world heard how brave you were."
Elise looked at her with wide, innocent eyes. "Did Aunt Tessa get mad?"
"Aunt Tessa and Aunt Morgan are in jail, Elise," Nia said, her voice filled with absolute, unshakable truth. "They are never coming back. They are never going to touch you, speak to you, or see you again. It’s over."
Elise let out a long, shuddering breath, as if a mountain of crushing weight had finally been lifted from her small chest.
"What about Dad?" she whispered.
"Dad is gone, baby. He won't be bothering us anymore. From now on, it’s just you and me."
Tears slipped down Elise’s cheeks, but they were no longer tears of terror. They were tears of relief. "Are you going back to Africa?"
Nia felt a knot tighten in her throat.
She looked at her daughter’s battered body—the casts, the traction, the bruises. She thought of the years she had spent operating in the shadows, fighting in foreign lands while monsters lurked in the very home she thought was safe.
She reached up and unclipped her deep-cover military identification badge from her collar, setting it down on the bedside table.
May you like
"No, bug," Nia whispered, leaning down to press her cheek against Elise’s hair. "Mom's done working overseas. I’m staying home. I’m staying right here with you."
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