“They can’t come within a hundred yards of you or Ethan.”

I nodded, but a cold chill ran down my spine.

A restraining order was just a piece of paper.

It hadn’t stopped Ryan from leaving me to bleed on the floor.

“I’m going to take Ethan home to my place as soon as he’s discharged,” Thomas said.

“It’s gated, and I have a security system.”

“Thank you, Thomas,” I said.

He reached out and squeezed my hand.

“He’s my grandson, Emma,” Thomas said.

“I won’t let them hurt either of you again.”

The nurse came in to check Ethan’s vitals, breaking the tension in the room.

She smiled warmly at us.

“He’s doing wonderful,” the nurse said, checking his oxygen levels.

“We might be able to discharge him by tomorrow morning.”

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” I said.

As the nurse left, the room fell back into a quiet rhythm.

Laura went to the cafeteria to get us some coffee.

Helen continued to work on her laptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Thomas stood by the window, watching the snow fall over the city.