Love Beyond the Mask by Adelaide Sinclair

Chapter 1164

Whitney wiped away her tears, trying to hold it together. Right now, she had no room in her heart for anything else—she just wanted him to make it through.

Bryce Florence, old grudges, past betrayals-none of that mattered anymore. Not with his life hanging in the balance.

He wasn't worth dying for, not really. Not when it came down to it.

Whitney stood frozen outside the operating room for a whole hour. Not a sound from inside. Her legs felt like dead weight, her body drained and shaky. Finally, she collapsed onto a chair, exhausted.

She was the only one in the hallway. Everyone she cared about was scattered across the hospital in different rooms.

Tonight was going to be a long, lonely night.

Her thoughts drifted to the little baby she'd just helped save. Sammy had said Ludwik had given her a nickname-Little Pumpkin. He'd told his son, "Your sister's real name, that's up to your mom."

Whitney stared at the operating room doors, her eyes filling again. She whispered, "I did everything I could to save the baby. Now it's your turn-wake up from this surgery, okay? Come pick her name yourself."

hated him when things were at their worst. And in the middle of all

out, he kept it from

don't wake up and take care of her, I won't either," she grumbled, even though he couldn't hear

But she wanted to believe he could hear her. She needed him to fight, to survive. That bullet to his stomach could take him away forever, and the thought made

she called the NICU to check on her daughter's condition after the surgery. She had to know

barely got a word out before

Dad went after Bryce—the bad guy—and got really, really hurt. Is he okay? I'm scared... I asked Uncle Shane but he said he didn't actually see Dad, so he

"Don't jinx it! Dad's not like everyone else—he's tough as nails. I told you not to

sharp, trying to sound grown-up

He's in surgery right now, but I won't let anything happen to him. Now tell me has your little sister woken

hasn't woken up, but the doctor said it's just

the weight on her chest finally lifting.

receiver. "I just checked on

anything changes, let me know right away. I'll