Chapter 157. The Trauma Lives

Teyana’s POV

“Don’t… please… don’t shoot.”

The words kept leaving my mouth before I was even aware of where I was. They spilled out weakly, broken, threaded with panic, as if my body was still trapped in that room even though my mind was trying to crawl its way out.

A hand settled over mine. It was warm and grounding.

“Teyana. Hey. You’re okay. You’re safe.” I wanted to call his name—Jeremy. But that wasn’t Jeremy’s voice. Yet, it sounded familiar.

I jerked upright with a sharp gasp, my eyes flying open as my body jolted into full consciousness. My chest heaved heavily as air rushed back into my lungs, my heart slamming so hard it hurt. White light blinded me for a second, sterile and too bright, and the sharp scent of antiseptic filled my nose.

Hospital. That’s where I was.

My head throbbed immediately, a dull but insistent ache that made me wince as I lifted my hand to my forehead. Something rough met my fingers—bandages plastered o