Chapter 127

Rhodes POV

The liver laceration was worse than the CT had shown—deeper, with more active bleeding. But it was repairable. I could fix this. Just needed time and steady hands and the kind of focus that came from refusing to think about anything except the task in front of me.

“Blood pressure’s stabilizing. Ninety over sixty.”

“Good. Keep monitoring. I’m going to repair this laceration and then we’ll reassess for any other injuries.”

Time became fluid in the OR, the way it always did during surgery. Could have been minutes or hours—I lost track, focusing only on the delicate work of suturing torn liver tissue, checking for additional damage, making sure every bleeder was controlled.

“Doctor, we’re going to need more blood soon. He’s gotten through the first two units already.”

“Start the third unit. And have the fourth ready.”

I continued working, my hands steady even as my mind raced. Ollie was fighting, his young body trying desperate