I Stopped Loving Him When He Let Me Bleed Out novel Chapter 144

Sienna closed her eyes and forced herself to stop overthinking.

What was meant to happen would happen. Right now, her priority was saving lives, protecting herself, surviving, and eventually making it back home.

The next morning, Sienna was awakened by voices outside the tent.

Sunlight squeezed through the gap in the flap, falling across her face and making her squint.

She rolled over, her gaze automatically drifting to the cot across from hers.

It was empty.

The blanket was neatly folded, the pillow straightened, as if no one had slept there at all.

Sienna pushed aside the flap and stepped out.

Finn was standing under a nearby tree, his left arm in a sling, holding a cup of water in his right hand as he spoke with the medical team leader.

The leader was British, in his forties, with a full beard, gesturing wildly as he talked.

Finn listened, nodding occasionally, his expression serious.

Sienna walked over.

Dr. Jameson Cole saw her and looked immensely relieved.

"Dr. Sterling, I was just looking for you."

"What's wrong?"

"There's a village about fifty miles from here. A pair of twins have contracted an unidentified illness—persistent high fever, full-body rashes. The local clinic can't handle it and requested our help." Jameson paused. "We asked around. You're the only one with experience treating similar cases."

Sienna didn't hesitate.

"I'll go."

"I'm coming too," Finn chimed in.

Sienna turned to look at him.

"You're going again? Finn, look at yourself. Can you be rational for a second?"

Finn looked genuinely surprised.

"How am I being irrational? You're allowed to go, but I'm not?"

"I'm going to save lives. You're just going to be a burden!" Sienna snapped, pulling no punches.

Seeing the tension, Jameson tactfully stepped away.

"I'll leave you two to talk."

Once he was out of earshot, Finn looked at Sienna.

"I just checked with Jameson. Global Air has a framework agreement with the medical aid organizations here. Pilots participating in humanitarian missions during groundings can log it as official duty. I have to pass a review when I get back. This trip counts toward my mileage."

Sienna didn't buy it for a second.

Sienna climbed straight into the driver's seat.

Finn took the passenger side, clutching the medical kit against his chest.

"Sienna, do me a favor," he suddenly asked.

She glanced over and understood.

With his bad arm, he couldn't manage the seatbelt.

She leaned over and pulled the strap across his chest.

The buckle jammed. She jammed it down twice, but it wouldn't click.

Frustrated, she leaned closer, her face practically pressed against his chest.

Finn looked down. The soft hairs on the crown of her head brushed against his jaw, tickling him.

Sienna still couldn't get it to latch and leaned in further, trying to see the mechanism.

Click. It finally secured.

Sienna let out a sigh of relief and pulled back hastily, just as Finn turned his head...

His lips lightly brushed against her cheek.

It was a cool, incredibly soft touch, and for a split second, both of their breaths hitched.