Page 74 of One Forbidden Moment

Copper simply stood there, offering her no hope as she crumbled.

She pressed her hands to her face, sobbing into her palms.Her entire body shook, grief and shock tearing through her."I can't do this without him," she whispered."I can't—"

"Jillian..."

Her breath froze.She cocked her head, her gaze darting around the restaurant.

Copper turned toward the door to the kitchen.She spun so fast she nearly fell, her eyes wide, her heart slamming against her ribs.

"Moe?"she whispered."Where are you?"

"Jillian."The voice came again, strained, hoarse, desperate.

Hearing him deeper in the building, she shoved past Copper, sprinting across the kitchen, skidding to a stop at the top of a narrow staircase.The light down there was dim, flickering, barely enough to see.

But she saw him.

Moe was at the bottom of the steps on his knees, one hand gripping the railing, the other pressed to his ribs.His face was pale, his breath uneven, his body trembling with effort as if he'd fought his way out of hell.

"Moe!"She scrambled down the stairs, dropping to her knees and reaching for him."Oh my God, you made it."

"I'm here," he whispered, voice breaking.

She wrapped her arms around him.He collapsed against her, his forehead pressing to her shoulder, his breath shaking.

Strength filled her.He was alive.It didn't matter where they ended up.They were together.They'd find a way to go back home.

Copper watched from the top of the stairs as Jillian clung to Moe, sobbing into his shoulder, her entire body trembling with relief.He wasn't dead.He wasn't lost.He made it through.

She kept one arm around Moe's waist as she helped him up the narrow cellar stairs, her other hand gripping the railing, so they didn't both collapse.Moe's breath was uneven, each inhale tight and strained, but he didn't let go of her.His fingers stayed curled in the fabric of her shirt.

He was hurt.The darkness had tried to kill him.

"Easy," she whispered."Just a few more steps."

He nodded, though the motion was weak."I'm okay."

He wasn't, but he was alive.That was enough for now.

They reached the top, and Jillian guided him into the kitchen, easing him onto one of the metal prep tables.He sat heavily, elbows braced on his knees, head bowed as he tried to catch his breath.

Copper stood near the doorway, watching them with that unsettling stillness he always carried.Jillian brushed Moe's hair back from his forehead.She couldn't see any wounds.

"What happened?"

"I don't know."Moe swallowed hard."I woke up in the dark.I thought I'd been dropped through the floor.Took me a moment to realize I was in the basement under the restaurant."He looked up at her, eyes still unfocused."You weren't with me."

Her throat tightened."I am now."

He reached for her hand, squeezing it gently."You're the reason I kept moving through the shadow.I had to find you."

She leaned her forehead against his, closing her eyes for a moment, letting the relief wash through her.He was here.He was breathing.He was hers.

Copper cleared his throat softly.She looked at the older man.His grave expression brought them back to the present.

"Everstill didn't bring you back by accident," Copper said, stepping forward.

Moe tensed.She held on to him tighter.