**
At the hospital, the attending nurse informs me that Kline is in intensive care and being kept in a drug induced coma. She tells me that I just missed the police and my parents.
Entering the sterile room on shaky legs, I come to a stop just inside the door. St
eadying myself against the nearest chair I take in a deep breath. The boy lying in the hospital bed can’t be my brother. This boy looks fragile and weak...nothing like the strong man I am used to seeing. If I had just ridden to the fight with him instead of leaving him to go on his own, he might not be laying here lifeless and dependent upon machines to breathe. I wipe back my tears, my brother has always been tough, and watching out for me. Now it is my turn to be the resilient one and take care of him.
Parker is watching me cautiously from the hall. I am afraid to touch my brother…afraid I will hurt him. Gently I take his swollen hand in mine, caressing his thumb with my own. When we were children and Charlie would take his frustrations out on us, Kline and I would lie in the bottom of our closet together cheek to cheek. I would hold his hand just as I am now. He would say “Sis, one day I’m going to be big and strong, and I won’t let Charlie hurt you anymore.”
“Charlie,” I spit his name out through gritted teeth. This is his entire fault. Kline did grow to be big and strong and he did put a stop to Charlie hurting me, but if this is the price he has to pay, I would rather take a lifetime of beatings from my step-father than see my brother in this condition. Charlie may not have thrown the punches or landed the kicks that put Kline here, but he brought this on all of us with his choices.
My time with my brother is interrupted from shouts coming from the hall just outside the door. Walking to the door I crack it slightly to get a better take on what has caused such a ruckus. What I am not expecting to find is Royce standing toe to toe with Parker spitting vicious accusations in his face.
“This is your fault. You could have put a stop to this Garrett. Does she know this is your doing? Does Brandi know that you’re the monster who has her brother fighting for his life?” Royce looks like a completely different person; he looks like he does in the ring—he looks like the King of the Cage.
I step out in the hall as hospital security starts making their way down the passage. “Did you do this Parker? Is he right? Is what Royce is saying true? You put Kline in the hospital.” My heart wants to cry, but my head is angry.
Parker takes a step in my direction, his eyes look empty. “Brandi, we already discussed this. I’m not the enemy here.” He’s not denying the harsh things that just left my mouth. I am unable to speak. The words are on my tongue, but they won’t leave my lips. I want to confront them both now that they are here face to face.
Royce is back in Parker’s face as security reaches our party in the hallway. “You promised no harm would come to Brandi. Does she look untouched to you?” He bumps his chest against Parker’s. What is Royce talking about? I feel faint. Did they plan this together? My last thought as I hit the floor is I thought he loved me...
**
Waking up and not knowing where I am at seems to becoming a habit of mine, one that I am not happy to be developing. My head hurts again and I am lying on an exam table. Then it all comes back to me—where I am and why. A nurse smiles down at me. “You took quit a spill a moment ago. Are feeling alright? Any dizziness? Do you feel faint again?”
“I’m fine. I just need to see my brother.” I try to get off the table, but the nurse orders me to lie back down.
“You can see your brother soon. We just need to make sure you are okay first. I am going to check your vitals, and then I will personally take you back to your brother’s room.”
“The guys who were with me, where are they?”
“Oh dear, I am afraid security escorted them from the property.” She continues to check my blood pressure, once she is happy with it, she walks me back to my brother’s room.
“Oh Kline.” I lay my head down on the edge of his bed. This is my fault, if I hadn’t been messing around with the wrong men. If I had listened when he told me to stay away from Royce, he wouldn’t be here now. And where in the hell is Tiffany for fucks sake? I lay here at my brother’s side sobbing, and throwing a pity party for one, until the nurses kick me out. They let me know I am welcome to come back tomorrow during visiting hours.
Kline is suffering from several injuries—including broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder, and his right knee has been shattered. Not to mention all the ugly internal bleeding he is suffering from. The doctors don’t think anything vital is punctured but they are waiting for more of the swelling to go down, before they give any real assessment to the extent of it all.
When I walk outside of the hospital I realize I have no phone, no car, no keys or any money to get anywhere. I feel so useless and helpless. I look across the lot to see Parker and Royce standing on opposite ends of the parking lot. Oh great, more male egos to deal with. I have a choice to make right now, either I believe everything Parker said to me as true, or I give Royce a chance to explain his part. Right now I choose neither and turn away from the two of them. Walking back towards the hospital. I call Sug, she will come take me home.
Sug is in the lobby to take me home in no time. She has a million questions for me that I can’t answer right now. I redirect all of her questions to Kline’s condition. She makes several weak attempts to make me laugh by saying she will be moving in to be my brother’s private nurse once he is able to return home. I laugh at all the right punch lines, and it seems to make her happy.
Once I get to my building, I am able to get our super to let me into my apartment. I explained to him that I have lost my purse and he understands thankfully. Sug wanted to stay with me, but I sent her home with the promise to call her when I have any news on Kline. Never in my life have I been so happy to be in the tiny apartment I share with my brother. A bath in my own tub, and a night’s sleep in my own bed is what the doctor ordered.
As I lie in my bed I try to piece together all of the puzzle, but no matter which angle I look at it from none of it makes any damn sense. I still can’t figure out which one of them was seeking revenge on the other, and for the life of me I don’t know what part Tiffany played in the whole thing. I’m so fucking confused. I fall asleep with everything that Parker said ringing in my head.
**
The next morning, I come to life feeling refreshed from resting in my own bed. A glance at my clock tells me I have slept for ten hours straight. Scared that I will miss visiting hours with Kline, I jump straight up from bed and fall right on the floor. Apparently my body hasn’t caught up with my mind. Fuck, that’s going to leave a bruise on my hip bone. I crawl my way to the bathroom to relive my bladder and give my teeth a brushing of a lifetime. I never knew how much I have taken the little things in life for granted like brushing my teeth, and running my own brush through my hair, until now.
When I go into the kitchen, I have to stop and do a double take— on the counter is my purse alongside with my keys and my phone. When did those get here? Did I overlook them last night? No, I am sure they were not here when I came through the door. That’s when I see him sitting in my brother’s recliner drinking my coffee. Royce. The nerve of him just sitting there enjoying my brew in my favorite mug. Who does he think he is sitting there watching me watching him, with a smug look of satisfaction on his devilishly handsome face. His mouth curves up in a smile. “Miss me?”
“Did I miss you? Are you serious right now? Do you have any idea what the past few days, or the past week however fucking long it’s been has been like for me? You are a psychopath.”
“I love you too babe. I made coffee. You should probably get going if you want to see your brother.”
“Do you even hear yourself right now? Why are you here?” I anxiously tap my fingers on the counter waiting for him to explain himself. Do I even want to hear it, I don’t know.
“We have a lot to talk about Brandi, but if you believed even half of the shit Parker told you I wouldn’t still be sitting here would I?”