Dylan (Inked Brotherhood 4)

My brain is firing but coming up blank. I grapple for an explanation to this sudden outburst. “Did Charlie and Kate say this to you?”

“No.” He bites his lip and looks away. He looks so… shattered, it freaks me the hell out. “I just know it.”

“Why, Miles?” Dammit, my arms are full of Teo, who’s sleeping fitfully, our voices rousing him every time we speak. “That’s not true. I love you just as much as I love Teo.”

“You don’t.” Stubborn. Hurt.

“Come here.” I reach for him one-handed, but he turns his back to me and sniffles loudly.

He’s crying. I can’t remember the last time I saw Miles cry—even when he returned home bruised. My breath locks in my lungs. I reach for him again—but he starts running. Before I realize, he’s out of the room, his steps echoing in the corridor outside.

I stagger to my feet, clutching Teo close, and walk out only to find out I can’t see him anywhere.

Hell. He’s gone.

***

My head’s killing me. I swallow a couple Advil and sit down by Teo’s side as

the doctor examines him, my mind split between my worry for him and Miles, who hasn’t been found yet.

Announcements are made every five minutes, asking Miles to go to the reception area. I’ve looked for him, run through the hospital and called out his name, but I can’t stay away from Teo now.

Fuck.

I’ve called Charlie and Kate, and they said they’ll come, though I don’t know what they can do.

I scrub my hands over my face, then through my short hair. “So, what’s the verdict?”

“As I said, it looks like Lyme disease.”

“So, what, he’s had it all this time? He’s been sick on and off for weeks now. At least since August.”

“We will see how his organs and joints fare,” the doctor, a nice lady, says. “But he doesn’t look so bad.”

I slump in my chair, closing my eyes briefly. Thank God. Then I open them again when her words sink in. My pulse thunders in my ears. “What are you saying? He may have problems with his organs and joints?”

I hope to hell I’ve misunderstood.

“Lyme disease is tricky,” the doc says, turning to give me a serious look. “If left untreated for a long time due to a misdiagnosis, then there can be long-term side effects, just as heart problems, early onset of arthritis and…” She must have seen something on my face, because her eyes widen. “Apologies, Mr. Hayes. I was only listing possible side effects. Sometimes previous bouts of sickness are due to other causes, like viruses. We’ll make sure your son recovers fully.”

“My brother,” I rasp, blinking dark spots from my eyes. “He’s my brother, not my son.”

“I see.” She cocks her head to the side. “And your parents?”

I shake my head, not in the mood to explain now. “I’m taking care of my brothers.”

Which reminds me… “Miles. I have to find him.” I’m worried sick that he may have left the building and is wandering the streets. Dangerous with all those cars speeding by.

How can he think I don’t care for him? What am I doing wrong?

And how can I leave Teo alone now? Dammit, Miles. The timing couldn’t be worse.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hayes,” the doc says. “The cameras don’t show Miles leaving the hospital. He must still be here.”

“But where? Why doesn’t he come out of hiding?”

She shrugs. “Did something happen to upset him?”