Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 74005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
He simply nods once more.
Then he takes my hand and leads me back to the bedroom, where he gets dressed quietly.
I go to the bathroom, brush out my hair, and put it up in a high ponytail so it will be out of the way. I wash my face quickly and then return to the bedroom where Hawk is dressed.
He takes my hand, leads me out, and we get into his car.
We don’t talk much on the way to the hospital. I just keep my hand in his, hoping that I’m giving him some comfort.
I don’t know what else I can do or say.
Already I see the weight of this on his shoulders. He’s going to blame himself for what’s happened, and I don’t know what I can do to stop that.
I keep my phone on my lap, hoping for it to ring. With news from anyone. Raven or Vinnie.
What about Belinda?
I hope they left her at home. I know how much she hates hospitals.
We pull up, and Hawk leaves the car with the valet parking attendant. Still not speaking, he grabs my hand, and we walk inside.
I wait for him to speak to the volunteer on duty.
When he doesn’t, I clear my throat. “We’re looking for Eagle Bellamy,” I say. “We’re immediate family. Where can we find him please?”
The volunteer taps on her computer. “Goodness. He’s in the ICU. Fifth floor.”
Hawk squeezes my hand. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I pull on his arm. “Let’s go see your brother.”
Silently we walk toward the elevators, and I press the up button. When the elevator dings and the doors open, I’m ecstatic that it’s empty. Hawk and I walk inside, and I press the button for the fifth floor.
When the doors open, we walk out, and in the waiting room, Vinnie and Raven, Falcon and Savannah, Robin, and Star are all waiting.
Robin rises and walks toward us, embracing Hawk. “Thank God,” she says.
Hawk finally speaks. “How is he?”
“We don’t know anything yet,” she says. “Except that…”
“Except what?” Hawk demands.
Her face twists. “The doctor says that, at this point, he has a fifty-fifty chance.”
My heart drops.
So does Hawk’s. I can almost see it drop from his chest cavity to his stomach. He shakes his head slowly.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Robin.
“They’re doing everything they can,” Robin says. “Mom is beside herself, of course. We haven’t told Dad yet.”
“I’ll tell him,” Hawk says.
“We’ll all tell him,” Robin says. “But not yet. Mom doesn’t want him worrying. He needs his strength for his own healing.”
Hawk simply nods.
“Can we see him?” I ask.
“They’re only letting two people in at once. Mom has been with him most of the time, but she’s out here because she wanted to give Falcon and Savannah some time with him. But maybe you two can go in before Mom goes back.”
Hawk looks at Star. “Mom? Okay if we go see him?”
Star doesn’t look at her son. She simply nods while still staring at her clasped hands in her lap.
Hawk takes my hand and heads to the desk. “I’m Hawk Bellamy. Eagle Bellamy’s brother. We’d like to see him, please.”
“He’s nonresponsive,” the attendant says.
“Doesn’t matter,” Hawk says, his jaw rigid. “He’s my little brother. I want to see him.”
“I’ll ring for a nurse.” Then she looks at me. “And you are?”
“She’s with me,” Hawk says before I have a chance to answer.
The attendant simply nods and makes the call.
A moment later a nurse in scrubs comes through the double doors and meets us at the attendance desk. “You’re Mr. Bellamy’s brother?”
“Yes, and this is my companion, Daniela Agudelo.” His voice is artificially steady. “We’d like to see my brother please.”
“You are certainly allowed to see him. But I have to warn you he’s unconscious. And—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Hawk interrupts. “I need to see my brother.”
She nods with a sympathetic smile. “Come with me, please.”
Hawk and I walk behind the double doors and follow the nurse to a private room in the ICU.
Oh God…
Eagle is hooked up to every machine imaginable. There’s a breathing tube rammed down his throat, an IV drip in his wrist, a pulse oximeter on his finger, a heart monitor and automated blood pressure cuff around his wrist, plus a bunch of other wires I can’t identify. His complexion is unnaturally pale, his usually vibrant eyes closed.
Hawk stops in his tracks, staring at his brother. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling seeing his brother in this fragile state.
The heart monitor beeps.
Beeps.
Beeps.
It’s a cruel reminder of Eagle’s current reality.
At least it isn’t silent.
Hawk tightens his grip on my hand.
A chair sits next to Eagle’s bed. Hawk heads straight for it. I follow, squeezing his hand in silent support.
“Hey, buddy…” Hawk’s voice is hoarse, barely above a whisper. He reaches out and lays a hand on Eagle’s lifeless one.