Page 9 of Ruthless Son

“The shit Missy gave you last night, the papers, give them to Jenna and she’ll deal with it.”

Crossing my arms, I glared up at the domineering man. “I’m not going to give confidential information to a woman I don’t know.”

He copied my stance, crossing his own arms and leering down at me. “I told you, princess, she sells?—“

My hand came up, pausing him in his quest that I’m sure he thought was helpful. “Look, I know you think you’re trying to help in all of your manly glory, but I’m more than capable of sorting this out.” He reared back, his cheeks flushing pink as I continued, “I’ve dealt with worse situations in my life. Sorting out my sisters insurance in a foreign country isn’t even on the top ten of bullshit I’ve had to fix.”

His jaw clenched, and with a nod, he sat back down, effectively ignoring me. I’d hurt his pride, I could see it in the way he held himself tightly, his knuckles white around the half full coffee cup that looked like it would break around his grip at any moment.

Inwardly, I sighed. I had no time to deal with male egos when I was about to deal with my sister’s attitude. I had no idea what mood she’d be in, so adding Rex’s sulk into the mix wasn’t something I needed.

Tucking my chair in, I waved awkwardly at the rest of the group, feeling so many eyes on me always made me feel uncomfortable, like I was supposed to do or say something. But trust Sly to break through that awkwardness. “Sugar, hey. Before you go, can you call me an asshole?” I scratched at my ear, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “Dall me an asshole… please.”

His hands were held palm to palm as if in prayer, he wanted me to insult him? “Uh, you’re an arsehole?”

His hands clapped just once, his head falling back to hit the cushioned booth. “Oh my God, I love your accent. Say asshole again, arse… hole,” he tried the pronunciation, but he sounded robotic.

Groans of annoyance came from the men, and they shook their heads at Sly’s terrible British accent. “For fuck’s sake, must you always embarrass me?” Rex muttered, before I shook my own head and turned away, heading for the door. I had mere minutes left before visiting hours, and I was not leaving until I’d not only seen my sister but fixed this crap with the health insurance.

Their banter followed my ears out, and my lips tipped up at the corners listening to their voices fade the further I got. I’d barely known them 24 hours and already they were worming their way into my life.

I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

Mia

The strong antiseptic smell invaded my nose as I stepped onto the ward. A different nurse took residence at the desk that Missy had occupied last night—thank God.

The older woman looked up as I reached her. I put my warmest smile on, the one I used for my nicer patients, and hoped that this woman didn’t cause me issues the way the last one did.

I didn’t have to worry though, the minute she heard my accent, she knew I was here to see Millie and escorted me to where my sister was laid up.

“I’ve always wanted to go to Australia,” the woman said, rambling on about spiders and lizards being the reason she hadn’t been but it was on her bucket list. I nodded my head at appropriate times, and smiled on cue, but my brain was focused on the reunion with Millie that was imminent, and it could go one of two ways.

Firstly, she could moan and whine about why I was there and she didn’t need me here because she was an adult. This was very likely, it’d been her M.O for the past couple of years. Or, she could be completely contrite and miserable and glad to see me.

I was hoping for the latter.

The nurse knocked on the door to announce us, before walking in. “Well, you’ve got a visitor,” she said warmly.

I stopped dead in the doorway, my gaze taking in my baby sister laying in that hospital bed. If not for her deep blue eyes that matched our dads—and mine—I don’t think I would have recognized her. Her cheeks were sunken, as if she had been starved, dark bruising ringed her eyes that spread to yellowish bruises around the edges, blood crusted around her nostrils and her left arm was in a sling over the crisp white hospital blanket. Her free hand clutched the material in her fist, holding it to her chest and hiding her body from me. But her collarbone jutted out, sunk in just like her cheeks, emphasizing her malnourished state.

My gasp had her eyes meeting mine; her tears welled and tipped over, falling down her gaunt cheeks. Her sniffle of sadness had my feet moving toward her and resting carefully on the edge of the bed.

“Sshhh, it’s ok sis, I’m here,” I whispered into her matted hair, gently wrapping my arms around her. I softly stroked her back, feeling her rib cage beneath the gown she’d been put in, and my heart filled with a black rage that I’d never before experienced.

Millie buried her head in the crook of my neck, her loud sobs echoing in the private room. Her tears soaked my skin, and there was no sign of her stopping any time soon. I just sat there, cradling my baby sister in my arms and whispered words of love hoping they’d ease her pain.

It felt like hours that she cried in my arms, my back ached from the uncomfortable position, but I held still, giving Millie the safe space she needed to vent her emotions.

Her sobs turned to sniffles before she lifted her head, her red-rimmed eyes were swollen and bloodshot. “You’re really here?” Her voice came out in hushed tones, as if she was scared to speak her words aloud and I’d vanish like an apparition of her own making.

“I’m really here.” A box of tissues sat on the nightstand beside the bed, and I grabbed one before gently dabbing at Millie’s tear stained cheeks. “You look like shit.”

Her laugh was halted by a groan before she flopped back against the pillow, a grimace of pain etched on her bruised face. “Don’t make me laugh, please.”

“What the hell happened, Mills?” Her eyes closed at my question. “Don’t ignore me, Millie. I rushed over here as soon as Dad got the call, he?—”

At the mention of our dad, her eyes shot open in panic. “Dad knows?” she rushed out, her fingers clenching even tighter on the blanket.

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