Page 114 of Twisted Heathens

We refused to leave last night. Nobody wanted to go home without seeing Eli first. We’re a family, and we shoulder mutual blame for Eli’s relapse. Even if it was bound to happen again sooner or later. He’s never far from another implosion, each worse than the last. This time, he could have died.

The thought makes me want to scream.

“Has anyone spoken to Brooklyn?”

Kade and Hudson both shake their heads. Everything happened so fast, we’d completely forgotten the devil walking in scarred skin who has us wrapped around her fucking finger without even realising it.

“She should be here,” I mutter.

“It will only upset her. Leave it until we know more.”

“She probably already heard. The entire institute likely knows by now.”

We lapse into silence, neither one of us speaking again until the entrance door swings open and Doctor Andrew strides in, shaking rain from his umbrella. He takes one look at us, rumpled and grumpy after twelve hours in this godforsaken waiting area, and rolls his eyes.

“You lot still here?”

Kade stands to his feet, brushing down his creased shirt and wild hair. “We told you we’re not leaving until we see him.”

Doctor Andrew deposits his damp coat and grumbles under his breath, attaching the various medical paraphernalia from his bag. “This isn’t a bloody hotel. You shouldn’t be here.”

“Let us in and then we’ll go,” I counter.

He turns to me, still glowering, before acknowledging Hudson with a slight nod. Doctor Andrew has patched up Hudson on many an occasion, and this isn’t the first night we’ve spent stubbornly waiting for an update. We all stand as he finally walks over, sighing in frustration.

“One visitor only. You’ve got ten minutes, keep it brief.”

“You’re kidding?” I glance down the pearly white corridor. “We all need to see him.”

“Well, you all just have to wait,” he chastises. “Eli is concussed and we’ve got to take him for more X-rays at eight o’clock for his leg. Take your pick and the rest of you go home.”

He points towards the exit and Hudson immediately puts his arm around my shoulders, dropping his voice low. “Come on man, let’s leave Kade to it. We’ll come back later.”

“But I’m his—”

“Emergency contact?” Kade snarks.

Best friend, asshole. I’m his best fucking friend.

“You seriously gonna be like that?” I ask him furiously.

Kade just stares back in response like I’m the one being unreasonable.

“Fine.” I swallow my anger, trying to focus instead on Eli. “Just make sure he’s being looked after.”

Hudson and I begrudgingly leave, heading for the cafeteria. We’re both in a seriously shitty mood. I want to go back there and punch Kade’s fucking lights out for being a smug git, but apparently it’s rude to punch your so-called friends. Who the hell knew?

“Quit grinding your teeth,” Hudson snaps at me.

“Tell your brother to get his head out his ass and I will.”

“Like he’d ever listen to me.”

We grab some food and walk to our usual table, resolutely ignoring the looks cast our way. News of what happened has clearly been circulating and the tension is brewing big time. When one of Rio’s goons smugly asks how Eli is, I have to physically drag Hudson away before he gets us both thrown into solitary.

“They fucking did it,” he protests, struggling as I sit him down.

“I heard,” I grind out, battling my own need for violence. “But be smart about this, we can’t help anyone if we get ourselves locked up. Now isn’t the time or place for this.”

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