Page 105 of Broken

“Shut up! What makes y’all think I want you here?! I don’t want you anywherenearher!”

Jet’s arm came around me, hauling me back before I could reach them. Both of my cousins’ brows raised in shock at my hostility, but I couldn’t rein it in, everything just pouring out. “My child is dead! The love of my life is still fighting in there for the chance to wake up, and you think I care that you suddenlycare?!After everything you’vedoneto her?! I want nothing to do witheitherof you. We’re done!”

“Y’all better leave,” Jet ordered over his shoulder, still hauling me back.

“Okay, yeah, we’re gone.” Micah grabbed Ryder’s arm with a tug, directing him back, and Ryder scowled as they turned away, disappearing back into the SUV.

My chest was still heaving as they pulled away, white noise rushing in my ears, my blood was pumping so fast.

“Come on.” Jet jerked his head for me to follow, and I did. Needing direction. Needing someone to tell me what the fuck to do in that moment.

I frowned as he led us back to my truck, but the look on his face said not to argue. I did anyway.

“I’m not leaving without seeing–”

“We need to leave before someone reports all that racket you just made. Now, get in. We’ll be back.”

Shooting him daggers alongside Annie, we crawled in.

“Where are we–”

“You’ll see.” He cut Annie off, too, taking a minute to look something up on his phone. I was still fuming as Jet pulled back out onto the highway, but just a few exits later he pulled off and turned into a large parking lot for a gym. “Y’all need to cool down before you go see Izzy. Y’all are so bottled up, you’re ready to explode. Neither IzzynorBridgette need that right now. Now, come on.”

He hopped out of my truck, and Annie and I shared a baffled look before following.He might have a point.

“We need three day-passes.” Jet walked straight up to the counter to ask, and within minutes, he and I were in a back room, punching the shit out of punching bags while Annie was off somewhere racing her demons on a treadmill.

“Harder,” Jet directed, gritting his teeth with each of my throws. ‘You sure?’my look asked, and he gave me one that said to shut up and bring it.

You asked for it.I pummeled down on the bag, my fists flying, every ounce of my frustration, anger, hate, and outright fear unleashing with my punches. My back throbbed, and my ribs screamed, but I barely felt them, the rush of everything flying out of me just too great. The release of my emotions took over, fueling me until I finally clutched the bag, leaning against it for support. Everything in me done.

Jet held it steady, letting me catch my breath, and then he clapped the back of my shoulder, not another word between us. It wasn’t needed.

I grabbed a towel to wipe down, and we headed out to find Annie still going strong. Jet waved so she’d see us, and it tookanother five minutes before she slowed the machine for her cool down.

Dripping sweat, she stepped down and grabbed a towel, heading over to the water fountain where she spent another minute.

She stood up, brushing sweat soaked strands of hair away from her face, and placed her hands on her hips. “Are we done wasting time?”

Jet’s lips quirked up in a grin, but I couldn’t have said it better. As great as the relief had been, something inside me was screaming to be with Izzy again. Convinced she’d know I wasn’t there.

Chapter 28

JET

I paused outside the large door, pressing my hand against it but not pushing, needing a moment. Every time I walked in this room was like a punch to my gut. I hadn’t been prepared a couple of days ago when we’d left the gym, it being my first visit with Izzy since Dallas, but it had only taken a second to see that the depth of her broken state hadn’t changed. I’d been doing my best to prepare myself every visit since, but my middle was gutted each time I saw my friend in her hospital bed regardless. I took a deep breath and pushed open the door, opening it just enough to slip inside, and gave it a gentle push to close.

Bouquets of flowers filled the room, their fragrance permeating the space, but I could only make out their outline. It was dim when I looked around, a small lamp beside the bed the only light other than the red and green coming from themachines hooked up to Izzy. I let my eyes adjust to the semi-darkness for a second and looked over at my girlfriend as she sat by her sister’s bed.

“Hey, babe.” Annie glanced up at the faint thud of the shutting door.

“Hey,” I whispered back, going to stand behind her. “No change?”

“No, well, yes, actually. Everything is looking good with her brain in terms of swelling and everything, and the doctors are finally ready to let her wake up. They said it should happen sometime this evening.”

“Really?” I perked up. “Where’s your mom? Doesn’t she want to be here?”

“She went down to the cafeteria for some food and coffee. She should be back soon.”

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