Page 73 of Bratty Badboys

“We can see him,” I said, my voice weak.

Can I see him, though? I was afraid of what I might find. We hadn’t been allowed since we weren’t family.

“Once his dad comes out, we can see him,” I said, taking a deep breath and forcing a small smile at Anna. Her left elbow was bruised, and besides the concussion, she was recovering well. She would get discharged soon.

Her hand cupped my cheek, her thumb rubbing over the stubble I had been growing out since I didn’t care about shaving when my boyfriend was strapped in a hospital bed, not knowing if he’d ever wake up again and we’d get to see his pout or not.

“It’ll be fine,” Anna assured me, her eyes strong despite what had happened. “He’s strong and we will find out who did this.”

I nodded, closing my eyes as she kissed my forehead. I was going to give my statement to the police, but Cillian had stopped us. I told him everything, and he got Sean, who was a lawyer and his best-friend, when I gave my statement to the police.

Cillian hadn’t said much, but he was going to find out who did that to his son, and I trusted him more than the police with the case.

“You can see him.” We both turned to see Cillian walk out of the room, his face stoic but eyes gleaming. Emma, who was on a call at the end of the hallway, ended her call and rushed to her husband, squeezing his hand.

I stood up, taking Anna’s hand and made our way to the door.

“Wait,” Cillian said, and we stopped, looking at him. “He… Caleb…”

We waited, holding our breath as Cillian struggled with his words. “He’s dead.”

38

YOU’RE CUTE

ANNA

No.

It can’t be true.

“I don’t believe it,” I said, my voice strange and devoid of emotion as I turned and entered the room. My eyes welled up. If that’s true, it’d be my fault.

But as my vision cleared to the bright light of the room and empty bed, I frowned. I heard Kyle shuffle in behind me and the door shut as a hand wrapped around my mouth.

My fight instinct kicked in, but I couldn’t scream when I found the familiar tattoos on the arm and looked at the person.

His glittering eyes were on me as he put a finger on my lips and turned to Kyle. I nodded slowly, eyeing the bruise on his forehead—his hair. His hair was short. Gone were the beautiful locks, but he looked just as handsome and youthful with short hair and?—

“Are you… okay?” I asked, my voice wavering and full of emotions as I held his arms and looked down at his body, checking his scrubs and eyeing any injury.

“Why did your dad lie?” Kyle asked, his tone harsh. He was angry.

And rightfully so.

“I’m faking my death,” Caleb whispered and tilted his head to the bed. “Someone tried to poison me on the first day. Fuck, pretty, are you okay? Look what they did—I’m going to kill them.”

His warm hand on my face felt nice as he tilted it side to side before hugging me. I sighed, melting into his embrace. He was okay. He was alive and breathing and hugging me. I didn’t understand about faking his death part, but as long as he’s safe, I’d do anything.

I squeezed my arms around him and pulled away abruptly at the wince. “I’m sorry,” I said, and Kyle lifted Caleb’s scrub. I gasped, covering my mouth at the splatter of dark bruises over his left abdomen and chest.

“It’s nothing,” Caleb waved it off, tucking his shirt down. “I know I’m sexy, but we can’t have sex yet, pretty boy.”

Kyle ignored his flirting and said with a glare, “It doesn’t look like nothing to us. And what do you mean, poison and faking death? I was waiting for you to wake up, right outside the door.”

Caleb ran a hand through his short hair. “I don’t have time to explain all of it, but whoever planned that explosion wants me dead. I was lucky enough to wake up and stop the nurse who tried to inject me with poison.”

I frowned, thinking back to that day, and I was unconscious most of the day.

---