Page 8 of Chaotic Curse

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I choke back a sob.

Hawk needs my strength now.

I can’t become a blubbering mess.

I rise and rest a hand on Hawk’s shoulder.He flinches at my touch but doesn’t push me away.

“Hawk,” I whisper, “You’re not alone.We’re all here for Eagle.For you.”

He simply shakes his head.“This is on me.All on me.”

“It’s not,” I say gently.

He turns on me then, his blue eyes full of anger, rage.“You don’t know what you’re talking about.Why don’t you just get the hell out of here?I need to be with my brother.”

I blink at his sudden outburst.

He can’t mean that.

Can he?

I’m hurt.Confused.I open my mouth to respond—how, I don’t know—but before I can, he turns away from me with a cold, distant look.

I stand rooted to the spot, my mind reeling.I want to reach out, to comfort him, but the hostility in his gaze stops me.He’s built a wall, and I’m on the outside, looking in.

So I do the only thing I can.

I step back, away from Hawk and his pain.I can’t help if he won’t let me.

“Okay,” I manage to say, my voice barely audible, even to me.

I turn, fighting back the hot torrent of tears threatening to spill from my eyes.I force them back, though, swallowing hard.

This isn’t about me.

I leave the room and close the door behind me with a soft click.

I return to the waiting area.

Star is crying now, holding onto Falcon for dear life.

I walk toward Raven and Vinnie.“Where’s Belinda?”I ask.

“She’s home,” Vinnie says.“Natalie is there.”

I nod and plunk down next to Vinnie.“Good.She hates hospitals.”

“I know,” he says.“Is Hawk okay?”

I’m not sure how to answer that.

So I don’t.

3

HAWK

“Come on, Eagle,”I say for what seems like the hundredth time.“Please.Please.”

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