Next is Lance Hilton—my closest friend. To see such a dignified man lying in a hospital bed with bandages on his forearms and leg shatters me. I wish I could take away the pain.
I shake my head upon arrival and squeeze his shoulders. “I can’t believe this, man. I’m so sorry. How are you feeling?”
“Don’t be sorry, this isn’t on you. I’m feeling okay, really I am. I suffered some smoke inhalation and these right here are second degree burns. I may need a skin graft but we’ll have to see.” He remains hopeful with a smile and turns to Valencia. “I’m sorry this had to cut your birthday weekend short, Val.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, you don’t need to apologize!”
“What happened exactly?” I ask.
Lance grimaces when he attempts to push himself upright on the bed. I support his back while Valencia offers her hand. “Thanks, guys. Well, I went to the warehouse because I received an email from your account stating you needed assistance in the warehouse. I thought it was odd, especially because it was so early on a Saturday, and on Friday you were adamant about staying on Mercer for the weekend, but work is work and so I made my way there. The four of us all arrived at the same time so we walked up together and into the warehouse. We were waiting on what was supposed to be you, and out of nowhere, I started smelling this gasoline. Then there were massive explosions of fire. I…I couldn’t navigate myself out of there. Bryce had to virtually pull me out because the firefighters were struggling to get to us. I really have him to thank. He risked his life too. If it wasn’t for Bryce I really don’t think I would have made it…not from where I was in the building.”
Valencia and I share a glance.
Bryce?
We need to give credit where credit is due.
I let Lance know that I’m here for anything he needs, financial aid included, just like we told Kayla, and plan to tell both Bryce and my half-brother. “Thanks, man, but the one true thing I want for both of you is to find Addilyn. That’s all I want.”
It’s what we all need now.
Along with uncovering who the hell sent those emails and who’s behind all of this.
Marcus is lying in a hospital bed and staring up at the ceiling when we enter. He’s suffered a few first degree burns and is far less interested in our presence. He doesn’t seem to care or even notice when Valencia and I pull up two chairs beside his bed.
The room is so clinically white. The tension is thick and the shades are drawn, creating a dark stream of friction. He doesn’t react to our embraces. It’s as if we don’t exist. Even after all the arguments and firing him only for him to continue working as if nothing happened, I still care for him.
I still want the best for him.
Marcus’ dark eyes stare ahead, beyond us. “When we were younger, do you remember when we went on that vacation to Rhode Island with Dad and my mother?”
“Yes,” I pause. “Yes, Marcus I do. It was just before my eighteenth.”
“Then I must have been nine. Do you remember we fought over something? I don’t remember what now, probably something…stupid. I stormed off and didn’t know it, but you had followed me. I was sitting at the edge of the bay and slipped and you didn’t think twice about jumping in to save me, remember that?”
“I do.”
“And he did the same thing to save you. Isn’t that right, Valencia?”
She clears my throat beside me. “Yes, he did save me.”
“Exactly, he saved you. Your family. I’m not a fucking part of it. I’m not a part of anything. So why come all the way to check on me?” Marcus looks at me to emphasize his point, redness circling his eyes. “Huh?”
“First, you’re my brother, and second, somebody torched my company’s warehouse. How could we not check in?”
“We’re half-brothers. Being blood never made anything better between us.”
“We still fought the same battles!”
“Yeah, battles you created! The ones you fucking built the moment you killed our—”
I lean forward against the bed and cut him off in a hiss. “This is not the time or the place.”
“It is! You wanna know why? Because I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to see you anymore. I don’t want to see any of you. I don’t want to be a part of your fucking family.”
The words leave me uneasy. After everything we’ve been through, and even though we’ve never been close, the last thing I want is to lose another person. I don’t want to lose him. “Marcus, those battles were created the moment our father cheated with your mother while mine was dying. I know it’s not your fault. I am not claiming that it is. However, you didn’t help the agony. Never did you stand by me. Not even once. You amplified it with your own mind games.”
Marcus swallows hard, glancing between Valencia and me with narrowed eyes. “I should have died today. You weren’t there to save me this time. It would have been easy.”
“Please don’t say those things, Marcus.”
“You don’t know a thing about me, Valencia! None of you do!”
“My wife knows you! I know you!” I growl, losing my patience. “We have always been here for you. Always. Even through the drugs and when the last thing we wanted to do was look each other in the eye. I adhered to your deal after that Thanksgiving night. I did everything you asked me to. I am still doing everything you ask me to!”
“Exactly! Why are you? Why are you always helping me?
