I fumbled for the phone, nearly dropping it as I swiped to unlock it with shaking hands.
I dialed. Pressing my free hand to his chest, I tried to feel the rhythm of his heart, willing it to stay strong.
“I won’t lose you, Fox,” I whispered, my voice filled with fear. “I won’t.”
34
Skye
“Ithinkthat’sallthequestions I have for now.” Detective Whize closed his notebook.
We sat in the nearly empty waiting room of the local hospital. I stared blankly, my body exhausted and my mind numb. I felt hollowed out, scraped clean by everything I’d told him. Even repeating it all out loud hadn’t made it feel real.
Brandon stood and gave my shoulder a brief, almost awkward pat. “You’ve been through a lot, Skye. Maybe you should try to get some rest.”
I shook my head. The thought of rest after all this seemed impossible. My body might have been running on fumes, but my mind wouldn’t stop replaying every second.
The blood. The fear. The sound of the lock clicking into place was not something I’d soon forget.
“What’s going to happen to my brother?” I asked.
Whize’s expression betrayed a pinch of pity in his eyes before he looked away. “I honestly don’t know.”
“He’s not a bad person,” I said, voice splintering like it was about to shatter.
Whize’s jaw set. “He attacked both of you. And from what you’ve told me, it sounds like he may have killed your father.”
I gritted my teeth. “Our father was a monster. He broke him. He just…needs help.” My voice wavered, the urge to cry building in my chest.
My brother. The thought of who he had once been made me want to fight for him.
But then the memory of Fox crashed into me, the blood he was covered in. The sight of his limp body sprawled on the concrete floor.
A cold shiver ran through me. Maybe my brother had become the monster now.
“I’m sorry,” Whize said softly.
I inhaled a deep, shaky breath.
“Is there anything you can do?” I asked with little hope.
Whize stared at me for a long moment, his hand tightening around his notepad. “Look.” He lowered his voice. “I will do everything in my power to make sure he’s taken care of while he’s in police custody. Other than that…it’s up to the courts.”
“Okay.” I nodded, though I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. “Thank you.”
Whize patted my shoulder again, standing from the stiff, uncomfortable chair.
As he did, a doctor bustled around the corner. He approached us, adjusting his glasses. “Detective,” he said in greeting.
Whize stashed his notebook into the pocket of his sportscoat. “Hey, Doctor. How are things going?”
The doctor glanced at me. “Is that the sister?”
I stared back at him, feeling like less than a human being.
“Is my brother okay?” I croaked.
The doctor exchanged a look with Whize before answering.
