Sebastian squeezed my hand again—harder. “Where is he now? Vivian—” His voice cracked on her name.
Oh, fuck no.
“Vivian, where are they taking him?” His breathing sped up, thin and uneven.
He listened, eyes darting from side to side as he tried to piece together words we couldn’t hear. Oliver and Henry rushed to us, Charlotte right behind me.
Finally, Sebastian looked at his brothers, and his grip tightened around my hand until it hurt. He lowered the phone slightly, not speaking into it but still listening. “It’s Dad,” he said. “They’re taking him to the hospital.”
Shit.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
ASH
Asharp ringing filled my ears, the loud thump of my heartbeat pounding through it.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“He was confused and grunting… in pain. We called the ambulance, and the doctor said he could be having an?—”
“Slow down.” My voice didn’t sound like mine—thick, underwater. “What did the doctor say?”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Henny, call the pilot.”Ethan. That was Ethan. “We need to get over there right now.”
I closed my fingers around the warm hand gripping mine, the ridges of his rings digging into my skin.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The room tilted—just slightly. Or maybe it was me.
“He said he was having an episode. I don’t… he just collapsed!” Vivian’s voice shot sharp through the line. “On the floor! In the middle of breakfast!”
On the floor… The words didn’t land right. They scattered.
Why is she lying on the floor?
I pulled the phone away. It didn’t help. None of it made sense.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Keep your brothers in here?—
“Ash.” A soft sound, followed by a tug on my hand.
I turned toward it and found pale blue eyes watching me, tight with worry.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump—
Vivian’s voice vanished. Someone took the phone from me, and suddenly there were hands cupping my face, holding me still.
“I need that back,” I said—at least, I thought I did.
