Page 45 of If Cain Were Able

“Oh, well, that’s interesting, but uh, no, that’s not why I’m calling.”

The longer his pause goes on, the higher my heart rate climbs.

“Okay. Why are you calling?” I ask.

“There’s been an incident.”

Another pause causes me to lose my patience.

“For Christ’s sake, Dan. Spit it out.”

“Cain Rosemont was shot in the hallway of the hospital earlier today by a family member of a patient he lost.”

My knees buckle, and I land with brutal force on the hardwood floor. My ears are ringing. My chest hurts. I have tunnel vision.

At some point, I realize someone is shaking my shoulder.

The phone is still in my hand.

I’ve lost the ability to speak.

Something in my brain tells me to put the phone back up to my ear. Maybe I misheard him, and I need him to repeat himself.

“Patrick? Hello? Are you there?” Dan says.

“Mmm,” I manage to hum.

“Cain had you listed as his emergency contact, which is why I’m calling now. He’s in surgery, but it doesn’t look good. Can you get here today?”

“Yes.”

Can I? I can’t even stand up. How the fuck am I supposed to make it to Boston?

The phone finally slips from my hand, and Liam and Damon are on either side of me. I have no idea when they followed me out here.

“Dad, what’s going on?” Liam asks, his voice full of concern.

“Cain…he’s been shot. He’s in surgery, but…”

I can’t finish the sentence.

“Ohmygod! Dad, that’s awful!”

“I need to go.”

“Yeah, of course, come on. I’ll help you pack. Damon and I will go with you.”

My head whips toward Liam.

“You don’t have to do that, son. I’m not sure what I’m walking into.”

“Whatever it is, you shouldn’t walk into it alone,” Liam says.

Damon stays quiet but is typing furiously on his phone. He leaves to take a call while Liam helps me get my shit in a bag. I sit, completely useless, on the edge of the bed. A few minutes later, Damon walks back into the room.

“I know it’s probably not ideal, but Tay’s working a flight to Boston tonight before going to Chicago. He confirmed that there were seats available if we wanted them. It leaves in an hour, so we really need to haul ass if we’re going to make it.”

I nod.