Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
She stares at me, brows raised. “Well, you’re just like him, aren’t you?”
“Identical twins, funny how that works,” I mutter.
She blinks and then nods, looking a little sheepish. “Your brother has requested no visitors ...”
My fists clenched. “I’m the only family he’s got left, I have a right to see how he’s doing.”
She smiles but she looks nervous. “I understand that, but we have to respect his wishes during his recovery. Some patients prefer to be left alone; they find it helps them better focus and fix themselves.”
“Look, is there any chance you can go to him and ask him if he’ll consider seeing me? It’s really important, wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. It’s in regard to his storage. Will you at least ask him?”
She hesitates. “I’m not really supposed to ...”
“Please,” I say, leaning over the counter. “I’m only asking you to check with him, not let me in. If he doesn’t want to see me, that’s okay, but please ask. He’s the only family I have, and he’s my twin brother. He needs me, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”
Her cheeks flush a little and she nods. “Of course, I understand that. I have family, too. I can only ask, though. And I will only do it once. You can’t come back in here and demand to see him again if he says no, do you understand?”
I nod. “Please, just tell him it’s an important issue in regard to his storage. He wouldn’t want to lose his stuff, I know he wouldn’t.”
She nods. “Give me ten minutes.”
I watch her go and sit down, praying the mention of the storage will jerk my brother into agreeing to see me. I wanted to do this on my own, without him knowing, but I didn’t realize how deep he’d gotten himself. Guilt clenches my chest. He is going to let me help him, or I’ll do it on my own. It’ll be a whole lot easier for me with his help. I can only hope he’ll give it to me.
Fucking pray, actually.
Because I don’t know where to fucking start.
It takes fifteen minutes for the receptionist to come back, and when she does, she walks over to me. I stand.
“He agreed to see you, but only once. As you understand, we have to respect his wishes. You’ll have only half an hour, as it isn’t visiting hours, however we try to always allow our patients whatever makes them feel well, and if seeing family is that, we’re always open to it. I’ll need you to sign in, and then I’ll have you escorted out to see him.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, signing everything I need to sign and then allow them to check me over to make sure I’m not carrying anything. I follow an old, angry looking nurse out into the gardens where they allow visitors.
I see my brother straight away, and already in the week I’ve not seen him, he looks better. He has more color to his face, although he does look like he’s in a good deal of pain. Coming off drugs will do that. It’s a spiral downward before things pick back up. Still, he’s improving, and that’s all that matters.
The nurse leads me over to the table and mutters, “Half an hour,” before disappearing into the garden with some other patients.
I sit down across from my brother, and already his eyes, the exact same as mine, are piercing into me. “You got my fuckin’ attention,” he hisses. “What the hell are you doin’, Dakoda? Other than playin’ with fire. You have no idea what you’re gettin' yourself into.”
“Firstly,” I growl, leaning in close, “you’re my brother, and if you’re goin’ down, I’m comin’ with you. What I’m tryin’ to do here is to make sure you don’t go down. Far as anyone knows, I’m you. No one knows you’re in here.”
His brows go up. “What the fuck have you done?”
“What is necessary to get you safe. Whatever shit you’re dealin’ in, it’s dangerous.”
“It’s also none of your fuckin’ concern.”
“Braxton, you and I both know I’m not backin’ down from this. I can walk out of here and do this on my own, guessin’ every step of the way, or you can have my fuckin’ back and help me. Tell me what I need to fuckin’ know. Tell me why the fuck you have fuckin’ weapons in your storage unit.”
“So you did fuckin’ find them. You take anyone with you? Anyone else see those?”
“No, and I don’t plan on involvin’ anyone else. I’m livin’ at your house, alone now, and it’s only a matter of time before someone comes lookin’ for you. At least, that’s what I’m guessin’, and I’d be right, wouldn’t I?”
His jaw clenches, and I know damn well I’m right, because I look the exact same way when I’m backed against a wall with nowhere to go.