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“Dorian!” he called, but I noticed he passed a glance back. He stood in the middle of my entryway, as if conflicted.
In the end, he chose to whirl in the other direction, after his friend, and I might have given the situation another thought had my phone not rung. Since I was in the hallway, I heard it.
I’ve got my own shit to deal with.
That was what I put in my mind as I went in the closet and pulled my phone out of my bag. Seeing Callum’s name, I felt a sense of relief. He seemed to be the only thing I could rely on these days, the constant and always supportive.
I hadn’t called him back last night it’d been so late, and I was happy to hear from him. “Callum?”
“Sloane. Good,” he said, sounding busy in the background. He was always busy, so this didn’t surprise me. “I’m glad I’m getting you. Did you not get my calls last night?”
“I did, but it was late. I got your messages, but I didn’t know if I should call you.”
“I’m always available to you, Sloane. Especially now, considering the situation.”
I swallowed. “Have you heard anything else about my brother?”
“I did. Actually, I just got done talking to Dr. Richardson. He’s taken over his care this morning, and he apologizes for not being around for you both last night. He and his family left for a family vacation after he saw Bruno. Didn’t even know anything was wrong until I got a hold of him last night.”
Oh my God.
“He caught a quick flight this morning. He’s with Bru now, and from how it sounds, your brother is doing very well.”
I couldn’t believe he’d gotten the doctor to come to him. Leave his vacation. My lips parted. “What’s wrong with my brother?”
Callum’s sigh was heavy into the phone, and even though he said Bru was doing well, my heart raced. “Unfortunately, Dr. Richardson is still unable to diagnose. What appeared to be a temporary virus your brother obviously can’t seem to shake. His fever keeps coming and going. Your brother collapsed last night due to lack of fluids. He was severely dehydrated amongst other things.”
I was sure the vomiting contributed to that. My throat constricted.
“Good news is Bru’s fever has come down this morning,” Callum continued. “He did very well through the night, and Dr. Richardson is hopeful.”
“Did you speak to him? Bru?”
“I have, and he does sound good. I’m trying to do everything I can to be there. I was on a flight myself last night, which was why I missed your calls. I was working on a deal overseas.”
He was always working and had no obligation to us at all.
You should have called him sooner.
My brother had just been sick for too long, his meds making him sleep all the time. He hadn’t been well at all, and if I’d been proactive, maybe more could have been done to prevent all this. Obviously, Dr. Richardson was a doctor, but to him, my brother was a patient. He cared for him like a patient, facts only and not instincts. Instincts, a gut feeling, came from those closer to home, and I should have pushed more.
That was all in the past now. Things were what they were, and this was the hand we all had been dealt now.
An engine charged in the air, and my gaze shot outside to see Dorian’s Audi.
He peeled off out of my driveway, Ares physically behind him. Ares had his hands up, his head shaking. The next thing I knew, he was getting into his Hummer.
I watched as he cut after him too, chasing after him, and I realized Ares must have fallen asleep too. He couldn’t have gotten past the gate if he hadn’t.
I realized exactly how this did look to Dorian, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. He had no right to come here.
My heart surged as Callum continued to speak.
“I’m doing what I can to get there, but just wanted to give you the update. I assume you’re on your way to the hospital this morning? I’m sorry they blocked you last night. Dr. Richardson spoke to Bru’s attending, and he told him they wouldn’t allow you entry. From what I hear, there was some type of traffic collision?”
“Yeah, there was.” I pulled my keys out of my bag but decided to head to my room for a fresh change of clothes first. I was still in my pajamas. “The place was full. They wouldn’t let me back.”
“Well, I’ve made a few calls, and that shouldn’t be the case now. You should even be able to stay there while your brother is admitted.”
