“What?”he managed to say.
Arend clicked his tongue, stood up, and walked over to his bed.He leaned close to Ry, his breath sour.“I built your audience.They will believe any version of you that I feed them.I’ll spin this as needed.”
Arend’s gaze was as frigid and unyielding as ice.Ry’s stomach churned with the desire to vomit.His legs twitched, ready to assist him to escape, and his throat tightened to cry for aid, yet he remained immobile on the bed.
A polite knock came at the door before the nurse stepped in again.Arend straightened and squeezed Ry’s shoulder to the point of pain.“Take care, Orion.I wish you a speedy recovery.”
He nodded to her and left the room.
“Always nice to have visitors,” Abby said.She gave him a few pills and some water.Wiping his brow, she told him about the treatment for the following day or so, but his attention shifted back to Arend’s visit.
As the door clicked shut and the lights softened, a heavy weariness settled in his eyes, and he drifted into restless sleep.
?
“—should be.”
The next time he woke, the rhythmic beep of a nearby machine was a dull thrum in his ears.The harsh glare above washed the color from Lon’s concerned face listening to an older man, his white coat crisp and his gaze sharp.
“Oh.Our patient is awake.How are you feeling?”
Ry groaned.His arm weighed down by something, as he tried to wipe his eyes for a clearer view.He blinked to clear them instead.He croaked, “Beat up.Better.”
Lon’s fingers tapped a jittery rhythm.
“I’ll say.Your vitals are looking much improved.Dehydration and cardiovascular issues.We had to pump your stomach in the early morning.You should be all right now that we’ve gone through the worst.We’ll keep you overnight, at a minimum.”
He left with a brief, automatic smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and a curt nod.His detached movements carried the impersonal air of emergency medical staff.
“Oh my god, Ry, I’m so sorry for what happened.I called an ambulance right away.”
“S’okay, Lon.”Ry managed a feeble wave.“My choice to go.”
Lon sat by the bed for a moment, shaking his head.“Maybe if it hadn’t been so long, I’d have insisted you stay at the hotel.Instead, I almost lost you.”
Lon reached for his hand.His warm hands closed over Ry’s.One blond curl twisted in front of his eyes, freckles splashed haphazardly across his nose.
“Can’t get rid of me that easily.”Ry attempted a smile.“You and Arend, yesterday.”
“What?”
Ry shifted in the bed.“You were talking to him.Why I went.”He tried to breathe deeper.“Something about damage control?”
“I … I was worried about you, and he tried to pit me against you.”
“How?”
Lon took his hand.“He said if you were going to be the downfall of the band, that I should think about jumping ship.I told him no.Ride or die.”
Familiar footfalls, heavy and measured, announced Alex.The big guy came in, his arms crossed and his mouth set in a tight, unhappy line.
“Lon,” he said, his voice quiet.“Would you mind waiting outside?Brand’ll be back soon.”
Lon didn’t stand to move.
“I’d like to talk to Ry in private.”Alex uncrossed his arms, shaking them out.“Please.”
Lon rolled his eyes.“Fine.I’ll send Brand in when he’s back.”
