ny

tal now! Your brot

to a distant hum, swallowed by the hammering of my pulse. I tried to remain calm. I refused to think the worst had hap

ing over each other. What happened? Was it an accident or s

pital only deepened

he moment I stepped through the doors. A woman a

d Loraine," I pan

ips pressing into a thin

C

ouple arguing near the entrance and slammed my hand a

ird floor. I saw my mom

arms crossed tight over her chest. Her face was pale

spered, my v

embrace. "Oh, An..." Her voice trembled. "They won't let us see h

tell you

e are here. They're asking que

at do you m

What if-" She stopped h

tormed my mind, but al

in silence, only broken by the occasio

ike hours, a nurse approac

hed i

arms, his face marred with bruises. My mom couldn'

er. His eyelids fluttered, and for

here, hoarse and weak. "Stop loo

I cried, tears

attack. Mainstreet. Just

d my eyes

It wasn't random...those goons

n my chest co

do you

e. Alex was the target and as a

u fough

hey didn't leave us a choice. Even after Alex sur

reet brawler - he was a journalist, a dreamer. What the hel

sts. "Why were y

. I wanted to surprise you

as I let him rest, I knew this wasn't over. If Alexan

ng far

amily was in

paranoid thoughts, I let my brother stay tucked away in his

n the noise of my own racing thoughts. The cold, artif

d her shoulder, squeezing gently. She nodded absent

ng back to what David had said. Just as I rounded the corner, I collided into something solid

easy

onto a sharp, mischievous gaze framed by dark lashes.The man before me

with women this stunning, I would've fo

w they let in walking clichés,

e easily swept off your feet anyway. Pity. I was hoping

ng off his grip.

tion prize." His oceanic gaze flickered over

obvi

meone payin

ing me back toward reality. This was

, it's been fun

If you ever feel the need to curse someone

laugh, despite

ut his stare linger

ICU that I realized something unsettled me about him. Something I could

at beside her, letting the silence stretch between us. Then, some

my gaze skimmed the front

RELEASED AFTER A

nt Ca

him. A scandal that had rocked the business world, a downfall that had been swif

photograph accompanying the article. Vincent - older,

art d

ia