Chapter 6

Tatum’s POV

​I arrived at the hospital still reeling from shock,or perhaps it was pure, unadulterated rage. Liam had already been rushed into the ER. I had texted Amelia on the way, and I was slumped in a chair right outside the operating theater, The sound of my racing heart was all I could hear when she finally appeared.

.

​"Tate, calm down. Liam will be fine; he’s strong," she said, though her own voice cracked. I collapsed into her arms, sobbing as she patted my back. My entire body wouldn't stop shaking. I looked down at my shirt and saw Liam’s blood staining the fabric. My mind went blank, flashing back to the sight of his broken body lying in that horrific pool of red.

​That crazy bitch.

​I swore then and there: if anything happened to Liam, I would kill everyone involved. Even if I died in the process, I would haunt them until they knew no peace.

​Amelia kept trying to soothe me, but how could I be calm? Liam’s life was hanging by a thread, and as his older sister, I felt utterly powerless. Useless. Miserable. It felt like a curse just to be related to me.

​Suddenly, Arden appeared with Brianna trailing behind him, her head bandaged.

​"Arden," Amelia called out. I looked up. At least he had a shred of conscience,but then my eyes drifted to the person behind him.

​Brianna. That monster.

​A surge of white-hot anger rushed through me. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, pushing myself up. Amelia stood with me, her hand on my arm to steady me.

​"I came to check..." Arden started, but I cut him off.

​"Not you," I said, my voice turning cold and hollow.

​"She came because she felt sorry for what happened," Arden replied, stepping in front of her.

​"Why are you speaking for her? Tell her to leave. She isn't wanted here." My voice was stern

​Arden’s gaze darkened. "You heard me," I snapped, my voice rising. "You crazy bitch, get out!"

​"Chasing her away should be the least of your worries right now!" Arden snapped back.

​"It should be my only worry! Seeing her makes me sick,she’s the reason Liam is in there!" I retorted.

​"It was an accident, okay?" Arden insisted.

​I scoffed, the sound sharp and bitter. "Accident? My foot."

​"Enough, Arden!" Amelia snapped, her patience finally breaking. "Stop being so biased." Arden’s jaw tightened, but he went silent.

​Amelia guided me back to my seat, feeling my body tremble under her touch. "Liam is going to be fine, Tate. The doctors here are experts. He’s strong; he wouldn't want you like this."

​"I feel so useless, Amelia. I couldn't protect him."

​"You aren't useless. You’re doing your best," she whispered.

​"I just hope he’s okay," I sobbed.

​"He will be."

​About three hours later, the surgeon emerged. I was on my feet in an instant. "How is he?"

​"Are you his legal guardian?" the doctor asked.

​"Yes, I am."

​"He’s stable, but he took a massive hit to the head. Although he is out of immediate danger, he is in a coma. I can’t guarantee when or if he will wake up."

​The world tilted on its axis. A coma. My vision blurred, my knees gave out, and everything went black.

​When I finally opened my eyes, the clinical scent of disinfectant filled my lungs. Amelia was sitting by my side. The moment she saw me stir, she rushed over.

​"Tate, are you okay?"

​I nodded, though hot tears immediately began to fall.

​"Come on, Tate, please don't," she said, her own tears spilling over.

​"It’s okay... don't cry," I whispered, feeling a wave of guilt. "Can you take me to see him?"

​"You're still too weak," she protested.

​"I know, but I need to see him."

​She eventually relented and helped me to his ward. I stared at my brother, the boy who was always full of life and laughter, now lying motionless. His face was waxen, his lips pale. He didn't look like the Liam I knew. He was lying there, lifeless, because of that monster Brianna.

​I made a silent promise to myself right then: I would come for her. No one would stop me.

​Not even Arden.

​Arden’s POV

​Ever since this morning, Brianna hadn't been herself. She looked pale, ghost-like. I knew she was volatile, but I never imagined she was capable of something like this. A part of me wanted to believe it was an accident; another part feared it was intentional.

​My mind kept drifting back to Tatum, her raw, guttural wails when she saw her brother, the sheer ferocity in her eyes when she saw Brianna. No sane person could blame her for reacting that way.

​A phone call snapped me back to the present. "Yes?"

​"Miss Tatum is awake."

​"Understood."

​I hung up and looked at Brianna. She was sleeping, though her brow was furrowed as if she were trapped in a nightmare. I quietly closed the door and walked toward Tatum’s ward. I pushed the door open softly and found her sitting up, her eyes rimmed with red.

​I cleared my throat to announce myself. She slowly looked up at me.

​"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice like ice.

​"I came to see how you were doing."

​"As you can see, I’m fine. You can leave now." She paused, her gaze hardening. "And tell your lover I don’t want to see her face. She shouldn’t bother apologizing, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do if she steps foot in here."

​My gaze darkened, and I opened my mouth to defend Brianna, but I caught the look in Tatum's eyes and stopped. Given how vulnerable she was, I simply nodded.

​As I turned to leave, a familiar figure walked through the door. My gaze darkened.