Page 15 of Rekindling Desire

I’d blamed myself for Dad’s first heart attack based on what Darius had said. My conscious mind knew my brother was wrong, yet I couldn’t stop the nagging subconscious feeling that my decision to reappropriate funding away from quarterly dividends was part of the reason Dad was fighting for his life.

Ella’s hand came to my chin, turning me toward her. “It’s not your fault.”

I clenched my jaw with the realization she was right. Dad’s health wasn’t my fault. That didn’t mean I couldn’t lay the blame for Dad’s latest episode on my brother. As the doors of the elevator opened on the first floor, my gaze met that of the man in my thoughts.

Surprise registered in his orbs while simultaneously, mine heated with rage.

Releasing Ella’s hand, I balled my fingers into a fist and swung.

Pain radiated from my knuckles to my shoulder as my fist collided with Darius’s left cheek.

“Stop.” The repeated screams of our wives echoed through the hospital lobby yet did little to slow my attack.

There wasn’t time to think or consider who was watching as Darius took a step back and I followed with another punch and another. Each strike offered a means of release. Fucking Ella in the bathroom had settled my nerves; that was, until Mom told us about Darius.

Down on one knee and holding his face, Darius raised his other hand. “Stop,” he mumbled.

Despite the time being in the middle of the night, two uniformed guards rushed our way. It wasn’t until one spoke that I saw he was brandishing a sidearm. “Take a step back, sir.”

Stretching out my fingers of my right hand, I backed away and spoke to the heavyset man with the badge and gun. “My name is Damien Sinclair. My father is on the sixth floor. This man is barred from visiting. I want him barred from the hospital.”

“You can’t do that,” Darius said between curses. Amber reached for his elbow, helping him stand. After shifting his jaw one way and the next, he spoke again. “My name is Darius Sinclair. I have every right to see my father. He’s currently in surgery.”

The guard slowly placed his gun back in the holster. “You two are coming with me.”

Ella reached for my arm. “Sir, we’re all tired. We’re sorry for the disruption.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “And you are…?”

“Gabriella” —there was a slight pause— “Sinclair. My mother-in-law has asked that Darius stay away.”

“Marsha wouldn’t do—”

“She did,” I snapped, cutting off Darius.

“I could press charges,” he said. “I should.”

I took a step closer to him. “What did you say to Dad yesterday evening? His second heart attack is because of you.”

“That’s bullshit. I told you last week he was upset about what you were doing…”

The second hospital guard stepped between Darius and me. His movement reminded me of a short referee stepping between two much taller basketball players. The guard held up his hands. “Both of you leave.” He turned to me. “I’d like to get your mother’s name. We’ll sort this out.”

I nodded, ignoring the throbbing pain in my hand.

The same guard turned to Darius and Amber. “Visiting hours are over.”

“My father is in surgery.”

“He’s not,” Ella replied. “He’s out, and the next twenty-four hours are a waiting game.”

“You can’t stop us—” Amber began.

“I can,” the first guard said. “The lot of you. Take this outside. I don’t want to see any of you back in here until cooler minds have prevailed.”

“I want to press charges,” Darius said. “Physical assault. A police report.”

“Do it, brother.” The words seeped from between my clenched teeth. “I’ll see your physical assault and raise you attempted manslaughter.”

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