Page 55 of Shattered

“So you’re not mad?”

“At what they wrote? Screw them. Best decision they ever made was leaving me to you.”

After our talk, I felt better…lighter. It helped that he teased me mercilessly for being “overly dramatic” and “dumb.” I suppose to some degree I was. He was never meant to experience the kind of pain those words intended at twelve years old. It was my cross to bear as his older sister. Now though, he saw them for what they were. Utter bullshit.

Strong hands—which I loved so much—cradled my cheeks as he pressed his lips to mine. They were warm andsoft and, suddenly, I wished we were somewhere without an audience.

“How’re you doing, Angel?”

Before I could answer, his phone sounded from his pocket. Due to the nature of his job, he always checked when someone called, especially given our two friends were in the middle of a dangerous situation. Reaching back, he pulled it out and looked at the screen. His eyebrows turned down with confusion.

“It’s my sister. I need to take this.”

Putting the phone to his ear, he barely said hello before I heard a panicked female voice on the other end of the line.

“Calm down, Willow. I can barely understand you.”

I caught two words which were never meant to be in the same sentence. Mom and hospital. Koen stiffened and I knew whatever it was, it was bad.

“Heart attack? What the fuck, Wills?”

Keaton, Henley, and Duncan rushed to our side, having heard the same anguish in his voice I did. Koen’s family meant the world to him. He’d already lost his father way too soon, if something happened to his mother, I didn’t know what he’d do.

“I’ll get the first flight out. Tell her I love her and I’ll see her soon.” He listened for a few more seconds, then said, “Love you too, Willow. It’ll be okay.”

“What’s going on?” Duncan asked.

“My mom’s on the way to the hospital. They think it’s a heart attack.”

“Shit, man. What do you need?” Keaton clapped him on the shoulder.

“I have to get a plane ticket.”

“Three,” I interjected. He pinned me with wide eyes. “If you think I’m letting you handle this on your own, you’ve lost your mind. We’re a team.”

“Thank you, Angel.” He kissed me hard and quick, then turned back to Keaton. “Three tickets.”

“Okay, give me ten minutes.”

Unfortunately, it only took six to figure out the earliest domestic flight leaving Huntington Tri-State airport wasn’t until late afternoon tomorrow.

“Fuck,” Duncan spat.

Koen didn’t say anything. He just looked helpless. I hated it.

“What about Charleston?” I questioned. “Or Yeager?”

“They’re all the same.” Keaton shook his head. “That’s why I’ve ordered a private jet. It’ll be fueled up and ready for takeoff within the hour.”

“Excuse me?” I stuttered.

“I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t let you do that, man.”

“You aren’tlettingme do shit, Koen. It’s already done. What else am I going to spend my money on if not family?”

“Dammit.” Koen wrapped his best friend in a hug, smacking a fist against his back. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now go pack and get to the airport. Text with any updates.”

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