Page 142 of Theirs to Ruin

I was itching to go to Kage instead of just standing close by like I was, but Callum and the doctor took up a lot of space. Still, I’d been comforted by the fact that before Kage had fallen asleep, his gaze had sought me out and he’d mouthed, “You okay?” I’d bit my lip and almost started crying, but instead I’d forced myself to smile and nodded. I was so relieved when the doctorsaid that Kage was going to be okay that I’d almost collapsed into a heap on the floor. Instead, I’d turned and hugged Ty, who was standing beside me. Ty stiffened and I expected him to rip himself away from me, but instead he cupped the back of my head and held me for moment before he gently released me and stepped back, putting a couple of feet between us again.

Callum abruptly stopped pacing and glared at me, the same suspicion in his eyes that had been there when he and the doctor had arrived, though he’d said nothing to me or Ty since they got here. I steeled myself, prepared for an onslaught, for the bitter words of blame to spill from his lips. Instead, he strode to the armchair next to the couch, sat down, and stared at his brother.

“I’ll be staying the night as a precaution so I can continue to monitor Kage,” the doctor said.

“Me, too,” Callum said, again glaring at me as if daring me to disagree.

“That’s fine,” I said quietly. “Can I get either of you anything?”

“Coffee?” the doctor said.

Ty shifted beside me. “I’ll get it,” he said quietly.

I almost grabbed at his hand, not wanting him to leave me.

Suddenly, I heard a low groan. Kage!

I ran to the couch, crouched beside him, and stroked his hair. “Kage?”

Suddenly, his eyes blinked open.

“Hey,” he said roughly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I just—” My voice broke. I’d just needed to touch him. To feel his warmth under my hand. To feel that reassurance that he was still here with me.

He reached up and took my hand in his. “I’m okay. Thanks for getting me out of there.”

Guilt weighed down on me and my eyes filled with tears. “I should have called 911 and gotten you to the hospital right away.The school wouldn’t have expelled you.” I forced a laugh. “You’re Kage O’Hare.”

He smiled then shook his head. “You did the right thing. Now go get some rest.”

I hesitated but after Kage closed his eyes again, I stood. I turned to face the two other men in the room. “I can take a shift watching him anytime. But first, I’m going to go wash up,” I said.

I’d moved toward the stairs when Callum suddenly said, "I don’t fucking believe that Ava just happened to have a heart attack, do you?"

I froze. A tight knot formed in my stomach. "No, I don’t."

He studied me, weighing, evaluating, then his eyes flickered to his brother. "Kage’s talked about you,” he said, a slight quiver in his otherwise steady voice hinting at his youth and love for his brother. "About Ava’s note and how it felt all sorts of fucking wrong to think for one second you killed our sister. So, for now, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. But don’t expect my mother or Seamus to do the same."

I was so surprised by Callum’s words that all I could do was nod.

"You might want to steer clear of them at Family Day," Callum added.

"I was planning on it," I managed to get out. Then I cleared my throat. “You haven’t asked us who’s responsible for Kage’s injury.”

Callum regarded me carefully, a slow, deliberate evaluation. “No need. I know who did it. And I know exactly what’s going to happen to him.”

At the casual certainty in his voice, a chill crawled up my spine.

Ty suddenly stepped into the room and handed the doctor a cup of coffee.

“I’ll walk you up to your room,” he said to me before glaring at Callum and the doctor. “You’re not welcome upstairs. You even try to go up there, I will know, and you won’t make it.”

Callum didn’t look at him. “If we need anything from Kage’s room, we’ll let you know. Otherwise, we’ll stay down here.”

I shot one more glance at a sleeping Kage, then followed Ty upstairs. We paused when we reached the top.

I wrapped my arms around me. “Why did you warn them off when you hate me?”

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