Page 46 of Viktor

The ride to the hospital was tense. Delia cried when she shook Mason’s foot and he wouldn’t wake up. What the fuck was wrong with his brother?

As soon as they arrived, the nurses brought out a gurney and rushed Mason into the ER. He told the doctors everything they knew. A nurse drew blood, and they took him for a head CT. They were also concerned he hadn’t woken up yet.

Delia curled up in his lap, her tears making wet paths down his abs. He stroked her hair and hugged her close. She’d really taken a shine to Mason. “He’s going to be fine.”

“What if he isn’t?”

“He will be,malyshka.” God, he hoped the kid was fine.

Sara sat beside him in the other chair in Mason’s little ER room. At least they hadn’t sent them to the waiting room. He’d see the kid as soon as they brought him back from radiology.

When Sara took his hand, he gripped hers tight. He was scared. He’d never seen his baby brother so still and pale. Head wounds were tricky, and if he’d done some damage, Viktor hoped they got him to the ER in time.

The three of them sat there for what might have been five minutes or an hour. Time seemed to crawl for Viktor. All he could see was his brother lying there, unmoving. Being football players, they’d all taken some pretty brutal hits before, but they always got back up after a few minutes. Mason still wasn’t awake, and it scared him. What was he going to tell his mother if Mason got seriously hurt on his watch?

When the doctor finally came back, Mason still hadn’t returned from radiology.

“Mr. Kincaid?”

“Yes?” He sat up, shifting Delia so she wouldn’t slide off onto the floor.

“Your brother has been admitted. He’s being taken to his room now. He has a concussion, but there doesn’t seem to be any serious damage. We are concerned about his lab work.”

“His lab work?”

“He had a large amount of ketamine in his blood. It’s a drug used in tranquilizer darts. We checked him and found a tiny pinprick in his neck. Did you happen to look around and find a dart anywhere?”

“Someone shot my brother full of tranquilizers?” Anger started to boil, and he felt his face go hard. Someone fucking shot his brother with a tranq?

“That’s why we’re admitting him. We’re giving him lots of fluids to help flush the drug from him system. Given his concussion, we’re concerned, and we want to observe him tonight to make sure there are no complications.”

Viktor nodded. “What room is he in?”

“Four twelve. He’s still sleeping and will be for a while. It’s going to take time for the drug to wear off.”

Viktor stood and marched out of the room without a word. He was doing his best to keep his anger in check because of Delia. She was wrapped around him, her baby face snuggled into the crook of his neck.

They took the elevator to the fourth floor and found Mason’s room easily. He was already settled into the bed, hooked up to an IV. They’d put one of those drafty hospital gowns on him. He hated those things. Mason always complained his ass flapped in the wind.

“He’s going to be okay,” Sara whispered.

He nodded, unable to voice anything for fear of what might spew out. Viktor had an idea of who’d done it. He only hoped the cameras caught it. Why would Roger go after Mason, though? It made no sense.

His body hummed with anger. Sara had pulled two chairs close to Mason’s bed and tried to take Delia from him, but she wouldn’t budge. She clung to him like a monkey.

“She’s fine where she is,” he said, brushing Sara away. He started to pace, trying to calm down. Every time he looked at his brother, his anger soared to new heights.

“Viktor, give her to me.” Sara watched his anger grow with each passing moment. She knew what that kind of anger could do, and she wanted her daughter away from him.

He stopped pacing and looked at her. His eyes widened, understanding her fear. “Here,malyshka, your mama needs you.”

“No.” Blonde pigtails slapped him in the mouth with her denial. “I want you.”

“Honey, Viktor’s upset. Come sit with me until he calms down.”

“But, Mommy, he’s not mad at me. He’s mad at whoever hurt Mason.” The logic in Delia’s words struck Sara, but she still wanted her away from Viktor.

“I know, poppet, but I’d feel better if you sat with me.”

---