Page 35 of Breathe
“How’s Apollo?” Cash asked him.
Azrael shook his head, his eyes stung from unshed tears.
“I don’t know yet. He’s still in surgery.”
Cash swallowed and glared at Real. “You said he was fine.”
“He will be,” Real growled.
The door swung open slowly and Boston appeared in the doorway.
“The doctor is out of surgery and wants to talk to immediate family members,” Boston said.
“That’s me,” Azrael told Cash. “I’ll be right back.”
Taking a deep breath, he walked out of Cash’s room and toward the doctor wearing a light blue surgery cap and holding a surgical mask in one hand. The man looked tired, but his green eyes were kind.
“I’m Apollo’s twin brother. His only living relative,” Azrael said when he reached the surgeon.
“He’s out of danger for now, but the next twenty-four hours are critical,” the doctor said.
His knees gave out at the man’s words and it was only Real’s strong arms that saved him from falling to the floor.
“I’ve got you.”
Those softly spoken words felt bittersweet.
Real placed a sleeping Azrael on one of the two queen beds.
Exhaustion colored Azrael’s pale face, and his long lashes crested like shadowed slices. Real slowly pulled off the teenager’s sneakers and covered him up with the hotel blanket.
The Hyatt House was twenty-four minutes from UCLA Medical Center and offered extended stay to family members. Real knew they were going to be here for a while.
Apollo wasn’t out of danger, and when he did get over the first hurdle, it was going to take him a while to fully recover.
Dave already had a private hospital room ready and hired a full-time nurse back at the estate for Apollo when his hospital stay ended.
As for what Azrael would do, Real wasn’t sure. There were a few possibilities. Azrael could stay at Dave’s with Apollo or nearby.
If Real had a choice, he would nix the idea of starting YA right now and concentrate on getting Apollo back on his feet.
He walked into the studio kitchen and started a pot of coffee from the makings on the counter. He grabbed the menu and ordered burgers to be delivered. While the coffee brewed, he took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and brought it back to the bed.
Azrael lay unmoving. The stress had wiped the boy out. He placed the bottle on the night table between the two beds and turned away.
Fingers caught at his wrist, preventing him from moving. When he glanced back, he found Azrael’s dark eyes locked on him.
“Where are we?” Azrael croaked.
Real sank down on the edge of the bed and removed his wrist from Azrael’s hold. Then, he turned his hand over so that he could link their fingers.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d held Azrael’s hand. Perhaps it had been during Christmas time? He rubbed his thumb over the top of Azrael’s cold fingers.
“We’re at the Hyatt House, they have extended stay here.”
“Who’s with Apollo?” Azrael’s voice sounded thick with tears.
“Cash won’t leave his side,” Real promised.
