Page 64 of Secret

Sitting in my bed in the hospital is pure torture, as I still haven't heard how Izzy is. My mind conjures up the sight of her in that chair, and I feel like punching everything in the fucking room.

We rushed her in after she passed out at The Cage. We couldn’t wake her, and the doctors hooked her up to machines instantly as they started asking questions. I was dripping blood onto the floor and was made to get checked out when my mother saw me. I wanted to stay, but she made me go with a doctor to be checked out under the promise that she wouldn’t leave Izzy’s side. My mother may be little, but she is scarier than all of Izzy’s brothers when she is mad.

My mum is with her, so that helps, and her brothers too, with the exception of Seb. The stubborn bastard has stayed by my side to make sure I'm all right, even when I told him to stay with her.

When I asked him why he wasn’t with Izzy, Seb answered honestly earlier by saying, “Izzy won't forgive me if I leave you alone.”

The doctor confirmed that the bullet went straight through my arm, so no need for surgery, but he wants an x-ray, which I’ve refused. The doctor eventually leaves, telling me I don’t have a concussion from the car crash, and that I should be fine in a few weeks. I’ve had my arm all stitched up and some pain relief while I’ve waited for any news on Izzy; it feels like it’s been hours when in reality it’s only been an hour since we arrived.

“Have you gotten any news yet?” I ask Seb for the tenth time in maybe the last half hour.

He is pacing by the dooras he stops to stare at me. I can see he is thinking of something, but he answers me. “No, Harley just texted and said no news,” he mutters, looking worried. “How's the arm?” he asks,moving to sit next to me.

“I’m fine, I just need to see her.” I sigh.

I remember the lame excuse we all agreed to say when the doctors asked any questions. I told them there was a car crash after being at a party. The boys made up the idea that Izzy felt ill at the party, and I worried someone had spiked her drink so I drove her home. We told them that after the crash, I called Izzy’s brothers and not an ambulance as it would have been quicker. It was clear they didn’t believe us much, and I wasn’t surprised when Harley pulled the doctor aside, whatever he said to him made the questions stop. I’m more surprised the police haven’t been called after all of this. I know Harley must have done something because the doctor didn’t even question my gunshot wound.

“Do you really love her?” Seb asks, looking at me as I snap out of my thoughts.

“More than my life, dude,” I say hoarsely,while worrying about Izzy. She was covered in blood, had a massive hand print on her face, and her arm was bent wrong. She looked like a fallen angel. When she called me an angel, it was never me. It was her.

“I'm sorry I punched you; it's just, I don't want her hurt,” Seb says, looking angry but resigned. “You took a bullet trying to get to her, and you came with us to save her despite being shot.” He stops and rubs the back of his head before saying in a low voice, “I know how it feels to love someone. I loved Maisy before she left. I would have done the same–hell, maybe still would–and you look at Izzy the same way. Look, what I'm trying to say is, I'm cool with this.” He struggles to say the words, and I know it takes a lot out of him to even bring up Maisy's name, let alone admit he loved her.

“Thanks, man,” I say and nod at him. He stands, walking over and gives me a quick man hug before breaking away. I know we have a lot to work on before he will trust me again, but it’s a start.

“Hell, you've always been like a brother to me, maybe soon you'll actually be my brother-in-law.” He laughs and sits back in the chair next to me.

I laugh with him, and I actually like the idea of Izzy wearing my ring and everyone knowing she is mine, as caveman as that sounds.

My thoughts stop as the door opens, and my mum walks in. She looks tired, and the usual happy smile is replaced with worry.

“How is she?” I ask quickly and sit up more, despite the pain in my arm. I should have more of those pain killers, but I don't want to sleep until I know she is okay.

“She has a concussion and a broken wrist.” She sighs deeply as she comes to sit on the end of the bed. “She was drugged with some kind of sedative, and that's why she is out of it. Overall, Izzy will be fine with some rest and six weeks in a cast. She is still sleeping the drugs off, and you should get some rest for her,” my mum adds, and I sag in relief against my pillows.

“Thanks, Mum. Can I see her?” I ask,desperately needing to see with my own eyes that she is okay.

“No, not until you rest. Izzy won't wake up anytime soon due to the drugs, son. I'm going to stay with her, as will her brothers, and tomorrow I will take you to her,” she says in a strong, no-argument tone, which I know well enough to know it’s the end of the discussion. After a brief silence, she says hesitantly, with a look at Seb, “Whatever happened tonight, I don’t want to know, but are you both safe now?” My mum looks at Seb again, and I know she is too smart for her own good. I glance at Seb, who nods, knowing he doesn’t mind what I tell her.

I nod for an answer, and she sighs in relief before smiling. I want to be with Izzy, but I know there is little I can do for her in this condition. Yet, it still hurts I can't be there now.

“Thanks for staying with him, Sebastian. I had no idea Izzy was your sister,” Mum says to Seb, who grins at me. My mum’s face clearly shows she’s lying and that she knew exactly who Izzy was.

“Yeah, I'm guessing not telling you was part of their secret relationship.” Seb rolls his eyes at me, making me chuckle.

“We had a plan to tell you, one month of just me and her. She didn’t want her ‘crazy, over-protective brothers involved,’ as Izzy put it.” I chuckle, and Seb and Mum laugh with me.

“Right, I have the pills you need for the pain, take them now. I’m going to see Izzy, and I'll be back soon. You’re lucky I’m letting you out of my sight for another minute. I could have lost you tonight,” my mum says, with tears running from her eyes as she hands me the pills with a glass of water while she rants away. I can see the worry and stress on her face, making me feel bad that she has to worry. I swallow the pills before handing the water back to her.

I put my hand over hers.“I'm okay. I'm here, and we are both safe," I say to her as I know this must bring back bad memories of Dad’s car crash.

Hell, it does for me, but my worry over Izzy is far greater. I could have lost her today, and I know I wouldn’t have been able to make it through that alive.

Just seeing her in that chair, covered in blood and bruises, will haunt me for a long time. I won’t forget that asshole holding a gun to her head, it was the worst moment of my life. My beautiful Izzy, and I couldn't stop them from taking her. My mind relaxes as I know I’ll never leave her side again as long as she wants me in her life. I love her so god damn much it hurts to ever think of a world without her in it.

“I know. Izzy is like a daughter to me already, and I can't lose either of you. So don’t go breaking her heart, or I might have to kill you myself,” my mum jokes, bringing my gaze to her worried faced face as Seb snickers behind her. Clearly, he thinks the idea of my tiny mum trying to hurt me is hilarious, but he hasn’t seen her angry.

“We are safe, and I’m never letting her go,” I say, closing my eyes and lying back, feeling dizzy. The pain fades away, and I think of Izzy’s beautiful face as I fade into a deep sleep.

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