“I did. Actually, I just got done talking to Dr. Richardson. He’s taken over his care this morning, and he apologizes for not being around for you both last night. He and his family left for a family vacation after he saw Bruno. Didn’t even know anything was wrong until I got a hold of him last night.”
Oh my God.
“He caught a quick flight this morning. He’s with Bru now, and from how it sounds, your brother is doing very well.”
I couldn’t believe he’d gotten the doctor to come to him. Leave his vacation. My lips parted. “What’s wrong with my brother?”
Callum’s sigh was heavy into the phone, and even though he said Bru was doing well, my heart raced. “Unfortunately, Dr. Richardson is still unable to diagnose. What appeared to be a temporary virus your brother obviously can’t seem to shake. His fever keeps coming and going. Your brother collapsed last night due to lack of fluids. He was severely dehydrated amongst other things.”
I was sure the vomiting contributed to that. My throat constricted.
“Good news is Bru’s fever has come down this morning,” Callum continued. “He did very well through the night, and Dr. Richardson is hopeful.”
“Did you speak to him? Bru?”
“I have, and he does sound good. I’m trying to do everything I can to be there. I was on a flight myself last night, which was why I missed your calls. I was working on a deal overseas.”
He was always working and had no obligation to us at all.
You should have called him sooner.
My brother had just been sick for too long, his meds making him sleep all the time. He hadn’t been well at all, and if I’d been proactive, maybe more could have been done to prevent all this. Obviously, Dr. Richardson was a doctor, but to him, my brother was a patient. He cared for him like a patient, facts only and not instincts. Instincts, a gut feeling, came from those closer to home, and I should have pushed more.
That was all in the past now. Things were what they were, and this was the hand we all had been dealt now.
An engine charged in the air, and my gaze shot outside to see Dorian’s Audi.
He peeled off out of my driveway, Ares physically behind him. Ares had his hands up, his head shaking. The next thing I knew, he was getting into his Hummer.
I watched as he cut after him too, chasing after him, and I realized Ares must have fallen asleep too. He couldn’t have gotten past the gate if he hadn’t.
I realized exactly how this did look to Dorian, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. He had no right to come here.
My heart surged as Callum continued to speak.
“I’m doing what I can to get there, but just wanted to give you the update. I assume you’re on your way to the hospital this morning? I’m sorry they blocked you last night. Dr. Richardson spoke to Bru’s attending, and he told him they wouldn’t allow you entry. From what I hear, there was some type of traffic collision?”
“Yeah, there was.” I pulled my keys out of my bag but decided to head to my room for a fresh change of clothes first. I was still in my pajamas. “The place was full. They wouldn’t let me back.”
“Well, I’ve made a few calls, and that shouldn’t be the case now. You should even be able to stay there while your brother is admitted.”
“Do you think he’ll be there long, or…” I chewed my lip. “Callum, how bad is this?”
I hated how worried I sounded. I hated that I was asking him, a virtual stranger in my life only a year ago again, for aid but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t do this on my own. I had nothing. I was no one.
“We’re going to figure this out,” Callum assured. “For now, I don’t want you to worry. The doctor sounds hopeful. All Bru’s vitals are stable. He was even joking this morning on the phone.”
Of course he was, the fool. He was also the same one last night who didn’t want to go to the hospital. It hadn’t been until he’d passed out and had no way to protest I finally got him into an ambulance.
“Thank you, Callum.”
“Of course. I’ll keep you updated on my status. As soon as I can, I’ll meet you, and don’t hesitate to call until then.”
He really was the only thing constant in my and my brother’s lives. And I also noticed, he was the one person who never asked for anything. He hadn’t left me broken. He hadn’t left me hurting, but most of all, he hadn’t abandoned my brother and me. Even with his distance, he hadn’t. He was always there, no questions asked, and never, not once had he abandoned us.
He’d never abandoned me.
Chapter Twenty-Two