“Isn’t my word enough? I won’t hurt anyone. I won’t leave. I’m not going to hurt myself.” He sounded more like a boy than a man.
“I can talk to them, but it would probably be best if you said that to the doctor.” Lily wanted to tell him it would be okay, but maybe that was a lie. She had no idea if he’d try to take off or hurt himself, and truth be told, she felt safer with him tied down. Or maybe she was afraid he’d leave her. She pushed the thought from her head. Truth was so overrated. Lily excused herself to get a cup of coffee.
Phoenix wanted to shift into his bear and break free. He wanted to run in the meadow. He wanted to live his life. Instead, he was tied to a bed, left to relive the nightmares over and over again. He couldn’t shift if he wanted to. All the drugs running through his body were messing with his metabolism and thought processes. He felt stuck, caged in his man form.
When his brother showed up, Phoenix didn’t know what to say. Carter leaned against the doorway and looked in. “They wouldn’t let me in to see you. I tried to visit earlier, but they locked you away. When they moved you to this hospital, I wasn’t informed. I only just found you. I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”
Phoenix watched his brother’s body language. “What are you doing here?”
“They have you tied down.” Carter frowned. “Do you want me to get you out of here? I can fight this…and you know I can break you free.”
“What’s the point?” He lowered his gaze. “My hell will follow me.”
“Dad is having a hard time dealing with it all.” Carter looked away. He hated admitting his father begrudged him, but Carter understood it was an accident. He knew how much Phoenix loved their mother. He’d never intentionally cause her harm.
“And you?” Phoenix dared Carter to answer truthfully.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through, losing her, but I don’t blame you. The police report said what I needed to know.” He drew a deep breath. “How are you doing?”
“You need to ask?” Phoenix spit out. “They keep me tied up here, and my mind torments me constantly. I’m a caged beast.”
Carter walked across the room. “When you’re ready to be set free, you say the word and I’ll undo this. But maybe while you’re here, talk to somebody. You can’t live with this trapped inside of you. The doctor says you won’t talk to her.”
“I don’t trust her. I only talk to my angel.”
“Your angel?” Carter arched an eyebrow, confused.
“Lily. She’ll be here soon,” Phoenix reassured.
Carter scratched his head. “Are you hallucinating, too? Phoenix, man, you need to get help while you can…”
Lily came around the corner and through the door. “Oh, you have company.” She looked up at the large man, intimidating in size, and noticed how much he looked like Phoenix.
Carter spun around. “And you are?”
“Lily.” She stuck her hand out and introduced herself.
“Ah, his angel. Got it. I’m Carter, Phoenix’s brother.”
She didn’t know enough about Phoenix to know if his brother being here was a good thing or not. She said nothing else, and then took her spot in the corner chair. She slipped a book out of her tote bag and went back to reading in her usual post.
Carter looked back and forth between them. He saw the ring on her finger. “Are you two married?” He scratched his head. “Did something happen that I don’t know about?”
“No.” Phoenix never noticed the ring.
The nurse covered her ring with her other hand, feeling funny. “It’s not like that. I was his nurse at the other hospital. I’m watching over him.”
“Does your husband know?” Carter quizzed.
Lily got up and left the room. She chose not to answer.
“What the fuck was that?” Phoenix growled at Carter. “She’s the only one who has been here for me, day after day. She’s my angel. Go make it right. Bring her back, and then get the fuck out.” As his voice rose, the hospital attendants came rushing in.
“What’s going on?” They were ready to sedate him if necessary.
“Nothing. It’s fine, just a family tiff.”
The attendant looked at the visitor. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave if you’re upsetting the patient.”
“He has a name,” Carter growled.
“Sir, you’ll need to back off or you’ll be asked to leave.”
“I’m okay,” Phoenix said.
The guard looked at the two brothers and left them with a stern warning.