Chapter Seventeen
Bennett
June
“Are we going to work through this without our fists now?” Donovan asked, folding his arms across his chest. He and Ryder had “taken a walk to let everyone cool off” while I’d been stuck pacing the family lounge with this security guard who kept glaring at me as if I was the problem.
Hey asshole, I’m not the one you need to worry about!
“I won’t hit him again,” I said, flopping down in a chair. Ryder sat across from me and pressed a towel to his bloody nose. “Just fucking talk.”
Donovan took a deep breath. “I’ve already informed Ryder of this, but I was on my way to see you, Bennett. Felix’s neighbor recognized Ryder. She claims to have seen him lurking around at night on several occasions. Her story lines up with Felix’s battery issue as well as your flat tire.”
“You piece of shit,” I spat. “You were stalking him, weren’t you? I knew you were around! What the fuck do you want with him?”
“I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to offer to break the bond but then I saw him with you and I changed my mind,” Ryder snarled.
“Right, then you decided to kill him instead.”
He hurled the bloody towel at me, and I caught it against my chest. “Fuck you!” he yelled. “You don’t deserve him.”
“Are we really going to debate which one of us is better for Felix right now? Open your eyes, asshole! He wants nothing to do with you.” I threw the towel on the floor and leaned back in the chair, running both hands through my hair.
Ryder snorted. “You’re so blind. You didn’t even know we’d met up when you were together. Twice!”
I threw my hands in the air. “You don’t know what I know. And guess what? I don’t care! I trust him. If he was in contact with you without telling me, then I’m sure he had a reason.”
Ryder rolled his eyes. “Fuck this, I’m out.”
“What exactly is your plan here?” Donovan asked, glaring at Ryder with irritation. “You’re digging yourself a pretty big hole right now.”
Hey look, Donovan and I finally agree on something.
“I can already charge you for trespassing,” Donovan continued, his calm demeanor giving nothing away.
If anything, he looked bored with this display.
“If we find one piece of evidence to tie you to Felix’s accident, we can press charges on you for attempted murder.
So what are you doing here? You don’t seem very bright to me because a smart criminal would be lying low right now, not showing up at the hospital and making a scene. ”
Ryder met Donovan’s eyes with fire, before dropping them to the ground. “I don’t want him to die,” he mumbled, barely audible.
I shot out of my chair and flung myself toward him. “You should have thought about that before—”
“Enough, Bennett.” Donovan pressed a hand to my chest and pushed me firmly back into my chair before turning to Ryder.
“Until charges are formally filed against you, you are the person with the legal right to dictate Felix’s medical care right now.
If I were you, I’d think long and hard about the choice you make, Ryder,” he said sharply.
Ryder’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “I don’t want Felix weaned off the drugs. I want to keep him in a coma for a few more days.”
“Are you fucking obtuse?” I yelled, jumping up again. The security guard grabbed my arms and pulled them behind my back. “If you do that, he could have more brain damage than what you’ve already done to him.”
“You don’t know that I did anything! I’ve been trying to save him,” Ryder yelled.
“Fucking Christ,” Donovan grumbled. “You’re going to walk yourself into a world of problems, buddy. Shut the fuck up.”
Ryder pulled the bonding certificate out of his pocket and held it up in my face.
That fucking piece of paper.
I broke free of the security guard, snatched it out of his hands, and ripped it into tiny pieces. Donovan grabbed my arms just as I tossed the shredded paper into the air like confetti. “Look how important your piece of paper is now.”
Donovan sighed, holding me back with one arm as he pulled his phone out of his pocket with his other hand. “I need your help,” he said. “Hospital. Now.”
“Wyatt?” I asked.
“No. Because he’s too busy trying to figure out if you’re right,” Donovan said. “Sit down, or I’m going to let them kick you out.”
“I want him to stay in a coma,” Ryder said to the security guard. “What do I do?”
“Why is he still talking?” I growled.
“Because he’s right!” Donovan yelled. “He’s the one with the legal rights here, Bennett, and that’s not my fault, it’s not Ryder’s fault, and it’s definitely not this poor guy’s fault.” He gestured to the security guard.
“Sam,” he said.
“Right, it’s not Sam’s fault!” Donovan yelled, smoothing the front of his uniform with both hands.
“You made the choices you made, Bennett. For whatever reason, you and Felix have done nothing about the fact that you’re obviously true mates, and until that changes, Ryder has a valid right to be here. ”
“I hate you,” I said, shaking my head as tears filled my eyes.
“You’ve always hated me,” Donovan said, letting me go.
I sank into the closest chair and dropped my head into my hands, pulling on my hair as I tangled my fingers in the long strands.
“No. I think you’re annoying. I choose Reid in your stupid brotherly feud. I think you’re wrong for my sister. Now I truly fucking hate you,” I said, shaking with sobs.
Donovan squeezed my shoulder. “I know.”
“What now?” Ryder asked, sheepishly.
“Now, we go talk to the doctor so they can start reversing what they’ve already started,” Donovan said. “Assuming that’s still what you want?”
“Yes,” Ryder said with certainty. “It is. And I don’t want Bennett in his room anymore.”
“Let’s go,” Donovan said.
“I’ll stay here,” Sam said, sitting down beside me. He put a hand on my shoulder and I turned to him. He lifted his arm, allowing me to rest on his chest, softly shaking his head while I sobbed all over a perfect stranger.