Chapter 15
Ivy
My stomach had been in knots for four days. I hadn’t eaten. I hadn’t slept. Every time my phone rang, my heart stopped, hoping—praying—it was Dos finally calling me back. But nothing. Uno had been by my side, keeping me sane. When he wasn’t here, Crystal filled in, never letting me be alone with my thoughts for too long. But no matter how much they tried; nothing could ease the ache in my chest.
I was curled up on the couch, my phone resting on my lap, when it rang. My heart leaped. I snatched it up without even looking at the screen.
“Dos?” I answered breathlessly.
“Ivy—” It was Uno.
The tone of his voice sent ice through my veins.
“What’s wrong?” My voice cracked as I sat up, gripping the phone tighter.
Uno exhaled sharply. “It’s Nana. The nurse just called. She had another stroke.”
The air left my lungs. “No. No, no, no—”
“It’s bad, Ivy.” His voice was urgent but steady. “The ambulance just took her. I’m on my way to the hospital now.”
I shot to my feet, my legs shaking. “I’m coming. I’m coming right now.”
I grabbed my purse, slipping on my shoes with trembling hands. My chest was tight, panic clawing at my throat as I ran out the door, desperate to get to Nana before it was too late.
The hospital smelled of antiseptic and despair. The fluorescent lights overhead were too bright, making everything feel harsher, more sterile. My heart pounded against my ribs as I rushed through the emergency room doors. Uno was already there, pacing, his jaw tight, hands clenched into fists at his sides. He looked like he was barely holding it together. Crystal sat stiffly in one of the waiting room chairs, phone in hand, redialing over and over.
"Anything?" I asked, breathless.
Crystal shook her head, frustrated. "His phone keeps going straight to voicemail."
I ran a shaky hand through my hair. "Where the fuck is he?"
None of us had an answer.
Minutes dragged into an eternity as we sat in suffocating silence, waiting. Every time a nurse or doctor passed by, I tensed, waiting for the worst. And then, finally, a tall, slender man in blue scrubs approached. His surgical mask covered most of his face, but his eyes—his eyes said everything. Uno stood immediately, and the doctor pulled him aside, speaking in hushed tones. I strained to hear, but their voices were too low, drowned out by the beeping monitors and distant murmurs of other patients.
Whatever was said made Uno’s entire body go rigid. Without another word, he turned on his heel and rushed toward the heavy doors leading to the back of the ER. The doctor followed; his steps urgent.
I stood frozen, my pulse hammering. "Uno!" I called after him, but he didn’t stop.
I turned to Crystal, panic creeping into my voice. "What the hell is going on?"
She shook her head, her eyes just as wide and terrified as mine. "I don't know... but it’s bad."
Tears streamed down my face, hot and unrelenting. I wasn’t sure if I was crying because of Nana, because of Dos, or because of the choices I had made. Maybe it was all of it crashing down at once.
If I had just told him the truth… if I hadn’t waited… he would be here.
My phone buzzed in my hand again, the screen flashing Unknown Caller. The third call with no voicemail. Annoyed, I swiped to answer.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice, calm and professional, spoke on the other end. “Is this Ivy? Ivy Thompson?”
“Yes, who’s this?”
“My name is Nurse Linda. Your number was found in the cell phone of a patient that was brought in from a car accident earlier this evening.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“A car accident?” My voice wavered, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“Yes, the patient is Daamin Douglas.”
Everything stopped.
No. No. No.
My knees buckled, and the phone nearly slipped from my hand.
“Ma’am? Are you still there?”
I pressed my palm to my mouth, trying to contain the sob that threatened to escape.
“Yes,” I choked out.
“Are you a relative of the patient?”
“No,” I whispered. Then, louder, “But I’m his fiancée.”
The words felt strange, bittersweet, because I wasn’t sure if I still had the right to claim that title. Not after everything.
“I need to get in touch with his closest kin.”
“What hospital are you at?”
“Kaleida Health Hospital.”
My stomach dropped. “I’m already here… for another issue. His brother is, too.”
Crystal turned toward me, eyes filled with concern. “Ivy, what is it?”
I ignored her, gripping my phone tighter. “What floor is he on?”
“Seventh floor, Room 716.”
“I’m on my way.”
I didn’t wait for Crystal’s response. My feet were already moving, my heart in my throat. I had spent days trying to reach him, and now—now he was here, broken and alone. And I had no idea if he’d even make it through the night.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Nurse Linda stood waiting for me. Her eyes, warm but professional, met mine as I stepped out.
“You made it fast,” she said, offering a small nod.
“I was already here… for my fiancé’s grandmother.” My voice cracked slightly, but I kept moving. “How bad is he?”
She walked beside me, her steps steady. “He’s stable for now, but the accident was severe. He has a concussion, some broken ribs, and internal bruising. We’re monitoring him closely.”
I swallowed hard. “Is he awake?”
Linda shook her head. “Not yet. He’s heavily sedated for pain management.” She stopped at the door and gently touched my arm. “Take your time. If you need anything, press the call button.”
I nodded, barely able to whisper, “Thank you.”
With a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The rhythmic beeping of machines filled the room, a constant reminder of life hanging in the balance. Tubes snaked in and out of his body, IVs running fluids into his veins. His face was swollen, bruises shadowing his sharp features, a fresh cut just above his brow. He looked so helpless. A sob escaped my lips as I slowly stepped closer, my fingers trembling as I reached for his hand. “Oh, Dos…”
Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t wipe them away. I just sat beside him, gripping his hand, willing him to wake up, to squeeze my fingers back, to tell me he was okay. I pulled out my phone with my free hand and sent a quick text to Uno:
Room 716.
First, Nana May… now Dos. My heart couldn’t take much more.
Time felt like it had stretched into something endless, the seconds bleeding into minutes, the minutes into hours. My body ached from sitting in the stiff hospital chair, but I refused to move. My fingers stayed wrapped around Dos’s hand, willing him to wake up, to show some sign that he was still here with me.
The door creaked open, and I turned to see Uno step inside. His usual confidence was stripped away, replaced by something raw, something broken. The weight of everything settled in his dark eyes—pain, regret, fear.
“How’s Nana?” I asked softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
He exhaled a slow breath, rubbing his hands down his face before answering. “She’s stable… for now. Crystal’s with her.”
I nodded, relieved but still heavy with worry. “And you?”
Uno let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. “Don’t ask me that right now, Ivy.” His voice was rough, edged with exhaustion and emotions he wasn’t used to showing. His gaze moved past me, locking onto Dos. He took slow, hesitant steps toward the bed, and when he finally stood beside it, the pain in his eyes deepened.
Seeing Uno like this—so vulnerable, so wrecked—made my chest tighten. Whatever anger and rivalry existed between them, whatever resentment had built over the years, none of it mattered in this moment.
This wasn’t about jealousy or competition.
This was about love.
I watched as Uno’s fingers clenched into fists at his sides, his throat bobbing with the effort to keep his emotions in check. But when he spoke, his voice cracked anyway.
“Damn it, Dos.” He wiped at his face, the tears coming before he could stop them. “You really went and did some dumb shit this time, huh?”
I reached out, placing my hand over his. He didn’t pull away.
“He’s strong,” I whispered. “He’ll wake up. He has to.”
Uno didn’t answer, just kept staring at his brother, his breathing unsteady.
And in that moment, I knew—no matter what had happened between us, no matter how much hurt I had caused—I would fix this.
God, just let Dos be okay.