Chapter Twelve
Lana
My brother’s calm, contented and drugged up body is gently laid down on a hospital bed and taken by two security guards along with two nurses into an elevator, and we’re told to wait in Emergency. As soon as Dr. Evan is done treating and making Rex comfortable, he’ll come down and take us to my brother.
Mack walks us across the room to two blue, beat-up old seats by the doors closest to where the doctors and nurses are coming and leaving through.
That was two hours ago. I’m almost at breaking point.
Sitting on the edge of my seat, bouncing my legs anxiously, I rub my sweaty palms against my jeans to try and relax my body, but it’s not working.
Corey, Kodi, and Reed are sitting in chairs by the automatic front doors.
I fidget in my seat more and push out a frustrating breath.
At that time, Kodi and Reed walk over. Their expressions are gentle with slight frowns and their arms hang loosely by their sides.
I stand instantly. I don’t remember a time when they weren’t in Rex’s life, therefore, mine too. They might not feel the same, but Rex’s friends were the closest thing to a family that I had growing up.
Mack also stands and wraps his arm securely around my waist to stop me from stepping forward any further.
Kodi and Reed’s eyes turn hard on Mack, and I can’t fault them for it. They would never hurt me.
I shift my body around to face Mackson. I smile reassuringly and kiss him on the side of the neck, lingering for a second longer than normal. Then step out of his arms and embrace the men, who won’t ever realize how much of a part they played in my young life and who will always have a small piece of my heart no matter time or distance.
I burrow between Kodi and Reed and sigh contentedly, taking in the warmth and their familiar smoky scents.
“We’ll get him through this, Lana. Don’t you worry, Rex is gonna be okay.”
I nod into Kodi’s chest while listening to Reed’s words and hoping with everything that I am that he’s right.
I take a step back from them and force a smile. Pretending to be okay is exhausting. Acting as if this waiting game isn’t killing me is crippling. I’m on the verge of losing it. I’m desperate to tear down every door between my brother and myself. He needs me.
Heat hits my back and Mack takes a hold of my hand. Strength surges through me, and the tears recede. My heart’s rapid beat slows and the terror flowing through my veins ease.
Corey appears and murmurs in a strained voice, “We have a problem.”
“What?” Mack questions.
“Delivery day and Bone is at the garage and asking where Rex is. He’s fucking pissed.”
“Shit,” Kodi whispers. “What do we do?”
My body tenses and I fist my hands. “That asshole needs to know what he’s done. What my whole damn family has done to Rex, to one of their own,” I try to whisper, however, my voice rattles with so much anger, that I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to hold in this rage.
“Lana, they can’t find out Rex is addicted to the drugs,” Corey demands.
“Why?” I question angrily.
“They’ll kill him, Lana. He’s a liability they won’t hesitate to take out to protect the secrets of the Family,” Corey answers.
I shake my head. “No, no. I know they’re ruthless, but he’s family, no matter what they protect their Family.”
Mack squeezes my hand. “The mafia’s love affair with power, money and drugs is greater than that of their own family members. It’s been this way for generations, Lana. Those brought up in the family know the repercussions of getting addicted to the drugs. Yeah, they take the shit, but Rex is way past doing it for fun at a party. He’s so far gone that he would spill their secrets to anyone, to any pig, who would help him get a hit.”
“Shit, shit, shit,” I say, losing it right here in the Emergency Room.
Mack grasps my elbows and I grab hold of his biceps. He gently walks me around the corner. Corey, Kodi and Reed following closely. I’m dizzy, lightheaded and breathing is becoming difficult. Mack pushes me up against a wall to help me stay upright.
“Breathe, Dove… in and out… slowly.” His words are gentle, but their soothing tone isn’t working to calm me down.
The two inhales I try to take are ruined by my trembling chin and shaking body. I take hold of Mack’s shirt, needing something to ground me. I wrap the material in my fingers. “If the drugs aren’t killing him, it’s my family.” My own words hit me hard and I begin to fall, but Mack squeezes my arms tighter to hold me up.
“We won’t give up, Dove. I promise we’ll do all we can to help him.”
“I can’t lose him,” I state in an achingly sad voice.
Mack’s face turns pained and his eyes fill with sorrow. He stays silent and I know it’s because there are no words, no promises he can make to ensure my brother’s safety or life. Mack straightens and we embrace, holding each other tighter than we ever have before.
While still holding me, Mack instructs Corey, “Tell Bone, Rex was racing and he hit a pot hole and spun out hitting a tree on River Park Road, down by Shawnee Park. A car crashed into the tree along that road only four days ago, there’s still debris and old police tape. Tell Bone, Rex has a head injury and you’ll keep him updated on his recovery. How often does Bone deliver?”
“Every two to three months, it depends on how much he delivers today on when he’ll be back,” Corey replies.
“Two months minimum then to get a story together and a strategy, for his next visit.”
Everyone agrees with the plan.
Peeking through my swollen, wet eyes, still clinging to Mack, I spot the guys nod to him with respect and then give me one last lingering stare before they leave the hospital, promising to return as soon as they can.
Minutes pass and I calm. While Mack is comforting me, we hear a friendly and formal voice. “Miss Scavello. You can come up and see your brother now.”
I turn quickly and find one of the nurses who helped take Rex up when we arrived. She’s holding open one of the Emergency Department’s automatic doors as if giving us the magic key to get through and finally see our loved one.
I don’t look at Mack. I don’t need to. We take each other’s hand and quickly walk through the open door and listen to the nurse as she instructs us on how to find Rex. We nod and quickly move through the hospital to the fifth floor and room ninety-seven.
Entering a large room with sunlight streaming in through the huge glass windows, the light hits the bed in the middle of the room. If Rex was awake, I know he’d have to shield his eyes from the brightness of it. But he’s not awake; he’s passed out and has numerous tubes and cords coming from his body.
The soft drip of the fluids and the beeping heart monitor is like a sad song. Each beep closer to giving life or should I savor them? Will it be the last time I hear the rhythmic beeps of my brother’s life? Looking at him now, helpless and lost, all I see is misery.
Mack pulls the curtain halfway across the long window and the sunlight dims in the room.
I walk over to Rex and place my hand on his shoulder.
A chair bumps the back of my legs and I glance over my shoulder to see Mack gesturing for me to take a seat. I do.
“Lana, I have to go to the race. I’ll fill Slater and the others in when I’m there. I should be back in an hour since Corey and the guys won’t be able to make it to Speed Wars. Mickey will call a no-show.”
“What happens then? To Parklands chances at the Death Race?” I ask.
“They’ll lose points for not showing up, and I’ll automatically win the race and get the points.”
I swallow hard and look at my unmoving brother. “Speed Wars really didn’t mean anything to Rex,” I inform Mack quietly. “He found out you guys were entering and had to compete against you all.”
“Yeah?” is all Mack replies and we have silence for a moment before he continues, “Rex is a great racer. Slater always beats my brothers and me, easily. But Slater was always rattled when he knew he was going to race Rex.”
That pulls a small smile out of me. Yes, he is a great racer, he even taught his little sister a few moves. Mostly if I ever needed to turn quickly in case of an accident, or what would happen if I pressed on the brakes suddenly and had to control the car. We did take some time to muck around and race as well, but Rex was always miles ahead of me, even before my tires stopped spinning and I was able to take off.
Mack spins my chair and cups the back of my neck. “Back soon, okay?” I nod and Mack kisses me. It’s soft and sensual. It causes a fluttering sensation in my chest. He bites gently on my bottom lip and ends our kiss. He gifts me with one last kiss to my forehead and whispers, “One step closer to two million dollars, Dove. See you soon.”
And with that, he’s walking out the hospital room and I’m left breathless.
Two million dollars!
I swing my gaze to my brother and stand from the chair. “Two million dollars?” I whisper to myself and also as a question to an unconscious Rex.
I lean on the bed and look down to the stark white sheets and blue blanket. That’s a lot of money.
My eyes find my brother again. That could change Rex’s life. Get him out of Parkland. Hell, out of the States. He could move to the other side of the world, somewhere the mafia and my mother could never find him.
I step to the window and look out at the car park. Mack would be driving out about now, to a race he thinks he’s already won.
I glimpse over my shoulder at Rex. I told him I’d fight harder this time. I promised to help him. Biting my lip anxiously I go over the scenario of me turning up to Speed Wars and racing my own boyfriend.
Mackson won’t be happy. His family took me in for the past two months and treated me as one of their own, and now I’m going to try and take something away from them that they’ve been fighting hard to get for months now? I rub my knuckles over my pressed lips conflicted.
Decide Lana. Before it’s too late.
Turning back to Rex and walking over to his bedside, I take his hand. I’ll go against the man I love and race for my brother.
Mackson will understand. I pray he does. Because if I don’t do this, if I don’t at least try, I fear I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.