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CHAPTER TWENTY

CAMERON

Cameron sat there among the beeps and a slow, steady sound coming from Rylan as he lay on the hospital bed, still and unmoving except for the barely perceptible proof of his breaths being drawn in and out of his lungs.

Guilt of not being there in time to stop Rylan from getting hurt assailed him as he glanced at Rylan. Tristan shouldn’t have been near Rylan. Cameron wanted to protect him, but he failed.

He swallowed as he traced over Rylan’s battered face. His eyes resembled a color palette of purples, blues, and oranges that looked so unnatural. He’d gotten a lot of bruises when he played football, but none of them had ever swollen like Rylan’s eye.

But it was the bruises around his throat with visible finger marks and knowing that seventeen stitches closed the wound on Rylan’s scalp that made Cameron want to curl up into a ball and cry until the rage would overtake his emotions. Then, he would devise ways of killing Tristan that made him regret not doing so at the restaurant.

The moment Rylan blacked out and fell into his arms, Cameron thought his heart stopped.

Ruby had pulled him out of his silent panic. “His breathing is deep and even.”

Cameron was grateful for Ruby’s presence in the ambulance and her fierce protectiveness as she stayed with him in the waiting room after the ER doctor shooed him out of the examination room. She also held his hand when the Dr. Evans told him Rylan’s diagnosis.

“The most serious injury he sustained is the severe concussion when he hit his head on the reinforced glass. While the wound bled a lot, the cut itself isn’t serious. Also, the blood vessels in his neck are intact, it’s just bruising from the rough treatment. When the paramedics arrived, I suspected a broken orbital bone, but his X-rays came back clear. And because of his concussion, we will determine how long he will have to stay as his condition improves. Every two hours, we’ll wake him and check for signs of his condition worsening.”

He thanked Dr. Evans through clenched teeth and held out his hand. She cupped his hand in both of hers before adding.

“He will be fine, I promise you that.”

Cameron nodded, worried if he spoke, he wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Is there anyone you want me to call?” Ruby asked.

“Oh, shit. I’ll call them. Thank you for all you’ve done for him.”

Ruby hugged him. “It’s not your fault or his. It’s Tristan’s. He doesn’t understand that Rylan doesn’t want him and some people can’t take no for an answer. And you would be proud of your husband. He stood up to the bully and even tried to fight back. When you have time can you tell him I’m excited to work with him and I’ll send over the contract details as soon as I hear from him?”

“I will. Wow, I’m so proud of him. Thank you, Ruby.”

With a final nod, she walked out into the hallway; the door shutting behind her and cutting off the noises from the rest of the hospital. He reached for Rylan’s hand and gazed over his injuries, biting his lip and holding back his tears. To distract himself, he reached for the phone.

“Mom…” His voice broke.

Sweetie, what’s going on?

“Tristan found Rylan during his meeting with Ruby and before I stopped him, he punched Rylan several times and he tried to strangle him. The doctor thought he might have broken the bone around his eye, but the X-rays proved otherwise. He passed out at the restaurant and hasn’t woken up since, it’s been five hours—”

Okay, we’re on our way, text us the hospital information. Do you want me to tell the others?

“Yeah.” Cameron wiped at the tears that escaped.

And your dad will call the lawyer and get him involved. Don’t worry about anything other than Rylan, we’ll take care of everything else.

“Thanks.”

We love you both and we’ll be there soon. Bye, sweetheart.

Without bothering with a reply, he pocketed his phone. He looked at his beautiful husband and rage pulsed in the back of his head. Cameron had allowed Tristan to touch his husband out of anger. He clenched his fist and the skin that had healed over split open again; the pain grounding his intense hatred of the man who had hurt his Rylan, his angel.

And a thought filled his head.

We could do it, we could do whatever we want to.

His text notification pulled him from his thoughts.