Page 55 of The Destruction You Desire

Silence rings out between us, a million and one things going unsaid.

"I know shit's been fucked up but I'm here, bro. If you need—"

"I'm good." My brows lift as if he can see them because I don't believe a fucking word of it.

"Okay well, just in case. We can't let him win."

"Just look after Peyton. Prove to her that you're not just a prick these days."

"I'll do my best."

I hang up, lowering my cell to my lap right as the bathroom door opens.

My breath catches at the sight of her. She looks utterly wrecked.

"Peyton," I breathe, pushing forward, ready to go to her.

"I'm okay," she whispers, holding her hand up to halt my movements. "Who was that?"

"Leon."

She nods and lifts her fingers to her lips.

"You need to call Fee."

"Y-yeah."

Slowly she makes her way to where she placed her purse when we walked in and pulls her cell out. Dropping to the end of the bed, she unlocks it and finds her contact, lifting it to her ear.

"Hey," she says softly. The emptiness to her voice makes a lump crawl up my throat. Her body trembles as she listens to Fee.

I desperately want to reach for her, to help her somehow but I also know that I need to follow her lead.

I need to remember that she doesn't actually want me here. She never asked me to come. I gave her no choice. I think we both know that I'd never listen, but she could demand I leave at any moment. And that can't happen. I need to be here for her. I'd never forgive myself for leaving her to do this alone.

"She's in a bad way, Aunt Fee."

She sucks in a shaky breath as Fee says something.

"They don't know. She… she's had a st-stroke. She might not—" A sob rips from her and I move on instinct, caging her in with my legs and taking the cell from her hand and placing it to my own ear.

"It's me," I say, so Fee knows I've taken it.

"Do you need me to come out there?"

"Not right now, there's nothing you can do. They're going to keep her sedated for a while yet, do some more tests."

"O-okay."

"I've handled the insurance and once she's stable, they're going to move her back to Maddison so we can come home and you can be there too."

"Luca, you didn't need—"

"I did. It's the least I could do," I repeat the same words I've said to Peyton more than once today.

"Okay, well… we really appreciate it. I know Libby will too."

"Yeah," I breathe, hoping she'll come around and be able to do just that.