"I love you, V. So fucking much. I'd burn this entire world down for you, baby." I throw a half smile her way and exit the room, not waiting for her response.
"Hello?" I hear the raspy feminine voice on the other end of the line say.
"Hey, Mom," I choke out as I open the door to my truck and hop in.
"Oh, Anderson, How are you holding up?"
I nod as if she can fucking see me.
God, I'm an idiot sometimes.
Realizing she doesn't have this extraordinary ability, I decide to use my words like a big boy.
"Holding up, Mom. How far out are you guys?"
"We should be there in about forty-five minutes. Do you need something?"
"No, I just wanted to see. She sent me away. She needed some time to herself, but I didn't want her alone for long. I will run to Maverick's house and shower, and then I'll be back after."
"Oh honey, take care of yourself. Why don't you get some rest while you're gone? We will be there soon. She will be just fine." My mom has always worried about me. I love her for it, but I'm the last thing or person I'm worried about right now.
After two hours of riding around looking for Liam with no luck, I quickly stopped at Maverick's house to shower and freshen up. Now, I'm walking back down the hospital hall toward Via's room when I hear voices and laughter bellowing down the hallway.
If there's anything I appreciate about my family the most, it's that they can lighten the intensity of any situation around them. I spare them a quick smile as I take them all in, but I don't stop. If they're all out here, she's still alone.Fuck that. She's had enough time alone.
Walking into Via's hospital room, I'm instantly taken back by the greeting of a bouquet of roses next to her bedside. I saw the same black and red flowers inside her house a few months back. Via is fast asleep peacefully. It kills me to see that tearsare staining her beautiful face. I hate the thought that she cried herself to sleep alone, but knowing Via, it's probably exactly what she needed to process through things. I'm not trying to overwhelm her, but I don't want her to think she's in this alone, either.
Because she will never be in anything alone again.
Turning back to the new creepy flowers by her bedside, I can't help the fury that flows through my body.
I'm unsure what to make of it, but my head is spinning. She always suspected they were from that creep Clark at her previous job. If it is him, I'll fucking end him this time. No more chances. Something about it doesn't sit right with me. She confronted Clark about it that day in the hallway, and thinking back to it now, the guy looked fucking clueless when he denied it.
Being sure not to wake her, I quietly grab the vase beside her and return to the lobby. As I pad down the long hallway and their voices come back into earshot, I notice a card stuffed in the flowers.
I open the small card. It simply says, "He is going to."
What the fuck?
"Did anyone see who left these?" My firm, deep voice echoes loudly throughout the lobby, bringing silence behind my last word.
Everyone's eyes flash up to glance over me, standing there, seething, holding what looks like dead roses.
My mom speaks up first, "Ander. . . Those weren't there when we checked on her thirty minutes ago."
"Who the hell would leave red and black roses?" Jett's tone is harsh, seeming just as concerned as I am as he stands and makes his way over to me.
My sister Abbie asks, "What does the card say?" as she pulls it from my hands. "He is going to? What in the hell is that even supposed to mean?"
"He is going to? He is going to what? He is going to. He. . . Oh, good god." My mom's voice shakes. "He. . . Is going to die?" She stands up and walks toward me, frantically pulling the card from Abbie's hands.
"He is going to die. . . This is his way of threatening you, Ander!" Abbie covers her mouth, and the tears begin to flow instantly.
Fuck this.
I inhale a sharp breath, pull back, and throw the vase of flowers to the nearest wall, and I don't stay standing there to watch it all crumble to pieces. I rush over to the nurse's station, lock eyes with the armed guard sitting at the desk, and lean in toward him.
"Pull up the security footage!" I demand, my tone sharp and leaving no room for negotiations.
