The ride to the hospital is quiet.
Izzy and Jett rode with us, but no one spoke a word on the way here until we got close. As we pulled into the parking lot, Izzy cleared her throat.
"I just want to let you know Liam is here. Just brace yourself, V." Her words are soft, caring, and careful not to upset me more. She knows how I feel towards Liam, especially after his tantrum and outburst towards all of us at our house just hours ago. He isas much family as I am and needs to be here. Even though he is who he is. No matter what he's done to me, they need him here just as much.
My thoughts race to my dad, and the realization starts to sink in of what's happening. It doesn't feel real, but it does feelcruel.
The truck stops near the emergency door, and Ander throws it into 'park.' Ignoring that we're in an unloading zone, we jump out and run inside. The receptionist at the front desk is a rude twat and sees a bunch of kids running in as she begins to tell us to wait for assistance. Before I have the chance to lose it, Izzy throws two balled-up fists down on the counter in rebuttal.
"I am so sorry that someone apparently pissed in your cheerios! My best friend here just found out that her father died and that her mother and sister are in critical condition. So if you don't mind, get your head out of your ass and do your damn job by directing us as to where to go. That would be great!"
A nurse in the back heard the encounter and came running toward us. She has a sincere, apologetic look on her face.
"Foley family?" She asks with concern laced in her tone. I nod instantly.
"Yes, where are my mother and sister? Their names are Leah and Natalie Foley."
Her head drops softly, "Yes, ma'am, they're in the trauma wing. Follow me, I'll take you there. Your brother told us he was the only next of kin."
Of course, he did. I see red and fire erupts through my veins. Lord knows I don't need any other reasons to hate Liam, but he keeps giving them to me without fail. I can't even focus on that. I can only follow this slow-paced elderly lady helplessly and hope for the best for my mom and Natty Bear.
We finally get to the trauma wing of the hospital. As we approach the waiting room, we see Liam sitting there with a smug, shit-eating grin on his face. Ander steps in front of me. Heprotectively places his arm around my waist and pulls me in as he braces me for whatever is about to come.
Liam sees us and throws a smile our way.
Seriously?
He's such a sleaze-ball. We just found out we lost our father and that our mother and sister are both critical, and he has the nerve to smile. Everything about Liam gives me the ick.
I understand my parents came along after he already endured unfathomable amounts of trauma, but he had a family that loved him beyond measure in my parents. How dare he smile right now. My blood is boiling as I walk his way.
Ander, Izzy, and Jett can all sense my tension as we approach Liam, but I give them all a soft, reassuring look that says, "I've got this; stand down." They know me well because, at the same time, they all fall back. They stay close and are just out of earshot, but Ander's eyes remain focused on me.
"Liam, what's the latest?" I ask through gritted teeth. My cheeks are tear-stained, and my pain is evident on my face. I don't want to show that to Liam because he will only prey on it. So, I hold back my tears and try to keep this traumatic conversation as civil as possible.
"Oh, you mean other than you sneaking off to be a little whore and being the cause of our whole family's deaths?" He says through a blood-curdling smile. He scoffs at me as if he's dismissing me and disregarding my concerns.
I let Liam insult me.
His words no longer hold venom when it comes to me. You become immune and numb to their toxicity after a specific person causes a certain amount of pain. Immune to their toxicity. What kills me is that he mentioned 'our whole family's death.'
"What do you mean our whole family's death? Mom? Natty?" I ask, pleading for answers, my voice cracking with each word as the panic kicks in.
He looks down and picks dirt out of his fingernails with a toothpick. This was just another day for him, and this whole thing was inconvenient.
"Yeah, well, there's nothing more that they can do. I just signed off and gave consent to pull the plugs. They just got taken off of life support, but they're holding on for now. You can go say goodbye if you want to."
He pulls me to him, into the most uncomfortable version of a hug I've ever experienced. He whispers into my ear.
"Maybe it wasn't just your fault, stupid little Olive. Maybe you fuckers should have learned a long time ago that I will get what I want, one way or another. They wouldn't help me, so I had to help myself." He shrugs, then continues as I stand there, frozen in shock, unsure how to process what he's saying. "You were kept alive. You're welcome for that, by the way. Although—"He chuckles darkly. "I must admit, you were only kept alive for my own fun, and I do intend to have fun. You already know as long as you're living, you aremytoy, and I don't quite appreciate how your little boyfriend always looks at me. Does he know our secrets, Olive?"
"Here is your one and only warning. Drop him. Drop him, or I will. That is not only a threat but a promise I intend to keep." His tone is almost joyful, like this is all a fun game for him, as his cruel words slice through me like razors.
I crumble into pieces right in front of him.
"LIAM!"
I no longer care if he sees that I'm breaking. Every ounce of strength I've mustered up to get through this conversation is immediately drained from my being.
