Page 28
His cell phone buzzed. It was tempting to let it go to voicemail and not worry about it. If the call was important, they’d leave a message. When it buzzed the third time, he pulled it from his shirt pocket and looked at the display.
The picture of Leah’s face always brought lightness to his chest. She was his salve, the only prescription he really needed.
Before he could say anything, she spoke. “Come to the house. Ernest’s here.”
His annoying cousin. The one who he wanted to punch every time they saw each other. What the hell was Ernest doing there?
“I’ll be there in a minute.” He ended the call, suddenly filled with urgency.
Moments later, he released a still-saddled horse into a corral and hurried to the house. Ernest met him outside. Unlike the usually scowl upon seeing him, his cousin seemed more cautious as if gauging his mood.
Yeah, so he was like a volcano, lava always brewing just under the surface. But did the asshole have to act like he was a wild bear not to be fucked with? Luke almost chuckled. Then again, it was good that Ernest was not exactly at ease around him.
“What?” Luke said, nearing. “Someone steal your panties and you think it was me?”
“I didn’t know you wore panties,” Ernest snapped.
Leah peered from the doorway. “Don’t start. This isn’t the time.” Her worry-filled gaze met his, making his heart sink.
“What happened? It’s Tobias, isn’t it?” Automatically, he knew and not waiting for Ernest to say anything, he ran into the house to find his truck keys.
“I’ll drive,” Leah said.
“What the fuck happened to my brother?” Luke glared at Ernest who followed them out the front door.
“Car accident. When I left the office, they were extricating him from the truck. Ambulance was there.”
“You’re coming with us, asshole.” Luke didn’t want to hear any excuses and he wasn’t quite sure why he wanted Ernest there in the truck with them. Then again, of course he did. If for some reason he lost it, Ernest would keep Leah safe.
“I can drive,” he said, gently taking Leah by the shoulders. “Please.”
“What if you lose control? Sweetheart, let either me or Ernie drive.”
He met his cousin’s gaze. Yeah, so they fought like two bulls, but he was family and the Hamiltons always stuck together.
“Let’s go in mine, the engine’s running,” Ernest said without inflection.
“Fine.”
“I’ll call your parents,” Leah said as they climbed into Ernest’s SUV.
The drive was excruciatingly long. Every mile seemed to stretch to three. Leah spoke to his parents in low tones, ensuring to keep her voice calm to not alarm them more. She didn’t say anything about the fact Tobias had to be cut out of the truck. Instead, she just said he’d lost control and was heading to the hospital to be checked out.
She tapped Luke’s shoulder. “Your Dad.”
“We’re heading there now. Call me as soon as you get to the hospital and give us an update,” his father said without preamble.
“I will,” Luke replied, a lump forming in his throat. In the silence, he knew what his father was expecting. As identical twins, he and Tobias had an uncanny connection that to this day still puzzled him. “He’s gonna be fine, Dad,” Luke finally said.
There was another silence. “Good,” his father finally said. “Luke?”
“Yes?”
“I need you to keep it together, Son. Need you to be there for your brother and for us. You hear me?”
“Yes, sir.” He ended the call, his eyes stinging. “Damn it, why is it taking so long to get there?”
Ernest sped up. They were already way over the speed limit but, at this point, all they cared about was getting to the damned hospital.
Leah’s phone rang and he realized it was still in his hand. “It’s Allison,” he said to his wife and passed the phone back to her.
The road ahead seemed to melt away and his vision blurred. Luke shook his head and he blinked several times. It was hard to focus, but he couldn’t lose control. Not today.
