“You’re a f**kin’ liar!” I launch myself at him again, but I’m still being held by Dad and the burly guards, so I get nowhere.
“Let. Me. Fucking. Go!” I yell, trying to fight them off me.
“Calm the hell down!” Dad hisses in my ear. “Keep going like this, and they’ll call the cops if they haven’t already. Then they’ll throw your ass in jail, and you won’t be able to help Mia from there.”
The instant his words hit, hearing her name in that context, I start to slow down. “Okay.” I’m breathing hard. “Okay … you can let me go. I won’t hit him again.” I pin him with my eyes. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Jordan,” Dad scolds.
“What in the world is going on here?” I turn my head to see Dr. Packard walking toward us. Her eyes flick to Forbes, then back to me. She does not look happy.
“Dr. Packard, this man just attacked this gentleman here for no good reason.” This comes from the receptionist, who is still looking a little shocked by the whole thing.
“No good reason my ass!” I yell. “This motherfucker is the reason Mia is in here!”
“I haven’t seen Mia in two weeks—”
“Yeah, and why is that?” I take a step toward him. Dad’s arm comes in front of me, stopping me.
“Jordan,” Dr. Packard says. “You assaulted this gentleman?”
I scoff at the term. “Yeah, and I’d do it again – with pleasure.”
She turns to Forbes. “Mr.…?”
“Chandler.” Blood is still running down his ugly face and onto his pristine hundred dollar shirt.
“Mr. Chandler, I’ll get a nurse to clean you up. Do you want us to call the police to report this attack?”
His eyes drift to me.
“Do it.” I step forward, pushing against Dad’s arm that’s still pinned across my chest. “I’ll happily do a stretch. And while I’m with the cops, I’ll tell them exactly what you did to Mia.”
His eyes flash with fear.
Yeah, I know what you did, motherfucker.
“No.” He clears his throat, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. “I don’t want to press charges. I don’t need the hassle. Just keep that psycho away from me.”
“Nurse Callaghan, can you tend to Mr. Chandler, please,” Dr. Packard calls to a nurse.
“Of course.” The nurse comes over and leads him off down the hall.
I keep my eyes pinned to his back the whole way.
Dr. Packard stands in front of me, blocking my view. “I don’t know what that was about,” she says in a lowered voice. “But if you ever behave that way in my hospital again, I’ll call the cops myself, and you’ll never get through the door again. Do you understand?”
I exhale. “Yeah, I understand.”
“Good. Because Mia is awake, and she’s asking to see you.”
My head snaps up.
“She is?”
“Yes, so you best come with me now.” She starts to walk away.
I look at Dad.
“I’ll wait out here,” he says.
I mouth thanks to him. He gives me an encouraging smile.
I catch up to Dr. Packard. “How is she doing?”
She looks across at me. “Better. She’s been talking.”
I shove my hands in my pockets. “That’s good.”
“Yes, it is. Funny thing though, when I said to Mia that her step-brother was waiting to see her, she told me she doesn’t have a step-brother. That she doesn’t have any family actually.” She slides a look at me.
I smile sheepishly. “It’s complicated.” I shrug.
“Life always is.” She stops near a door. “Mia’s in here. Now, Jordan, I’ve spoken at length with Mia regarding the concerns I have about her problem, and I feel it’s best if you don’t mention anything.”
“You mean don’t tell her I know about the bulimia.”
“Exactly. Let her tell you – I’m sure she will. She’s very aware of her problem, but she’s also had a massive shock to bring about this realization. It’s an upsetting subject for her. I don’t want her upset any more than she already has been.”
I nod. “I hear you, doc. I’ll do whatever it takes to help her.”
She smiles. “Yes, I can see that.”
I turn to the door.
“Jordan.”
I look over my shoulder at her.
“You might want to clean the blood off your hands before you go in.”
I glance down at my hands. I’ve got that f**kers blood all over them. “Shit, yeah.”
She pulls a handkerchief from her pocket, then walks over to the water dispenser a little farther down the hall. Pressing the tap, she wets the handkerchief underneath, then brings back to me.
“Thanks.” Taking it, I scrub the blood from my knuckles, then offer it back to her.
“I’m good.” She holds her hand up, smiling. “Keep it.”
I let out a small laugh. “Thanks.” I shove the handkerchief into my pocket. Then taking a deep breath, I push the door to Mia’s room open.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mia
One look at Jordan and I know.
I can’t be with him anymore.
Not because I don’t love him, I do, but all I see when I look at him is my mother’s betrayal. She chose to raise him, not me.