Craving The Wrong Brother (Sloane and Knox) novel Chapter 51

Fine Make 71

CHAPTER 051: Finn. Finn. Finn

CHAPTER 051: Finn. Finn. Finn

“Bunny,” I breathe, crossing the distance in a few long strides and pulling her straight to my chest.

She melts into me. Just folds into my body like she belongs there. No hesitation.

I kiss her forehead, bending slightly because she’s always smaller without her heels.

“It’s not your fault,” I murmur. “Shit happens.”

“I left him,” she whispers. “I knew how psychotic he can get when he feels abandoned. Yet I left.”

“You had to. People meet, and they part ways.”

She pulls back, eyes red–rimmed but clear.

“I’m going to make sure he gets help.”

I brush her bangs out of her face, fingers lingering on her temple. “Of course. He’ll get all the help he needs. I’ll see to that.”

She nods. Her eyes search mine like she’s looking for something final in them. Some reassurance.

“Should we call your parents?” she asks.

“He broke an arm, right?”

“Yes. And he’s concussed.”

“Can he talk?”

“Yeah.”

“Can he move?”

“Yes.”

“He’ll survive. Just wait down the hall for me, alright? I gotta check something with the receptionist.”

She exhales, finally looking less like she’s about to shatter.

↑ “Okay,” she says, then turns and walks toward the room number she’d mentioned earlier.

I head toward the desk.

The woman behind it has a kind, round face and tortoiseshell glasses perched at the end of her nose. She barely looks up until I stop in front of her.

I turn on my megawatt smile–the one I save for clients, high rollers, and now, apparently, hospital staff.

“Hi.”

She lifts her head and smiles back politely. “Good evening. How may I help you?”

“Name’s Knox Hartley. My brother was admitted today. Finn Hartley. Broken arm and concussion.”

She types something into the screen.

“Are you here to visit?”

“I am.”

“I’ll need to see an ID.”

I pull out my wallet and hand over my driver’s license.

She scans it. Nods. “Got it. Just a second…”

She clicks a few more keys, prints something, and slides a visitor badge across the counter as well as the license.

“Here’s your pass and your card. He’s in room 303.”

“Thanks.” I pause. “Just one thing… was the driver apprehended?”

Her brow furrows. “The driver?”

“He was hit by a car, no?”

She blinks at her screen. “Um… no, actually. According to this, it says he fell down a flight of stairs. Is there something else we should know? Do we need to alert the authorities?”

I laugh, playing it off. “My bad. Sorry. Stairs. I must’ve gotten it mixed up.”

She smiles, but there’s a trace of doubt in her eyes.

I take the pass and my card, nod in thanks, and head down the hall. As soon as I turn the corner, the smile drops.

I follow the hallway down until I hit 302.

The door is open just enough to see Sloane inside, standing by the bed.

CHAPTER 051: Finn. Finn. Finn

Finn’s eyes, which were formerly on her, turn to glare at me.

I push the door wider.

“Little brother,” I say, stepping in. “Didn’t anyone teach you to look both ways before crossing the road?”

Finn’s eyes narrow. “The car came out of nowhere.”

“That can be a bitch when it happens, can’t it?”

He doesn’t answer. His face is pale, but his jaw is tight.

I turn to Sloane.

“Hey, Bunny. Mind giving me a moment with my brother?”

She hesitates. “Of course. I’ll just get us coffee. You want one?”

“Wouldn’t that mess with your sleep?”

“I might not be sleeping all that well tonight anyway.”

I smile. “Alright. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”

“Are you sure? I like mine extra sweet.”

//

I watch her smile, all soft lips and tired eyes, and when she says she likes her coffee extra sweet, something in me twitches -low and a little dangerous.

“So do I.”

The words slip out before I can stop them, and I know she sees it–the shift in my gaze, the heat I don’t bother hiding.

She blushes. Full–on pink–cheeked, flustered, eyes darting to the floor like a schoolgirl caught staring at her teacher’s mouth too long.

And then she’s gone, practically bolting out of the room like it’s on fire.

I wait until I’m sure she’s gone.

Until her footsteps fade and the hallway falls silent again.

Then I turn back to Finn, who’s pushing himself toward the edge of the bed, far away from me.

I step closer.

His jaw tightens. Good.

Let him know I’m not here to play.

“Tell me,” I say quietly, “what part of town did you get knocked down?”

“Knox, leave. I don’t want you

here.”

“I know. You want Sloane. What did you do exactly? Get Delilah to shove you down the stairs? You’re not that courageous