Darn Stupid Brother You Are

(Dr. Nixon's POV)

The office air was heavy with the sharp scent of antiseptic and the faint whir of the overhead fan. I sat at my desk, my body weighed down by sleepless nights. My cheeks were hollow, and the shadows under my eyes told stories I'd never dare share. Across from me, Angel sat with her arms crossed, her frustration clear in the way her jaw tightened.

"I need more than vague warnings, Dr. Nixon," she said sharply. "You keep telling me to stay alert, but that's not helping. What's coming? What do we need to prepare for?"

I met her gaze with tired eyes and tried to keep my voice steady despite the exhaustion that threatened to pull me under. "Angel, there are bigger things at play here. The people in charge... they're dangerous. It's not easy getting the evidence I've been trying to get, not is it easy to get what I need to-"

Angel leaned forward, cutting me off. "And I'm supposed to just sit here and wait while you give me breadcrumbs? My brother-Hendrix-is getting sicker by the day, at least emotionally, and people are dying in this place. What are we supposed to do?"

My hands twitched on the desk. I pressed them flat against the surface and forced myself to stay composed. "You think I don't know that?" My voice cracked before I managed to rein it back. "The inspection coming next week-just...just stay in line. Don't draw attention to yourself or the others. Let me handle the rest."

Angel stood abruptly, the sound of her chair scraping across the floor cutting through the tense air. "Handle it? You've been saying that for weeks, but nothing is happening. Do you even care what happens to us?"

Her words hit me harder than I wanted to admit, but I kept my face impassive. "Angel, trust me "

"I don't know if I can," she interrupted coldly. "You're just as much a part of this place as they are."

Her words stung, but I didn't argue. I waved a hand toward the door instead. "That's enough for today. Go. And remember-stay alert."

Angel glared at me for a long moment before turning on her heel and storming out, leaving the door ajar behind her.

I slumped back into my chair and let out a shaky breath. My trembling hands reached for the ointment on the desk. Pulling up my sleeves, I revealed the bruises around my wrists and the faint scars that crisscrossed my forearms. Tears welled in my eyes as I rubbed the ointment into my skin, my breaths coming in uneven gasps.

A memory surfaced like a ghost I couldn't banish.

I was in the basement of the center, the dim light barely illuminating the cold walls. My hands were tied behind my back, the metallic taste of blood sharp in my mouth. Dr. Joe stood in front of me, his blue eyes cold and full of malice. "You thought you could betray me?" he snarled as he gripped my chin roughly. "After everything I've done for you?"

"I wasn't trying to betray you," I whispered hoarsely. "I just... I couldn't keep lying to them."

He slammed my head back against the wall, the impact making my vision blur. "You're my wife, Nixon. My wife. You don't get to make decisions on your own."

Tears streaked my face as his grip tightened. "Please," I begged. "I'm sorry."

His sneer was venomous as he leaned closer. "You're lucky I still need you."

The memory faded, but it left me trembling. I pulled my sleeves down, my tears slipping silently down my face. "I'm sorry..." I whispered into the emptiness of the room.

...

(Hendrix's POV)

I sat on a worn bench outside the gym and leaned forward with my elbows on my knees. The hum of voices from the center's residents swirled around me, but I couldn't focus on them. My eyes stayed locked on the courtyard across from me. Angel and Thomas.

They were sitting together on the low wall near the gardens, their heads close as they talked. Thomas leaned in and said something that made Angel laugh in that sweet way I was obsessed with. Her cheeks flushed pink, and the sight twisted something deep inside me.

"Did you hear?" Hande's voice drifted toward me. She stood nearby with Eddie, her tone carrying the weight of a secret. "Apparently, Angel and Thomas are... you know."

"What? No way," Eddie replied in disbelief. "Thomas? Seriously?"

"Dead serious," Hande said, her smirk almost audible. "They've been sneaking off together. It's kind of cute, actually."

The word cute burned into my mind like a brand. Angel and Thomas. Sneaking off together.

I couldn't tear my gaze away as Thomas reached out and tucked a strand of Angel's hair behind her ear. The intimate gesture sent a jolt of anger through me, but it was what came next that broke me.

Thomas smirked and glanced over his shoulder as if he knew I was watching. Then he turned back to Angel, slid his hand around her waist, and pulled her close. His lips met hers in a kiss so deep and sure that it left no room for doubt. Angel didn't push him away. She leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

My chest felt like it was caving in. The bench screeched against the pavement under me as I stood abruptly. Every part of me wanted to charge over there and demand answers. I wanted to rip Thomas away from her and ask Angel why she let things between us fall apart.

But I didn't. Instead, I turned and walked away, my fists clenched so tightly that my nails bit into my palms. The image of them together was seared into my mind, stoking the fire raging inside me.

When I reached the dorms, the silence only made the storm in my soul worse. I slammed my fist against the wall, the impact vibrating through my arms and muscles. My chest heaved as I struggled to keep the chaos from swallowing me whole.

Leaning against the wall, I whispered to myself in a raw and desperate tone. "I can't lose her..."

The truth was, I already had.