Chapter 20

Alarm shot through me. “What? Is he okay?” I sat down beside her.

Amantha looked like she was about to cry so I wrapped my arms around her.

“He's okay.” She sniffled and buried her face in my shoulder. She hugged me desperately. “They said he was a little banged up, but he'll be fine. He broke his arm but they said it's only a few bruises otherwise. I'm supposed to pick him up at the hospital.”

I stroked her hair and held her close.

She lost control and cried against my shoulder.

“What happened?” I asked.

She sobbed. “The detective wouldn't tell me. All he said was everyone's okay. I feel like I failed Neo. He didn't deserve this.”

I tried to call her down. “Shhh. No. You didn't fail him. This was an accident. You couldn't have done anything.”

She sobbed more. “I'm sorry.”

“Nah, don't be sorry. Cry it out. Get out all that doubt and negativity so you can straighten your back and face this head-on. When you're ready, I'll drive you to pick up Neo.”

Sometimes even the strongest people needed a minute to break down and pull themselves back together. That was Amantha's moment.

I held her as she cried.

The feeling her tears gave me was awful. I wanted to rain Hell on the people who caused her to cry. I needed more details, then I would come up with a strategy.

Amantha finally finished crying. She pulled away from my shoulder, wiped her palms over her eyes, and took a few deep breaths.

I hated to say it, but Amantha was a cute crier. Even with swollen eyes and a red nose, I found her irresistible.

I brushed her hair behind her ear. “Come on. I'll drive.”

She nodded. “Okay, let's go.”

She moved to get up, but instead of watching her walk to the car, I said, “Incoming,” and scooped her into my arms.

“Zion!” she protested.

“Shh.” I ignored her protests. “Grab your purse.”

I stooped toward the couch, and she grabbed her purse from it.

“Got everything?”

She nodded.

Amantha got the apartment door as I carried her to her car. Still early evening, the sun sat high above us.

Likewise, Amantha opened the passenger door of the car.

“Teamwork makes the dream work,” I joked as I sat her in the passenger seat.

She snorted. “You sound like a motivational poster. Please never say that again.”

Exactly what I expected her to say.

I smiled and shut the door. At least she was reacting normally again.

After making sure we were both buckled in, I drove the car to the local hospital. We didn't talk much on the way.

I helped Amantha into her wheelchair in the parking lot, and she let me push her into the building.

We checked in at reception and took the elevator up to the fourth floor, where Neo's room was. The medical halls smelled sterile and of disinfectant.

The room that we were told Neo was in stood at the end of the hallway.

I knocked on the open door and wheeled Amantha inside. A silver-haired police officer sat beside the hospital bed and Neo sat in the bed, an IV in one arm and a blue cast on the other. They both focused on the mounted TV on the wall.

“Aunt Amantha!” Neo said when he noticed us. He sat up in bed.

Neo also sported a black eye.

“Are you okay?” she asked as I wheeled her closer. When she was by the bed, she reached out and took Neo’s non-casted hand.

“I’m okay. Z, thanks for bringing her.”

The kid sounded wise beyond his years. I nodded at him.

The police officer stood. He wore a navy blue police uniform. “Thanks for coming down. I'm Detective Berger. We spoke on the phone.”

He extended a hand to Amantha, who shook it.

“Anything for Neo,” she said. “What happened?”

Amantha let go of his hand, and he stepped back.

“From what we can tell, the driver of Neo's car was drunk. He drove up the wrong lane of the road. He swerved to miss oncoming traffic, which he did, but the maneuver put the car into a tree. Luckily, everyone involved is only a little banged up.”

“Will he be charged with drunk driving?” Amantha demanded. “I want him charged to the fullest extent.”

Detective Berger nodded. “The driver blew a breathalyzer that read well above the legal limit. He's in custody now.”

Amantha shook her head. “Thank you.” She turned her attention back to Neo. “Are you okay?”

He rolled his eyes. “I'm fine, mom.”

Amantha drew a sharp breath.

Neo continued without realizing what he said. “You guys have to sign my cast. Oh hey, can I get a hamburger when we leave here? I'm starving.”

Amantha frowned and shook her head. “Let's make sandwiches at home. We can't aff—”

“Yes, we can get burgers on the way home,” I interrupted. The boy had survived a drunk driving accident; I’d buy him whatever he wanted. “Milkshakes, too, if you want.”

Neo's eyes widened with excitement.

“Can we?” he asked Amantha.

She smiled. “If Zion wants to.”

I winked at Neo. “Don't worry. I got you, man.”

I stretched my hand forward for a fist-bump, which Neo returned with a grin on his face.

“I'm going to go,” Detective Berger said. “The nurse is supposed to come take Neo's IV out, then you guys can head home.” He nodded at Neo. “Thanks for keeping me company.”

“Sure. Anytime,” Neo said.

“Thank you, Detective,” Amantha said. “Call if you need anything.”

The detective nodded at us and walked out of the room.

“What kind of burger do you guys want? Where should we go?” Neo asked.

I smiled. Leave it to a teenager to move right on after such a big event.