Chapter 166
Chapter 166:
Cassian was on the sofa, half-sprawled, his head tilted back against the cushions. Someone had shoved him into a loose white loungewear set, but the collar was crusted red. Blood dotted the fabric, especially down the left side. His lip was split. One eye was nearly swollen shut. His chest rose, barely.
To his right sat a man in a charcoal suit, cuffs rolled, top buttons undone. He was wiping blood off a sleek silver watch with the same care I used on opals. His knuckles were red.
Yvaine had told me once she’d rather break both ankles than piss off her big brother. She might run wild in clubs and mouth off at their parents, but when Emmett said “home,” she folded. Looking at him now, I could sympathize with her.
Ashton came in behind me and shut the door quietly. He stopped in front of the sofa, glanced down at Cassian’s face, and said flatly, “He needs a hospital. Now p>
Yvaine sniffled. “Emmett won’t let me. He wouldn’t even let me open the door. I think he actually meant to kill him p>
I turned. “What the hell happened p>
Her voice was steadier now, but her hands kept fidgeting with the hem of her hoodie. “He showed up unannounced. Cassian answered the door, shirtless. He lost his mind p>
I darted a look at Emmett. He hadn’t said a word so far, just gave Ashton an acknowledging nod when he came in.
“I don’t see what the big deal was,” Yvaine muttered. “Cassian used to be around all the time. Mum and Dad trust him. Emmett did too. He even asked him to keep an eye on me a couple of times when he was traveling p>
“I asked him to look out for you, not take you to bed.” Emmett looked up. Yvaine bit her lip. Her eyes filled again. “He didn’t fight back. Not once. You didn’t have to beat him up until he collapsed p>
She looked at me. “I had to drag him to the couch. I got him dressed while Emmett smashed his phone. I couldn’t call anyone. I didn’t dare p>
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“So you called me,” I said.
She nodded, lips trembling. “I didn’t even finish the call. Emmett snatched my phone p>
Cassian let out a low, wet groan. His fingers twitched.
“He’s losing too much blood,” Yvaine whispered. “If we wait any longer…” Her voice cracked. “What if he’s not going to make it p>
Emmett leaned back into the sofa, his face blank, his shirt still spattered with blood.
Ashton stepped forward. “Emmett, whatever happened, this isn’t the place to deal with it. He needs a hospital. Unless you’re really planning to let him bleed out in your sister’s living room p>
“Mr. Laurent,” Emmett said, his voice flat and clipped. “This is my family’s problem. Not yours p>
Under any other circumstances, Ashton would have walked out or started swinging. Instead, he took half a step back, adjusting his tone as if he were trying not to spook a wild animal.