CHAPTER 5

Reece paced restlessly in the hospital waiting room, surrounded by Bryce, his brother, Claire, his future sister-in-law, and Andy, a police detective, and his best friend. It had been three hours since Amara had been admitted, and other than a few vague updates that didn't satisfy Reece, they still didn't know her final prognosis.

The wait was excruciating, and Reece was eternally grateful that he had the support of his friend and family to keep him company. Because, otherwise, this waiting would’ve been pure torture.

Scrubbing a hand along his tense jaw, Reece exhaled in frustration. The last time he, Bryce, and Claire had been in a hospital had been five months ago when their sister, Daphne, had gone into labor.

Back then, their presence in a medical facility had been a happy, joyful event as they'd welcomed an eight-pound, three-ounce baby girl Daphne and Sean had named Deidre Marie.

But today, the mood was somber and grim as the fou