Thorn (Carmichael Series #5)✔️

Mistaken Relation

**Guys, I am SO sorry this is being posted so late. I had lab today and just totally forget when I got home to update. I hope you guys enjoy this update and let me know what you think!**

Tansy's POV

I was pulled back into consciousness by the incessant sound of buzzing. Pushing the guy from the night befores hands away - Jesus, did I really not even get his name? - I held onto the bed for support as I stood up, my legs shaking like a newborn baby deer. I glanced around before finally spotting my phone on the ground at the end of the bed. Stumbling over, I picked it up and pressed it to my face. It took my sleep-hazed brain a second to figure out that it was a text message, not a phone call. I blinked a few times to clear my blurred vision. Read the text has my heart stopping in my chest as my knees almost buckled out from under me. I continued to read the message from Ellie over and over again, praying to God she was pulling some sick practical joke.

SOS! My dad's been shot and no one can calm mom down. Get to St. James Hospital ASAP!

I tried to be quiet in my frenzy to get dressed, wincing at even the slightest of movements as my body had been thoroughly worked out. Once dressed and outside of his apartment, I broke out into a dead sprint in my open-toed suede booties as my shaking hands fumbled with my phone to call for an uber. Throwing the building door open, I anxiously tapped my foot against the cement while watching the driver's little icon like a hawk, urging him to get to me faster. I released the breath I didn't know I was holding before jumping into the back seat and asking the driver to go as fast as he could. I think he saw my shaken state as well as desired destination and didn't think twice about breaking multiple road laws.

Arriving at the hospital, I sprinted through the halls, frantically looking for the room number Ellie had texted me on the ride over here. Just as I was about to enter the room, someone gripped my arm and pulled me back. My eyes met Ellie's heartbroken ones.

"She's...she's kinda lost it. Please try and talk her down from the ledge." She begged, tears welling up in her eyes. I nodded before squeezing her hand to reassure her before knocking on the door and entering the room.

"Pops..." I whispered out. Her frame was hunched over the bed, desperately clutching at Knox's limp hand while whispering to herself. I made my way closer to her before gently resting my hand on her upper back. She flinched before whipping her head up to look at me, clearly caught off guard that I was here and in the room. Jesus, she's so out of it.

"Hey." I murmured softly before reaching up to stroke her hair lovingly. She broke down, sobbing loudly before burying her face in my stomach. I cradled her body against my own why trying to refrain from breaking down myself. I had to keep myself from looking at Knox's pale body on the bed - I needed to stay strong for my sister.

"Pops, talk to me, yeah?" I plead with her, trying to distract her enough to get her to stop crying.

"H-he's my best friend, Tans. I-I can't do this without him." She screeched. I swallowed the lump that'd formed in my throat.

"Can't do what without him?" I asked, my heart fluttering in my chest with fear at what she was about to say to me.

"Live life." She stuttered out, her hiccups inhibiting her ability to clearly speak. I felt all the color drain from my face at the devotion in her voice to what she'd said.

"Don't even think about it, Poppy. I know that you're struggling more than you ever had in your entire life right now, but you have four children who rely on you every single day for love and support. Knox may be in critical condition, but I'm telling you right now that that man is probably fighting the hardest he'd ever had to, just to get back to you and your kids. He needs you here, by his side, telling him to keep fighting. Do you hear me?" I asserted aggressively. I didn't mean to come across so brash, but I was panicking inside thinking about the implication her words had.