Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 76

(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."

argue. I waved a hand toward the door

on her heel and storming

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

like a

my mouth. Dr. Joe stood in front of me, his blue eyes cold and full of malice. "You thought you

you," I whispered hoarsely. "I just... I couldn't keep lying to

slammed my head back against the wall, the impact making my vision blur. "You're my

grip

leaned closer. "You're lucky I still need

my tears slipping silently down my face.

...

(Hendrix's POV)

elbows on my knees. The hum of voices from the center's residents swirled around me, but I couldn't focus

that made Angel laugh in that sweet way I was obsessed with. Her cheeks flushed pink, and the sight twisted something

Eddie, her tone carrying the weight of a

No way," Eddie replied in disbelief.

said, her smirk almost audible. "They've