Chapter 1
Seven years ago, at the age of nineteen, twenty-six-year-old Joshua Murphy left his hometown of Clearwater, a small town outside of Boston, to find a better life for himself. He left his younger brother, Brandon, behind. When their parents were killed in a car accident years ago, their aunt was left to raise them. Growing up, they were dirt-poor, and he vowed to make it big someday. So as a teenager, he took whatever jobs he could get and saved up until he had enough to leave the town he hated. His brother was fourteen at the time and resented him for leaving. Though he had never been back home, he kept in touch with Brandon. After making his fortune by developing a software program, he bought a small mansion in Paris and founded his own company. Over the years, he had sent money to his brother, large sums whenever he called, crying that he was having a hard time since their aunt died a few years earlier. His brother had always been a challenge as a child, getting into trouble, lying, stealing, having a bad temper, and starting fights. Joshua was always cleaning up his mess for him. Even with the distance between them, he had to bail Brandon out on several occasions.
Since he was Brandon’s next of kin, the hospital contacted him, letting him know that his brother was involved in a serious accident. He was told that Brandon had some minor injuries but was asking for him, and that he was deeply depressed, and they were worried he might try to hurt himself. It was either that he came to look after him, or they would have no choice but to have him placed in the psychiatric ward. Well, after abandoning him years ago, he felt guilted into going back home.
“Just how long will you be gone for?” Mira, his girlfriend of two years, asked. She sat up in bed, covering herself up with the sheet.
He looked over at her, placing his suitcase down. Even after just waking up, she looked beautiful with her red hair a tangled mess. She had a great body, large breasts, long and slender legs, and a nice ass. Mira was the daughter of one of his biggest clients, Frank Vangsness. She had everything going for her, beauty, wealth and was CEO of her father’s company. But she also had another side, she could be crude, bossy and totally spoiled. Mira also had a mean streak; if one pissed her off, she found a way to destroy them.
“I’m not sure, a week, maybe two. It depends on how quickly my brother recovers.”
“Why do you have to take care of him? It’s not like you are close to him and you haven’t seen him in years.”
“Mira, we’ve been through this; there is no one else. I’m all he has, and it’s my duty to make sure he’s OK. I owe it to him for not being there the last few years.”
Pouting, she whipped the covers away and headed to the bathroom. “Just don’t be gone too long or I’ll have to find someone else to keep me warm at night.”
Shaking his head, he grabbed his bag and left the bedroom without saying goodbye. They had been seeing one another off and on for two years, and he was starting to tire of her bossiness. One thing he was glad about was that they didn’t live together; she would spend time at his place, or he would go to hers. Even the sex wasn’t that good anymore; it was like she was only doing it because he wanted it. She didn’t seem to enjoy it much.
He took a cab to the airport and got settled into first class. He opened his laptop and kept busy answering emails and sending instructions to his many employees. He ended up falling asleep with his laptop open on his knees. His dreams were full of thoughts of his brother, wondering how bad his injuries were and if he would be OK. He had no idea Brandon was depressed. Having talked to him over the phone, he knew his brother was having a rough time, and he was usually drunk when he called, begging for money. Maybe he should have sent for him, let him live with him, and given him a job. But from what he had heard, Brandon couldn’t keep a job and was always getting into fights. With no education, he had no skills in software or anything for that matter.
By the time the plane landed, he was tired and in a foul mood. It didn’t help matters that it was raining, and he felt a chill run through him from the damp. Having his luggage sent to his hotel, he took a cab to the hospital. It was late, and he hoped that he would be allowed in to see Brandon.
He walked up to the nurse’s station and waited patiently for the woman behind the desk to notice him. When she finally looked up, he didn’t give her time to speak before he did. “I’m looking for my brother, Brandon Murphy. He was in a car accident yesterday.”
She looked at her computer and brought up his file. “Yes, he’s in room 101. The doctor is in with him now, but you can wait over there.” She pointed to the row of chairs across from them.
“Tell the doctor I want to speak to him when he’s done.” He turned and sat down on one of the most uncomfortable chairs he’d ever sat on. He looked at his watch. He had been waiting thirty minutes and was about to get up and complain when a man in a white coat came over to him.
“Are you Mr. Murphy?”
“Joshua stood up. “Yes. How is my brother, and when can I see him?”
“I’ll walk you to his room, and we can talk.”
“Tell me, doctor, how bad is he?”
“Your brother suffered a concussion, a couple of broken ribs and some cuts and bruises. We will keep him overnight for observation. The girl was not so lucky.”
Joshua stopped the doctor just before he was about to open the door to Brandon’s room. “Girl, what girl?” This was news to him; there was no mention of a girl being in the accident.
“Yes, Miss Celina Cullen was a passenger in the car.”
“The girl, is she alive?” His face went pale. He had so many questions, like who was driving and how the accident happened.
“Right now, she is in a coma. She suffered head trauma and serious damage to her legs.”
“But she’s going to be alright, isn’t she?”
“We’ll know more when she wakes up, but I’m afraid she may never walk again. You can go in and see him, but only for a few minutes.”
Joshua walked into the dimly lit room and saw his brother lying on the bed, his eyes closed. He walked slowly and quietly over to the bed so as not to wake him. He stared down at Brandon. His face was black and blue, he had a bandage on his head, and his ribs were wrapped up. Memories of Brandon as a young boy flooded his mind. He had been scrawny, his hair dark brown, but now he had muscles and had become a handsome man.
Brandon’s eyes opened, and seeing Joshua, he tried to smile. “Hey, brother, you came.”
He leaned over. “Of course I came. How are you feeling?”
“Like shit.”
“The doctor said you only have a couple of broken ribs and a mild concussion. You’re going to be up in no time. I hear you’ll be released tomorrow. Now, what’s this I hear about you wanting to die?”
“Oh, that was nothing. I was feeling sorry for myself.”
“Can you tell me about the accident?” Joshua asked, curious as to why Brandon hadn’t asked how the girl that was with him was doing.
“It’s all a blur right now. I don’t remember how it happened.”
“OK, what about the girl who was with you? Who is she?”
“She's my girlfriend, and we have been living together for almost a year now.”
“Do you know how she’s doing?” Joshua asked him.
Brandon was quiet for a few minutes. “No one’s told me.” He looked at Joshua. “Have you heard how she’s doing?”
“She’s in terrible shape. Right now she’s in a coma, and I was told she may never walk again.”
“Are you serious? That sucks.”
Joshua was shocked by his remark; it sounded cold and without feeling. Most men would be asking how their girlfriend was doing and demanding to see them. But Brandon acted as if he didn’t care. He chalked it up to his brother being in shock, and once it hit him, he’d be overcome with grief. “I have to leave now, but I’ll be back tomorrow to take you to your place. Get some rest and take it easy.”
“Thanks,” Brandon answered, and his eyes closed.
Leaving his brother, he decided to take a peek into Celina’s room. He had to admit he was curious about the woman. He had no idea Brandon had a girlfriend, much less lived with her. It was never mentioned in any of their conversations. There were only a few minutes left before visiting hours ended, so he had to hurry.
Finding the room she was in, he entered. He could see a body hooked up to machines, lying still in the bed. He moved closer to the bed and looked down at the woman. She had brown hair with blonde highlights. Even in her condition, he thought she was gorgeous. He stared down at her pale face and felt a pang of sadness for the girl. He moved a strand of hair from her face that was covered in bruises, and her lips were puffed and swollen.
He turned his head sharply towards the door when it opened, and a nurse stuck her head in and told him he had to leave as visiting hours were over. Nodding his head, he took one more look at the woman and left the room. Tired and hungry, he took a cab to his hotel, and there he ordered room service. After a quick shower and having eaten, he got into bed. He couldn’t get the girl out of his head. What puzzled him the most was Brandon’s reaction to hearing that his girlfriend might never walk again.
He woke early and had breakfast in the hotel dining room. He then took a cab back to the hospital to pick Brandon up and make sure he got home all right. Depending on how Brandon could manage on his own, he would decide whether to go back home or stay a few days. If he stayed, he would rent a car instead of taking cabs.
Arriving at the hospital, he was shocked and angry to learn that Brandon had checked out and already left. His brother knew he was coming to take him home.
“How is the girl doing?” he asked the doctor.
“Miss Cullen’s vital signs are improving; we expect that she will be waking up soon. It would be nice if there were someone by her side when she does.”
“Does she have anyone besides my brother? Her parents or a sibling.”
“Our records show she has no living relatives.”
Joshua ran his hand through his hair. He was furious with Brandon; the least he could have done was stick around until she woke from the coma.
“I’m going to find my brother and bring him back. Here is my cell number, if she wakes up call me.” He handed the doctor a card bearing his name and number. He then walked out into the cold, damp morning, thankful that it had stopped raining. Hailing a cab, he got in and sat back. He was curious why Brandon had left the hospital, and from what he was told, his brother had never even asked about her condition.
