I tried my mom for the hundredth time when we came to another red light with the hospital in view. No one in my family had been reachable since I learned about my Dad and Great-Grandparents being hospitalized. I groaned when I got her voicemail for the hundredth time. Leaving her another message, I stared at the red light, willing it to change.

My heart raced as thoughts of my Dad, Gram Gram, and Granddad filled my mind. The more I thought, the worse I felt. I could feel my hand shaking uncontrollably while I struggled to breath through my nerves. My entire world faded when a dazed feeling overtook me.

Gabriella slipped her hand into mine. "Positive thoughts," She reminded me with a small smile.

I barely mustered a small smile through my anxiety. "I just need to know they're OK."

Gabriella squeezed my hand. "I get it."

We pulled up to the emergency room entrance, and I practically jumped out. I still had my hand in Gabriella's, and I was practically dragging her behind me. My friends were right behind me when I raced through the emergency entrance. Everyone started talking at once, and the receptionist raised her brow at us.

"Quite," The receptionist shouted over us and picked up the intercom. She pointed to Teagan, Gabriella, and Sharon and asked. "Why don't I start with you three since I will probably need less information? What seems to be the problem, and which Dr. Diaz should I page?"

Our jaws dropped, shocked at the receptionist's comment. If we didn't know any better, we'd say that she knew Teagan, Sharon, and Gabriella. But Sharon lives in L.A., and Gabriella and Teagan have no reason to spend more time at a hospital than necessary.

Sharon turned to Gabriella and looked like she was looking for a sign of sorts. Something was going on between them.

Gabriella stepped forward, clearing her throat. "We're fine, but if you could let Javy know that Jack's son Troy is here, we'd all really appreciate it."

The receptionist narrowed her brows together into a straight line. Confusion was written all over her face, trying to figure us out.

Eventually, she shrugged and hit the talk button on the intercom. "Dr. Javier Diaz, Teagan, Gabriella, and Sharon are here with Jack's son Troy." She repeated the page and turned back to us. "Will there be anything else?"

Teagan shook her head and pointed to a corner. "No, thanks. We'll wait over there."

We piled into the corner and huddled together. Taylor skipped the traditional dance, getting straight to the point. "Gabby, how do you know the receptionist? What aren't you telling us?"

Gabriella glanced back at the receptionist and opened her mouth to say something. But before anything could come out, someone approaching us in a lab coat cut her off.

Dr. Bridgette Diaz-Montez, I read when she stopped in front of us.

Again Diaz-Montez? Could there be a connection?

Dr. Diaz-Montez's face was all business, pointing to Teagan, Sharon, and Gabriella. "I need a quick private word."

The girls glanced at each other and slowly followed after her. I frowned, watching the girls whisper back and forth. More than anything, I wished I could hear what they were saying and know what was going on. All the secrets were getting tiring and did nothing good for my nerves.

"What are they whispering about," I wondered with a frustrated sigh. "Do you think it has to do with my dad or great-grandparents?"

Chad shrugged, "Who knows? Apparently, your ex lives on secrets, and we're not Teagan or Sharon, so we don't get to be part of her tight-in-circle."

"What if something is really wrong?"

Zeke placed a hand on my shoulder. "Relax. Remember, positive thoughts until you know for sure."

I nodded and repeated, "Right, positive thoughts."

The longer I watched the girls talk privately, the worse my stomach felt. I couldn't shake the bad feeling I got watching the girls talk. A sense of dread mixed with the concern and terror I already felt when Teagan and Sharon raced out of the emergency room after Dr. Diaz-Montez slipped Sharon something.

When Sharon and Teagan were out of sight, Gabriella and Dr. Diaz-Montez started heading back our way.

"Sorry about that," Dr. Diaz-Montez apologized with the slightest smile through her troubled expression. "So, Troy, your Dad, and Great-Grandparents are all in surgery right now. Why don't I bring you and your friends to the waiting area and see if I can get more information for you?"

"Thanks," I said with a nod.

Dr. Diaz-Montez clapped her hands together and waved for us to follow her. We shrugged and followed after her. Dr. Diaz-Montez must have been an athlete because keeping up with her was not easy. It actually took effort on our part, and Gabriella was the only one who didn't lag behind at all. It was almost like she knew where she was going. Like she had been here before.


I walked a little faster, catching up to Gabriella in the surgical waiting room. Sitting beside her, I slipped my hand into hers, asking, "Gabby, where did Teagan and Sharon go? What's wrong?"

Gabriella picked her head up. "I can only answer that if I was a doctor."

I rolled my eyes, trying not to show any amusement at Gabriella's attempt to cheer me up. Even if I did appreciate the thought. "What about Teagan and Sharon? You don't need a medical license to tell me where they went, do you?"

Gabriella chuckled with a shake of her head, sending a warm feeling through my body. She stopped, and her demeanor completely changed. "No, but there's something you need to know."

The seriousness she suddenly had about her sent a chill down my spine. "What is it," I whispered, not really sure I wanted to know.

She paused for a long beat, just staring at me. The longer she stared, the worse my sinking feeling got.

"Your mom and Braydon are detained down at the station right now. That's why you haven't been able to reach them," She whispered, "Your mom said that loan sharks were probably responsible for your Dad and Great-Grandparent's injuries."

I felt like all the air had been squeezed out of my lungs. Each breath I took was harder than the last.

Worry turned to instant shock for my friends. They all eyed me waiting for me to make my move, making me feel more than a little uncomfortable.

I was sure that I'd heard her wrong. My family members weren't criminals. They wouldn't break the law, and the police have no reason to suspect them of anything. There had to be a mistake.

"Are you sure," Jason asked.

"Positive," Gabriella answered without a second thought.

I shook my head, refusing to believe her, "No way. You're wrong."

Gabriella dropped her gaze, avoiding my eyes. "I'm not wrong. Inspector Gomez wouldn't lie to me, and he's the one who detained Braydon and your mom. Plus, he's tracking down your other siblings right now while Inspector Diaz-Montez is keeping an eye on Aspen and Sky. That's why Teagan and Sharon ran off. Sharon is the only one your mom trusts to help them, except Inspector Diaz-Montez. They're headed to the station to pick up your sister and niece, so Inspector Diaz-Montez can help Inspector Gomaz find your siblings before the loan sharks do."

Chad rolled his eyes, saying, "And why should we believe you?"

"I get why you're all skeptical, but what I told you is true. I have no reason to lie to you."

Anger and annoyance raged in me as she insisted her story was true. Reaching my boiling point, I explored in full fiery.

Letting go of her hand, I shot up, and all my pent-up emotions came erupting out. I started screaming with more than enough emotions to fill the room.

"You mean like how you had no reason to lie and cheat on me three years ago? Or how you kept Melody from me and everyone else for three years after ghosting your so call friends. Face it; you're nothing but a lying cheat that we can't trust even if we want to. Is Melody even my daughter, or did you and Javier already have something going on? Maybe that's why Javier and Melody have such a great relationship."

Tears started welling up through the hurt in her eyes. Closing her eyes, she dropped her gaze to the floor and avoided our looks. Her voice was shaky and barely above a whisper when she started explaining.

"I know I didn't handle my insecurity and fears in the best way, but I never cheated on you. Melody is your daughter, not Javy's. Javy and I have always been close; that's why he's so close to Melody, too."

Rolling my eyes in disbelief, I scoffed and continued to yell. "Is that why you two love each other so much, and he's in your tight exclusive circle while the rest of us gets strung along for the ride?

Gabriella shook her head, staring at me with tears in her eyes. "That's not true."

"I might have failed in our relationship and many other things. And matter how much I try to forget you, I probably will always love you, but there's one thing I won't ever fail at—my family. Because I can't; I can't fail to be there for my family too. If my family were in that much trouble financially, I would know and do everything I can to help fix it."

Reaching my breaking point, I accepted that I was a failure in general, and I let the tears I was struggling to hold back fall. No matter what I tried to do, I wouldn't succeed. I was naturally a failure, and I just had to accept it.

Needing some air, I dashed out of the surgical waiting room, ramming right into Dr. Diaz-Montez and Javier. I stumbled back with a groan as they did.

"Sorry," I apologized, wiping my tears while straightening myself.

"It's fine, it…." Javier's eyes grew twice their size, and he ran to Gabriella, wrapping her in a hug. "Are you OK? Why are you crying?"

I threw my hands in the air. "Yeah, clearly you two love each other, and there's nothing going on," I grumbled, turning to Dr. Diaz-Montez. "Are my Great-Grandparents and Dad OK?"

"Your Dad and Granddad are still in surgery, but your Gram Gram's surgery was just completed. They're getting ready to wheel her to the ICU now."

"Can I see them," I asked.

"It will be another thirty minutes or so before she can have visitors," Dr. Diaz-Montez replied, giving me a once-over. "But if you need to step out or something, we can find you when your Gram Gram can have visitors."

I mustered up the slightest smile. "Thanks, I really need some air."

She glanced around at each person in the room and then at me. "Go, we'll come find you."

I raced down the hall, through the hospital, until I burst through the double doors of the front entrance. The yard was empty except for the benches and trees. Still angry and frustrated, I let out the loudest scream I could. I finally stopped screaming and opened my eyes to see birds flying away and gray clouds rolling in.

Perfect weather to match my emotions, I thought, watching the gray rain clouds roll in as thunder sounded.