Chapter 16: Killer Instinct

Cullen's PoV:

I stared at Gio's limp body as it lay on the hospital bed, she was connected to God knows how many tubes. I felt numb and ill seeing her like this. I had been awake for two days watching over her. The doctors said she probably wouldn't wake up for a another week. I tried to hang on, but I felt myself drifting. Immediately I jumped to my feet and started to pace the large hospital room.

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Kollin's PoV:

"Cullen stop. Just go home and get some sleep."I was getting annoyed with my brother and his stubbornness.

"No. I have to protect her."He looked exhausted, he had purplish black bags and his eyes looked bloodshot from lack of sleep.

"Some job you did of protecting her!"Aria's condescending tone, even triggered me.

"Ari. Stop."I said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"No. Cullen this is your fault! She got ran over by a car because of you!"I knew that once Aria started, even I wasn't going to be able to get her to stop.

"You can't even take care of yourself! Let alone another person!"Aria yelled, her tone growing in animosity.

"What do you want from me!"Cullen screamed.

"Just let her fucking go!"Aria screamed. "You should feel guilty about what you did! You claim to love her so much, but the truth is, if you really loved her you would have told her about Sapphire! You wouldn't have been such a pussy about she won't love me! If she was meant to love you then she would eventually love you no matter what!"Aria screamed at the top of her lungs.

I knew what was coming next, "Aria don't."the command sounded desperate.

"We all know what you did."Aria's voice went to a low whisper.

Cullen's left hand gripped his face, he looked like the perfect image of a tortured patient pulled right from an old insane asylum. He reached behind his back and aimed his gun at Aria.

"Cullen!"I yelled, pushing Aria behind me.

"He won't do it."Aria sounded so sure of herself as she stepped in front of me and walked closer to my brother.

"You're too much of a pussy."Aria was now chest to barrel.

The sound of the trigger being pulled echoed throughout the room.

But no gunshot. He pulled it again and again, yet nothing.

"I'm not stupid Cullen."Aria said pulling the mag out of her pocket.

"You little-"my brother started.

"Cullen."I glared at him.

"If you lay a hand on her. I'll kill you."My tone was murderous.

"I know..."He sighed, putting the gun back from where it came, Aria handed him the magazine.

"Don't test me Cullen Wolfgang."Aria spoke bitterly.

"Go get some sleep."I gestured to the pull out couch. This was a hospital on our payroll, so we got one of the nicest rooms.

Cullen begrudgingly went to the couch and didn't bother pulling it out, he just sat there, leaned his head on the arm and fell asleep.

Some time later, I watched as GioYanna's eyes fluttered open.

She looked at me sleepily. "Cullen.."her voice was weak and raspy.

"No. It's Kollin."I said gently, moving my head to indicate my brother sleeping on the couch, arms across his chest. "He never leaves, he wants to always be near you so he can protect you-"

Just like that GioYanna was unconscious again.