Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
VALLIE
“We will spend the entire day together, Sweet Pea. All four of us. I promise. Just stay with Tyler while Donnie and I talk to Dexter,” I call over my shoulder as I trail Donnie down the corridor towards the office. “Calm down, Donnie.”
After last night’s encounter, we stayed in the cabin and tried to downplay the fact Dexter left without a word. We talked and fucked, but Donnie was dark. Dexter’s absence screamed his disapproval. He was not impressed for whatever reason.
With what? Us? Me?
“Let’s discuss this first before you just?—”
Donnie pushes open the door, storming in. “Do you have a problem with what you saw last night?”
“Barge in,” I finish, dry.
Dexter stares out the window with his back to us, an empty glass clutched in his hand. “You choked my little brother until he passed out like it was the most natural thing in the world. And then he just… woke up and cuddled.” His voice is void. He turns to face us, his expression one of guilt dressed in disdain. “Tyler needs help.”
Leaving was about Tyler…
Donnie goes very still. “Tyler has help.”
“Professional help.”
“He had professional help.” Donnie’s tone is so deep and dark it’s a deathly whisper. “Would you like to see his professional help? The reports and bills are in your cabinet, big brother.”
Dexter sets his glass down on the wooden desk, and I can’t help but stare at the empty glass, the bottom stained with a brown liquid.
God, I hope that’s not alcohol.
“Medication,” Dexter counters.
“You think he isn’t medicated.” Donnie chuckles, but it’s mirthless. Cold. Cruel. “This is him medicated. He is grounded. He knows what he wants. He knows who he is, who I am, right from wrong. This is Tyler at his fucking best.”
“This can’t be it.”
“Why?” Donnie barks. “Because he isn’t you? Because he seems broken? He is fucking broken! You can’t change him. It’s done! This is him, being him, happy and content and fucked up. We accept him. Like this.”
“I can’t accept that. He is special. Gifted.”
I exhale hard. My heart twists in my chest. Maybe I was a fool to think the four of us could be a family. What if this was a huge mistake? Tyler is settled. Molly is happy. What if Dexter admits Tyler into a hospital? Can he do that? Does he have any legal power over him?
My mind races.
Would he do that?
“That bitch broke his brain, Dexter! The pressure to be fucking Martha Argerich. The pressure broke our brother’s mind.” Donnie pumps his fist at his sides. “It doesn’t work in a normal way anymore. It’s on fire. A burning house. He gets triggered, he loses his way, and we bring him back. It is a constant. I have been doing this for over a decade. This, right now, is the best he has ever been!”
“He hasn’t cut himself for months,” I say, my voice shaking as I move further into the room. “Not since before we moved in here.” Dexter looks straight at me, blue eyes, stunning but hard. “He has an app. Five-months SH free,” I add. “He is playing piano. He told me he hasn’t played in years.”
“Baby Girl,” he gushes, soft for me. “I appreciate that you love him and that you enjoy him, but I swore to myself that I would be here, that I would help him now.”
“He is perfect the way he is,” I press.
“Help him!” Donnie growls, taking a step towards his big brother. I reach out and grab his forearm, stopping him from taking another. “If you push this” —he points at his chest— “if you push him, you will destroy him."
I tug on his arm. “Let’s go see Molly.” I try to redirect his fire-filled gaze and manage to get his shoulders to lower. “She will be missing her dad.”
Now is not the time.
Everyone is fuelled.
Tired. Raw.
“I don’t want to hurt him. I just want to help,” Dexter assures, but his tone still holds a weight of authority that churns my nerves. As though he believes the call is his, that he knows what is best. “I have three weeks to catch up on everything before the investors meet with me. I have a lot of work to do, I can’t…” His words trail to a rough sigh.
“Well”—reaching into his pocket, Donnie retrieves his cigarette packet like they are a tether for his temper— “like I said, brother. Take your time. Take the company. See the investors.” He draws out a cigarette and grits it between his teeth. “Sort out your life, your business, but Tyler is mine.”