Chapter 7 #3
“We had a confrontation. He shattered the window in my truck, I hit him. And before you ask me what led to it, his drinking, shirking his responsibilities, his latest girlfriend draining his bank account, and the total disrespect he’s shown all of us since he found out Cristie is his mate.
I can’t have his behavior affecting the rest of the clan, and I will not have his choice of significant other on our property.
She’s not the type of person we want around this clan, and she’s not the type of person we can trust with our secrets.
And just to reiterate, I did threaten him with putting him out if he didn’t get his shit together, but I was hoping it would shock him into looking around and seeing the state of things.
Instead he said he was out. I’m sure there could have been better ways to handle it, but we were both angry and shit happened.
I do regret my part in it, but regardless, his behavior couldn’t be allowed to continue. ”
“Is he okay?” Analise asked.
“I don’t know, but I hope so. This morning I went to let Aunt Avaleigh and Uncle Daniel know what happened, and when I left, Uncle Daniel was going to look for him.”
“I’m sorry it came to this, too, but I appreciate you standing up for the rest of us it was affecting,” Kiernan said. “I didn’t expect it to make him leave, though. I feel bad about that.”
“Same,” Christian said.
“I would not have allowed anyone to continue with behavior that is disturbing the rest of our clan. He’s gotta show respect while he’s working through his shit, and he didn’t. Plain and simple. He’s the one who made the choice. I drew the line, he crossed it.”
“So now what?” Ronan asked.
“We move forward. Hopefully at some point, sooner rather than later, Remi will come back to us. He’ll always have a place here, in fact, his house will remain his house and waiting for him when he comes back.
I didn’t get you all here to tell you he’s ostracized or you can’t interact with him.
That’s bullshit. He’s family. He’s just not welcome to live among us while he’s showing his ass.
I brought you all together so I could just say it once and be done.
I’ll be honest with you. I’m not happy about it, but until he wants to be here, there’s nothing to be done for it,” Brandt said.
“But I will greatly appreciate none of you getting involved. Stay out of the subject of what’s going on between him and me.
Do not make things more difficult. You don’t have to ignore him, but do not make things worse. ”
“He was pretty vicious the last time I tried to talk to him,” Havoc said.
“He’s pretty resentful of those of us who have mates, since he doesn’t. Don’t take it personally,” Brandt said.
“I’m sorry to hear all this is happening,” Ronan said. “If there’s anything I can do from here, let me know. Hell, if you need me to come home and do something there, let me know.”
“Only thing I want you to do is to keep making the presidents list each semester. We’re proud of you,” Brandt said.
“Thank you,” Ronan said.
“Christian, same for you, nothing to be done by any of us that are here, so no reason for you to feel like you should be doing anything different than you are. Just keep doing you and we’ll see you later.”
“Oh, God, I’m gonna puke again,” Emmalyn mumbled as she got up and ran across the porch to Brandt’s front door. She threw the screen door wide and bolted inside.
“What? Who’s puking?” Christian asked.
“Emmalyn. She’s got a stomach bug,” Barron said, not looking anybody in the eye as he blatantly lied to them all.
“Lots of fluids, Barron. Not that sport drink crap. Go get her some of that Liquid IV mix you put in water. It’ll help,” Christian said.
“Will do,” Barron said.
“Anyway, y’all just keep doing what you’re doing. Hopefully Remi will be rejoining us soon, until then, he’s not clan.”
“I’m going to go see about Emmalyn,” Analise said. “I hope we get to see you soon, Christian and Addie.”
“We’ll be home for a couple of days in a few weeks.”
“You better find some time when I have this ruffian I’m carrying,” Tempest said.
Christian laughed. “Count on it!” he promised. “Y’all take care.” He disconnected the call on his end. Brandt picked up his phone and slid it into his back pocket.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to make it when you go in to labor, Tempest, but please, one of y’all call me so I can pretend to be a part of it,” Ronan said.
“You know I will,” Havoc promised.
“Good. Well, then on that note, I’ll talk to y’all later. I have a paper due on Molecular Robotics and DNA Transport in The Human Genome,” Ronan said.
“I don’t even know how to repeat what you just said,” Havoc grumbled.
“It’s okay, though, I do,” Ronan laughed. “I love y’all. See you soon.”
“Take care, Ronan,” Brandt said.
Havoc picked up his phone and made sure the call disconnected, before putting it down again.
“Where did that boy get his brains?” Barron asked.
“Don’t let him fool you,” Brandt said, pointing at Havoc, and then at Hellen, “or her either. They’re both just as intelligent as Ronan is. He’s just the only one that’s ever applied himself to make it work for him.”
Hellen winked at Brandt.
“Molecular what?” Havoc asked.
“See? He’s still faking it,” Brandt said.
“Well, if there’s nothing to add, we’re going to head back home,” Hellen said.
“You alright? You were very quiet for the whole thing,” Brandt said.
Hellen shrugged. “Yeah, I guess. But it doesn’t really matter if I’m not. It is what it is.” She stood and held her hand out to Lucien. He took her hand and stood to join her as they headed home. “Y’all let us know if anything changes, yeah?”
“Definitely,” Brandt said, watching them as they made their way down the steps leading from his raised porch looking over the river, to the ground below.
“Hellen?” Brandt said.
Hellen paused and looked up at Brandt.
“Don’t go try to save Remi. This is between me and him and the only thing that will happen if everybody else tries to get involved, is that it gets messier and messier.”
“Well, hell,” she said.
Brandt smirked at her. “It’ll be okay. Just let it lie.”
Emmalyn practically burst through the screen door with her head leaning back, her newly freshened wash cloth resting over her eyes as she lifted a corner of it to see where she was going. “Is that all?” she asked.
“I sure as hell hope so, what else did you want?” Havoc demanded.
“I want to go home. Can I go home?” she asked, looking at Brandt.
“Sure, y’all go ahead. Thanks for coming,” Brandt said.
“Let’s get you home, Em. Then I’ll run get you some of that IV drink stuff that Christian told us about.”
Emmalyn nodded and allowed Barron to support her and guide her down the stairs.
“Where is my mate?” Havoc asked.
“I’m pretty sure she’s cleaning up behind Emmalyn,” Brandt said.
“I’m gonna sit right here and wait patiently,” Havoc said, nodding to confirm his decision.