Chapter Twelve
ZANDER LAY IN bed staring up at the ceiling, one arm bent over his head, his other around Kitty, who was curled up beside him.
For the first time in forever, Kitty hadn’t followed him into the bedroom when he’d turned in for the night.
She’d sat outside Shauna’s closed door and had finally come to bed about an hour ago.
It was nearly two in the morning, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Shauna.
The more he got to know her, the more he dug her.
She was cool and smart and unafraid to give him shit.
He loved being around her, and talking with her was like talking to someone he’d known forever.
Only, when Shauna spoke, he wanted to hear every word she said.
How many times had he given his brothers and cousins shit about being so into a woman she was first and foremost in their minds at all times? And here he was spending hours trying to figure out what to do about Shauna’s situation with Brian.
He told himself that’s what friends did and went back to trying to figure out how to help her.
She loved Brian too much to walk away and let him fend for himself.
Not that Zander wanted her to. Zander lived by a code of honor, which included helping those who couldn’t help themselves.
Before she’d turned in for the night, he’d tried again to lend her the money for Brian’s rehab, but she was too proud to take him up on it. He’d have to find another way.
The sound of a car approaching too fast on the dead-end gravel street jerked him from his thoughts, propelling him to his feet and sending Kitty scampering off the bed.
He got to the window as the car fishtailed, headlights slicing through the darkness, tires screeching, sending gravel flying against the front of the house as the car crashed into the bushes.
What the hell?
Zander pulled on jeans, snagged his phone, and hauled ass out of his bedroom.
Shauna rushed out of her room in her sleeping shorts and a tank top, her eyes wide. “What was that?”
“A car crashed into the bushes. Stay here.”
As he headed for the front door, someone pounded on it and shouted, “Shauuuna! I know you’re in there!”
Shauna froze. Zander’s blood boiled as more pounding shattered the silence.
“Shaun…Talk to me!” Brian slurred. “Please!”
“How does he know you’re here?” Zander asked through gritted teeth.
“I don’t know,” she said anxiously. “I didn’t answer any of his texts.”
“I’ll take care of it.” He reached for the doorknob.
“No!” She tried to push past him. “This is my mess. I’ll handle it.”
“The last time you saw him, he put his hands on you.” His gaze dropped briefly to the bruises on her arms. “That’s never happening again.”
“I need to talk to him, Zander,” she insisted.
“Then you can do it from behind me.” He opened the door, hulking over Brian, who was swaying unsteadily on the front porch in a ripped T-shirt and jeans. His light brown hair stood on end, his eyes were wild and bloodshot, and he reeked of alcohol.
Zander set a dark stare on him. “Back the fuck off my porch.”
“Shaun…” Brian bobbed and swayed, trying to see around Zander. “Shauna.”
“I said back the fuck up.” Zander stepped onto the porch and kept going, forcing Brian to stumble down the steps.
“Shauna!” Brian hollered.
“Brian, stop it. I’m really worried about you.” Shauna’s voice was thick with restraint. “You could have killed yourself or someone else, and that scares me.”
Zander knew what she was doing, turning her anger into compassion, trying not to fuel his intoxicated demise with judgment, accusations, or blame, and he respected the hell out of her for it. He knew it must be killing her, and he wouldn’t have been so kind.
“I had to see you. You’re not answering my texts,” Brian whined.
“There’s a reason for that,” she snapped. “How did you find me?”
“That stupid tracking app you put on our phones. ’Member how I hated it?” Brian laugh-slurred, but his humor faded fast. “You can’t just disappear, Shauna. I need you. I can’t do this without you. Just…come home. Please.” He stumbled forward.
Zander blocked his way. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”
“Who are you?” Brian yelled, looking confused, like he hadn’t seen Zander standing there the whole time. “Is this who you’re with now, Shauna? He doesn’t know you! Not like I do, baby—”
“I’m not your baby,” Shauna seethed, but there was a thread of sadness woven in that twisted Zander up inside. “And I’m not with Zander, but I’m not safe with you anymore, and I am safe here.”
Zander stole a glance at her, the sadness in her eyes cutting him to his core.
“I’m sorry. I know I messed up, but…” Brian’s shoulders slumped, anger draining from his features.
“You can’t erase yourself from my life. Still waters or reckless tides, Shauna.
You’re my anchor. Remember?” He held shaky hands out, palms up, as if showing her something tangible.
“This is a reckless tide. I’ll drown without you. I don’t know how to be me without you.”
Zander clenched his teeth against the urge to tell him he’d done this to himself, and he wasn’t allowed to use mental manipulation on Shauna. But the heartache emanating from Brian had Zander biting his tongue, giving Shauna a chance to respond.
Silence stretched between them.
“I know you can’t do this alone.” Her voice was laden with sadness. “I want to help you, but I will not stand by and watch you ruin everything you worked so hard to become,” she said clearly, evenly, and with finality.
It was that finality that had Zander looking at her, checking on the cost of those words, and seeing a pillar of strength holding herself together during an earthquake that was rocking her to her core. Her hands were fisted, her eyes glassy, and her mouth tight.
“I’ll stop. I promise,” Brian pleaded, stepping toward her, but Zander stood his ground, an immovable wall between them. Brian shouted over Zander’s shoulder. “I love you, Shauna. Just give me a chance. Tell him…tell him you don’t need him! We’ve got this, Shauna. You and me against the world.”
“That’s enough,” Zander demanded. “Look at her arms.” He stepped to the side only far enough to clear Brian’s view of Shauna.
“See those bruises? You did that to her. That’s not love, man.
That’s abuse. The only reason you’re still standing is that Shauna loves you.
” He paused, letting it sink in. Regret rose in Brian’s eyes.
“And the rest of this shit? Driving drunk and putting innocent lives in danger? Crashing into my bushes and trying to blame her—the woman who has stood by you and has been trying to help you turn your life around for months—for your sorry ass? That’s not right, man, and I don’t think that’s who you want to be. ”
“I didn’t mean…” Brian looked pleadingly at Shauna. “I’m sorry.”
“You want it to be you and Shauna against the world again?” Zander said, bringing Brian’s eyes back to him. “Then get help. I’ll even help you get that help, but I’ll be damned if I’ll ever let you near her again until you do.” He held out his hand. “Give me your keys.”
“I’m not giving you my keys!”
Zander stepped closer. “Either you give me your keys, or I will call the cops right now and put your ass in jail.”
“You gonna let him do this, Shauna? Is this what you want? Me in jail?” Brian spat.
“This isn’t about what she wants. This is about what has to happen to keep her safe.” Zander reached for his phone.
“Fine. Don’t call the fucking police,” Brian snapped. “My keys are in the car.”
Zander grabbed his arm and turned to Shauna.
“Get the hell off me!” Brian tried to yank his arm free.
Zander tightened his grip, glowering at him. “Shut your mouth. I’m driving you home so you can sleep off whatever shit is in your system.” He glanced at Shauna. “My keys are on the kitchen counter. Take my truck. We’ll meet you at your place.”
He didn’t wait for a response as he dragged Brian over to his car and put him in the passenger seat. The floor was littered with empty liquor bottles and beer cans. “Put your fucking seat belt on.”
Zander locked the door, and as he went around the driver’s side, he saw Shauna watching them. He climbed behind the wheel and cranked the engine. Thankfully, the car still ran, though the bumper was crunched.
He glanced in the rearview as he drove away and saw Shauna heading inside.
“You think she needs you,” Brian sneered, his words sharp with fury. “But you don’t even know her.”
Zander didn’t respond until he stopped at a red light. Then he looked at him and said, “That’s the difference between you and me. I know that strong woman back there doesn’t need anyone. She’s saved her own ass more times than anyone should ever have to. You’re damn lucky she wants to save yours.”
Brian’s face crumpled, the fire in his eyes doused by tears. “I know,” trembled out. “I love her, man. You have to believe me. She’s all I have.”
That was the problem. Zander believed him on both accounts.
Brian was a weepy mess the whole way to his and Shauna’s house.
Zander hauled his ass inside and into his bedroom, taking in empty bottles on the bed and dresser, shattered glass and a broken picture frame on the floor, and on the nightstand, a mirror, filthy with fingerprints and drug dust, the smudged remnants of lines still evident beneath the snorter straw.
It made him sick to think Shauna had to deal with that.
He got Brian to lie down, and as he began picking up the mess, Brian mumbled apologies meant for Shauna.
Zander was about to toss the mirror and straw into the trash can, when he thought better of it.
If Brian was using daily, he’d be out-of-control needing a hit when he woke up.
Zander would have to deal with that later.
Right now he wanted to get this place cleaned up before Shauna got there.