Chapter 32 Arran
ARRAN
Brodan stared belligerently at Lachlan, quite a feat considering how knackered he was. I had Arro, still in her wedding dress, tucked into my side as Lachlan glowered down at our brother. Thane stood behind Lachlan, arms crossed over his chest, wearing an equally pissed-off expression.
Mac was outside the private hospital room in the nearby waiting area with Regan, Robyn, Ery, and the kids.
“It was nothing,” Brodan insisted.
Lachlan looked like he was ready to pop a vein, and I didn’t blame him. “You’re on a fucking drip because you just collapsed from exhaustion at your siblings’ weddings.”
“And I’ll feel better soon.” Brodan looked between Thane and Arro. “I’m sorry I ruined your reception.”
“You didn’t—”
Thane cut Arro off. “You didn’t ruin the reception, but you are ruining our peace of mind. What the hell is going on with you, Brodan?”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on with him.” Lachlan looked at us and then back to Brodan. “I’ve had a word with your manager and your agent, and your manager is running you ragged. He’s a soul-sucking vampire, and your agent is a weak arsehole for not speaking up.”
Brodan sighed heavily. “I’m a big boy. I can handle the work.”
“He says from a hospital bed. Well, it’s done. I fired your manager an hour ago.”
Whoa.
“You did what?” Bro asked, his voice lethally quiet.
Our big brother didn’t even flinch. “You heard me. I’m your temporary new manager, and my first order of business is to clear your schedule for the next few months so you can recuperate.”
“You high-handed bastard,” Brodan snapped.
“Aye, I’ll take on that role. I’ll be the bastard. But at least my wee brother will be looked after.”
Brodan moved to get off the bed, and Arro rushed forward to press a hand to his chest. “Please,” she begged.
His eyes widened at her tear-filled plea, and he softened. “I’m fine, Arro.”
She shook her head. “You’re not fine.”
“This isn’t just about today,” Thane added. “You’ve been avoiding this family for over a year. Acting cagey. Distant. It isn’t like you. Christ, it’s like you and Arran switched personalities.”
“Hey,” I grumbled.
Brodan shot me a pleading look, but I was with my brothers and sister on this one. I was worried as hell about Bro. He must have seen that on my face because he slumped back against the stiff pillow. “I have to finish the film I’m in the middle of.”
Lachlan considered this. “Fine. You finish the film, and then you come home to recuperate afterward.”
“Lachlan—”
“Brodan, you’ve made more money in the last few years than anyone needs. And to be frank, some of these films you’ve signed on to in the coming months have awful scripts. You’ve not been paying attention to what that fucking manager has been agreeing to, have you?”
“And how do you know? You can’t possibly have read the scripts in the two hours since I passed out.”
Our big brother at once looked a little guilty. “I might have talked to your agent a few weeks ago and persuaded him to let me see them.”
“Then you might as well fire him too.” Brodan glared. “You do realize I’m a grown fucking man.”
“Who has changed before his family’s eyes in the last few years, and we don’t know why.
What I do know is that you’ve been on some kamikaze mission to work yourself into an early grave, and it stops now.
I don’t care how old you are. I am the head of this family.
You could be seven, thirty-seven, or seventy-seven, and I would still be here to pull your head out of your arse when necessary. ”
“Oh, Christ, whatever.” Brodan closed his eyes and sagged into the bed.
I didn’t want to piss off Lachlan even more, but I felt bad for Bro. “Maybe we can finish this discussion once he’s not in the hospital?”
Everyone reluctantly filed out of the room, leaving me and Brodan alone. I sat on the chair next to his bed and drew it closer.
He opened his eyes. “You know I’m just playing along. There’s no way I’m letting that son of a bitch take over my life. Once I’m out of here, it’s back to filming.”
“Don’t call him a son of a bitch.”
Brodan winced. “Sorry.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.” Mostly because I knew there was no way Lachlan wouldn’t follow through on trying to manage Brodan’s life and yank him out of the crazy schedule.
I trusted Lachlan to take care of our brother.
“But can I ask why you’re so set on doing this when you’re clearly miserable? I’ve never seen you this unhappy.”
He looked up at the ceiling. “I’m fine.”
My frustration grew. “You know everything about me. I trusted you with that. Why can’t you trust me?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“So, there is something going on that I should be concerned about?”
“Nothing’s going on. I’m fine.”
Angry, I pushed out of my chair. “When you want to talk, I’ll be here. But I will not sit and take it while you lie to me.”
“That,” he snapped. “That is why I can’t be here.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll all pester the fuck out of me to talk when there’s nothing to talk about.”
Lies.
But his words halted me in my tracks. “Okay. What if I could guarantee none of us would do that … would you come home?”
“Lachlan can’t help himself.”
“Lachlan, believe it or not, is pretty preoccupied by his pregnant wife at the moment and will be even more so when the baby arrives. Same for Mac and Arro. The kids keep Thane busy. And you’re missing it all, Bro.
For shit that I can tell doesn’t even make you that happy anymore.
I think you miss us as much as we miss you. ”
Emotion glimmered in his eyes, and he swallowed hard. “Of course, I miss you all.”
“Then come home. I will talk to the others, and I will make sure they know pestering or interrogating you is not on the menu.”
He sighed heavily again. “It’s not that simple. Lachlan is making it out like it’s simple, but I can’t just walk away from films I’ve signed on for.”
“Aye, you can. It happens all the time.”
Brodan scrubbed a hand over his face and admitted quietly, “I am so bloody tired.”
“Then come home.”
After what felt like the longest minute ever, he gave me a wee nod. “I’ll think about it. I promise.”
I nodded at Brodan’s bodyguard, Walker, who stood outside my brother’s private room with another bodyguard I didn’t recognize.
After a quick huddle with my siblings in the waiting room where I explained what I’d promised, they reluctantly agreed that they wouldn’t push Brodan away by pressing too hard to know what was going on with him.
“Maybe being home will make him naturally want to confide in you,” Ery offered quietly.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Regan agreed.
“Fine.” Lachlan nodded. “I’ll back off. Unless he doesn’t come home after this job, and then I will physically haul him back. Or my security team will.”
Robyn rolled her eyes. “You can’t force him to do something he doesn’t want to do.”
“Aye, I bloody can.”
“When are they discharging him?” Mac asked. He held Eilidh in his arms, and she’d fallen asleep. Lewis dozed on a dull vinyl chair beside us.
“A few hours. You guys go.” Lachlan waved them off and reached for a sleepy Eilidh. “Go enjoy your wedding night. Robyn and I have the kids.”
“And I’ll stay here,” I said. “I’ll make sure Brodan gets home.”
“I’ll stay with you.” Ery caressed my arm.
“You sure?”
“Of course.”
I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close. She wore my kilt jacket over her flimsy bridesmaid gown.
We walked our family out of the hospital. I felt like shit for the newly wedded couples for how their big day had ended, but I imagined Brodan felt worse. Thankfully, both couples had booked honeymoons later in the year, so they wouldn’t have to fly out tonight worrying about Bro.
I stood off to the side as Ery hugged Arro for a long time, and my phone vibrated in the sporran attached over my kilt. Pulling it out, my pulse skittered upon seeing the email notification. I tapped it, and the email opened.
Told you I hadn’t forgotten about you. And now I see you’ve found yourself a girl. Eredine. Such a pretty name. I’d like to get to know her better.
Fuck.
Fuck. Fuck.
Hands shaking with rage, I stalked across the car park to where Lachlan had just eased Eilidh into the back seat of an Ardnoch Range Rover. Drivers from the estate had arrived at the Gloaming to take us to the hospital, since we were all too drunk to drive.
I grabbed my brother’s arm after he closed the car door.
He frowned. “What is it?”
I showed him the email.
His expression darkened. “This is all we need.”
“I know.”
“Forward it to me. I’ll have Nylah look into it.” He glanced over at Ery, who was talking quietly with Regan now. “Maybe don’t tell her until I know more. No point worrying her until we have some solid information.”
“You think?”
“Ultimately, it’s up to you. But it’s been a long day, and she might not sleep if you show her that.”
I didn’t want to keep things from Ery or treat her like she was fragile. Yet part of me wondered if Lachlan was right. Maybe it was better to hold off telling her until we knew where the email came from. Damn it. “I won’t be able to let her out of my sight now.”
“Try not to act strange, or she’ll know something is up.” He clamped a hand on my shoulder. “Call me if you need me.”
“I will.” But I hoped to God I didn’t need to.