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He was sprawled on the sofa, one arm flung over his face to shield him from the offensive sunlight, when he heard the hammering noise.
Groaning, he turned his head away. No. Not again.
The pounding continued, louder this time. “Trent!” A voice accompanied the clamor.
Trenton squeezed his eyes shut, determined to block out the sound.
“Dammit, Trenton, let me in!”
Dustin.
The reality penetrated at last, and Trenton raised his head, opening his eyes a crack. What was his brother doing at Spraystone?
“Trent, I’m not going away. So I suggest you unlock this door.”
Staggering to his feet, Trenton steadied himself, then weaved his way down the hallway. After three attempts, he jerked open the door. “Dustin?” He leaned against the wall for support, focusing, with great difficulty, on his brother’s anxious face.
It took Dustin a full minute to size up the extent of Trenton’s deterioration, and ten seconds to plan his own strategy. Then he acted, cursing under his breath and stomping into the house. “You’re a stupid, bloody fool, do you know that?” he demanded. Without waiting for an answer, he seized Trenton’s arm, propelling him down the hall and into the sitting room. “Wait here.” He maneuvered his swaying brother into an armchair, then disappeared into the kitchen.
Trenton wasn’t certain how much time passed before Dustin returned, shoving a steaming cup of coffee into his hands. “Drink this,” he ordered.
Blindly, Trenton took a swallow, then began to cough violently. “What the hell is this?”
“Strong black coffee. Just the right medicine for a reckless idiot who’s drunk himself into oblivion.”
“I have reason to.”
“You have better reason not to. And that reason is waiting for you at Broddington, worried sick over your state of mind.”
Trenton stared bitterly into the dark brew. “Ariana deserves better. And I have no mind. I lost it years ago … if I ever had it at all.”
“Your mind is intact. It’s your judgment that’s lacking.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking—”
“I know precisely what I’m talking about. And I have every intention of discussing it with you … when you’re sober. So hurry up and down that coffee. There’s a whole potful in the kitchen. And you’re going to consume every last drop.”
Trenton narrowed bloodshot eyes on his brother. “Dustin …”
“Drink. Before I pour it down your throat.”
In no condition for an argument, Trenton complied, gulping down the intolerably strong coffee until his stomach lurched, his eyes watered—and his head cleared.
“Good. Now we can talk.” Satisfied with the results of his labor, Dustin stretched his arms across the back of the sofa. “Why are you doing this to yourself?”
“Because I’m crazy. But if you’ve seen Ariana, I presume you already know that.”
“You’re no more crazy than I. And yes, I’ve seen Ariana. I don’t know what you’ve ever done to deserve that exceptional young woman’s love. But you have it. So why are you hurting her like this?”
Trenton rubbed the back of his neck. “Did Ariana tell you everything?”
“Yes. We’ve done nothing but wrack our brains trying to figure out who’s behind this monstrous plan.”
“Perhaps no one is behind it?
? no one, but Vanessa.”
“Vanessa’s dead, Trent.”
