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"I know." I nod. "Do they have anything on them?" It might sound like a stupid question, but I wouldn't put it past Allen to turn this into a dirty fight in order to get mom back in his grasp.
"Not that I saw."
"Okay. Let me go first. If things go bad, beat them over the head with a fucking frying pan for all I care. Just get my mom out of here."
Braden's body shakes with a silent, humourless laugh before he nods and places a hand on my shoulder. I push away from the wall and walk through the arch.
"Now, I really hope you didn't plan a family get-together without your favourite son." I almost let a contorted laugh slip past my lips when River turns to me. An expensive, tailored suit clings to his built body like a second skin. I guess he has steroids to thank for that. A guy who sniffs as much snow as he does shouldn't be thicker than a tree branch. His pupils are blown and I know that he's high.
"You wore a suit? What are you, a mafia leader or something?" I snort and tilt my head when Allen tries to take a step towards me. River shoves him back with his arm.
"Ah, perfect. The entire family's here, Mom." River scowls at me before turning to Mom and watching her expectantly as her eyes dart between her two sons. Two men who couldn't be more different if they tried. When she doesn’t speak he turns back to me, deciding to hit a nerve he knows will provoke a reaction from me. “Where’s that tight piece of ass you had with you last time? Gracie, right?”
My nostrils flare and anger licks my spine like a tongue swirling an ice cream cone. The thumping in my ears is deafening as my blood bubbles. I make out the pompous, stomach wringing smirk resting on River’s lips through the thick red mist painting my vision and stalk towards him, my lip curled back. My knuckles ache from how tightly my fists are clenched, biceps hard and rigid as I force them to stay by my sides.
“Oh,” he sighs, shoulders shrugging. Amusement dances in his dark eyes as he watches my face turn red. Our chests are only a few feet apart. “She left you, didn’t she? Went to find a real man to fuck her the way you couldn’t. Huh, maybe she’s at my door, waiting for my co—”
An animalistic snarl escapes me as I pull my arm back and swing. My knuckles burn and pain surges up my arm when I hit his mouth. River fumbles back, cursing under his breath before he’s spitting a bloodied tooth at my feet.
He reaches up and wipes at his mouth. The urge to snort becomes nearly overwhelming when he runs his tongue over the bare gum where his front tooth used to be.
He clicks his tongue. “Well, now look what you’ve done.”
“Don’t talk about her. You don’t deserve so much as to say her name,” I growl, my fist still curled at my side as if it’s waiting for another order. I almost give one before I hear Mom speak from behind me.
"Tyler."
I spin around instantly and narrow my eyes on Mom’s hunched figure. She struggles to speak and Brooks places a hand on her shoulder. My brows raise as confusion washes over me for a fleeting second before Allen opens his vile mouth.
"There’s no need for anymore bloodshed. We're just here to get your mom back, ain't that right, Riv?"
Scoffing, I tighten my sights on my brother. "You've got to be kidding, me. You can't seriously think that she's safe with him? Are you fucking blind? He hits her! She needs help!" I yell, turning to look back at Mom. "Tell him, Mom. Tell him how I found you laying on the bathroom floor bleeding and blown out your mind!"
My eyes pour into hers. They’re begging her to say something, to finally stand up for herself. To stand up for me. But she stays quiet, dropping her eyes to the floor and letting her tears splatter against the floor in unbearably loud silence. My throat closes, making me choke on the thin air around me as a heavy, unbearable weight pulverizes my chest. This can't be how her life is supposed to go. This isn't right. I need her. For the first fucking time in my life, I really need her. She's supposed to want to go to my wedding and change my kid's shitty diapers. I finally have a damn reason to think of my future with a feeling other than disgust and hatred. And she doesn't want to see it. She doesn't fucking care. She's supposed to want me. For once in her life, she's supposed to choose me, the one who's always been there to take care of her. But again, she's choosing the wrong people. The only difference this time is that I won't be there to fix her mistakes. Not anymore.
"Mom, please," I plead. Brooks looks at me with defeat in his eyes and drops my mom's arm to give her the chance to choose. A pained, unfamiliar noise escapes me when she moves to stand beside Allen. I can feel my heart shattering again as I watch her choose them over me for the last time.
"If that's all, then you need to get the fuck out of my house." Brooks's tone is brutally rough and distant as he moves towards me and paces a heavy hand on my shoulder. I want to shrug him off but I can't find the strength in me to do so. I just stand in place, numb.
"Gladly." River grins, ever-so-proud of himself, regardless of the hole in his smile. I drop my eyes, not being able to watch any longer when I see Allen pull Mom into his slimy grip and drag her with him.
"Tyler," she chokes. I feel a light pressure on my arm. I fight hard to keep my gaze locked on my shoes and push out a shaky breath when her hand drops to her side again. Allen spits something at me before leaving, but I can't make out the words as my mind goes blank. Brooks tries to rub my shoulder and talk to me but I block him out too and let my body slide down the wall behind me. I place my elbows on my knees and drop my head in my hands before the tears fall.
"Fuck!" I hear Braden shout and the familiar sound of a punch meeting drywall. The noise reminds me that he's still here.
"Go to their apartment and tell Gracie what happened. I need to talk to Tyler alone." It's Brook's that speaks now, I'm pretty sure.
"You sure? I can stay, dad."
"Go." The door slams shut a second later.
"Tyler." A hand rubs my back.
"It's just me. It's Brooks. Can you look at me?"
I pull my head up and turn to him. My vision is so blurred with tears that I can only vaguely make out the large shape of a man.
"You need to breathe, Tyler. In for three, out for three."
