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“Do I know you, sweet thing?”
“I’m the woman who is in love with your brother.”
Michael sat beside her and took her hand in his. “Please, just listen to us for a second, Mitch.”
“In love.” Mitch scoffed and took a long pull of the beer. “My brother doesn’t fall in love. He wants you for two things, lady.” He held up two fingers. “Your pussy and your tits. I guess that’s three things, yeah?” He held up three fingers. “I’m sure he wouldn’t turn down any ass play if you let him. That’d make it four things.”
Michael felt his blood boil, but he kept it in check. “We’re in love, Mitch. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about.” His grip on Haize’s hand tightened. She was mainly there for support, and he was driving the conversation. “I want you to get some help, Mitch. Please. It’ll do you some good.”
“Help. What help are you talking about?” He averted his attention to Haize. “Brennans don’t fall in love. He’s not in love with you. He’s in love with the sex. And darlin’, I bet the sex is phenomenal with you. You look absolutely delicious.”
This time, Haize squeezed Michael’s hand, immediately reminding him to keep his cool and stay the course. “Rehab. There’s a good place in Alamogordo. They have an opening next week. We can get you in. It’s affordable and not too far from home.” Michael slid the pamphlet from his pocket and put it on the table between them.
Mitch grabbed the pamphlet and skimmed through it, flipping through the pages so quickly that there was no way he was reading anything. “Why do I need to get sober? I’m not on parole or anything. I’m just minding my own business.” He finished the beer and put the empty bottle on the table.
“It’s not about that, Mitch. It’s about making a good life for yourself. I want you to have a good life. I’ve gotten to witness for myself all the benefits of staying clean. I want that for you, too.”
“You only got sober because you had to. Because your ass got sent to prison and now you have to answer to a parole officer. You can’t honestly sit here and tell me you would’ve done that had you not had parole requirements. Be honest, Mikey.”
Michael considered the question for a moment. Mitch had brought it up before in one of their recent fights. Honesty was best, and Mitch could tell when he was lying. “You’re right. At first, I only did it because I had to. But I’m six months in, and I love how things are going. I’ve got a good woman right here by my side, supporting me. I have a son. I’ve had the custody hearing and I think I have a good shot. None of that would’ve been achievable if I hadn’t stayed sober.”
“Six more months on parole. Once you’re off paper with New Mexico, I bet you go straight back to at least drinking since you won’t have anyone to answer to.”
“I won’t have anyone to answer to, no, but I’ll sure have a lot to lose. Haize and Jace come to mind, and I am not gonna let it happen.”
Mitch scratched his head and held the pamphlet. “Seems like a boring life.”
“This seems like a lonely life.”
“I’ve got women over here every night. I ain’t lonely.”
Michael could see he wasn’t getting through to him, and it pained him to walk away feeling the intervention was a failure. “Consider it, Mitch. Please. I want you to be healthy. I want my brother back. And I’m sure you’d be a damn fine uncle to Jace. Consider that little boy and all the hell he’s been through in his first four years of life. We can break that cycle. We can make sure he never has to go through what we did. But I need you to help me with that, Mitch. I need you, man.”
Mitch held onto the pamphlet and closed his eyes. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” he said. “If I do it for anyone, it’ll be that boy of yours, Mikey. That’s one great thing you have done, and I don’t ever want him seeing what we did. Or being raped like you. I’m sure he’s seen enough with Marilyn.”
“He has. And we can stop it, Mitch. We can do that.”
Mitch nodded. “Okay. I’ll do it.”
Michael had to make sure he heard him correctly. “You will?”
“Yes. I’ll do it for that little boy of yours.”
Michael immediately pulled his brother into a tight hug. “I love you, brother. Thank you.”
“When do I leave?”
“Monday. I’ll make the phone calls to secure your spot,” Haize said. “We’re here for you, Mitch. I know you don’t know me, but I’m here for you, and I know Mikey isn’t going anywhere.”
“Monday. That seems so fast,” Mitch replied.
“Not fast enough. I wish we could get you there today.” Michael still held onto him, unwilling to let him go in fear that if he did, Mitch would change his mind.
“Monday,” Mitch repeated.
“Monday,” Michael said. “Thank you for saying yes.”
“Thank you for opening my eyes.”
