Page 30 of Irresistibly Wicked

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.

He gathered the empty cans and fished a picture of Shauna and Brian out from under the shattered glass on the floor. Their arms were slung around each other’s shoulders. A dainty gold bracelet with a dangling triangular charm shimmered on Shauna’s wrist. It was hard to believe the clean-cut, clear-eyed guy in the photo was the same unshaven, wasted man on the bed.

Every ounce of Zander wanted to judge him, to find him unworthy of Shauna. But he knew better, and the light in Shauna’s eyes in that photo told him he was doing the right thing.