Page 38 of Irresistibly Wicked

Chapter Fourteen

IT TURNED OUT that even applying for a marriage license made them both break out in a cold sweat. At least Shauna wasn’t alone in her fear of holy nooserimony. The rest of the day passed in a flurry of phone calls and difficult conversations. They must have called a dozen rehab facilities. Every conversation carried the weight of hope, guilt—because even though she was doing this to help Brian, doing it behind his back felt like a betrayal—and eventually disappointment. Shauna had lost hope with each rejection.

They finally got lucky and found a rehab facility that was willing to admit Brian tonight. It was two hours away, but she’d drive for a whole frigging day if that was what it took to help him. Zander had spoken to Zeke, and as he’d expected, Brian had drugs in his pocket and had tried to do a hit when he’d woken up. He’d been furious when Zeke and Blaine had intervened, making sure he only did enough to get him through the next several hours, and he was even angrier that Shauna wasn’t there and the guys weren’t letting him out of their sight. She had no idea how his brothers handled that, but she was grateful they had. Zander was right. If she’d been there, she would never have been able to focus on finding a rehab center.

Now they were on their way to talk to Brian, and she was a nervous wreck, fidgeting with a rip in her jeans. Unable to focus past her worries, her gaze darted between the world speeding by and Zander behind the wheel. “I don’t want Brian to know you’re lending me the money for rehab.”

“Then he won’t,” he said with a small smile.

She gazed out the window again, worrying for the millionth time that she was asking too much of Zander. He’d been incredibly supportive, making calls, reassuring her that they wouldn’t give up, and telling her she was doing the right thing when the guilt pressed in. They’d gone over a hundred different ways the conversation could go with Brian, and he’d even made her lunch when she said she didn’t want anything. How he’d known she needed sustenance was beyond her, because she hadn’t even realized she was hungry until he’d asked her to take a bite for him, and then she couldn’t stop.

He turned down her street and reached across the cab of his truck to take her hand, drawing her eyes to him as he pulled over at the end of the street. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

“Yeah. I’m good,” she lied as convincingly as she could.

“You were humming your strength song just now. Do you want to talk some more about what you’re going to say or how he might respond? Or take a few minutes before we see him?”

She hadn’t realized she was humming and was surprised he’d remembered what she’d said about that song. “I’d like to skip this part altogether and have him miraculously be sober and off drugs and past the hard parts, but that’s not going to happen.”

“I can talk to him so you don’t have to,” Zander offered for the dozenth time.

“Thanks, but you know it has to be me. Let’s get it over with.”

He kept hold of her hand as they drove the rest of the way down the road to the cottage. When he cut the engine, he said, “I don’t want you alone with him. I don’t trust him not to get violent again.”

She didn’t either, but she knew if Zander was in the room, she’d never get through to Brian. “He’s not going to open up to me with you or your brothers in the room.”

“My brothers are taking off after we get there, but I’m not leaving you alone with him.”

“Then he won’t talk to me,” she said, frustrated. “I know you’re worried, and I appreciate that more than you can imagine, but can’t you wait on the porch or something?”

His jaw clenched. “Fine, but only if the door stays open so I can hear if there’s trouble.”

A thread of relief wound through her, but hell if it wasn’t chased by guilt. “Okay.”

He tightened his grip on her hand, leaning closer. “This is going to suck. It’ll probably be one of the hardest things you’ve ever done, but you’re doing the right thing by helping him. That said, if it gets to be too much or you feel unsafe, you get the fuck out of there or just say my name, and I’ll be inside before you take your next breath. Got it?”

A lump formed in her throat. She didn’t even want to think about that happening, but she knew she had to, and she nodded.

He climbed out of the truck and was opening her door to help her out before she could do it herself. As they headed up the walk, the front door flew open and Brian charged out hollering, “Finally! Where the hell have you been?”

Zeke and Blaine were on his heels, and as they grabbed his arms, Zander stepped in front of Shauna, an immovable barrier, shoulders back, chest out. As Brian shouted and cursed, Zander said, “Let ’im go.”

Blaine and Zeke shot Zander dark looks that said, Are you fucking crazy? Shauna was wondering the same thing.

Zander nodded curtly, staring down Brian as they released him. Brian hollered at them about never touching him again, and Zander spoke over him in a voice so lethally calm, it gave Shauna shivers. “If you want to speak to Shauna, you’ll shut your mouth and listen to what I have to say.”

“The fuck I—”

Zander’s hand flew out like a snake striking, snagging the front of Brian’s shirt and lifting him off his feet. “If I have to tell you to listen one more time, Shauna leaves. Got it?”

Shauna held her breath.

Brian looked at her. The desperation in his eyes was palpable, bringing rise to more strangulating guilt. But she and Zander had talked about this. She knew the only way to get Brian to agree to go to rehab was if he believed he’d lose the thing he cared about most. Her.

“I will leave,” she said, fighting the urge to add, I’m sorry.

“Here’s how this is going to work,” Zander said as he lowered Brian to his feet, still clutching his shirt. “You two are going to talk—”