“How dare you!”
“Whaaa?” he slurred. “Little Bird, what you doing here?”
“Saving your ass. You put this before us. Why?”
He smiled goofily. “To get us here faster.”
“Where’s here?”
“To the end of the line. You’re so much better off on your own.”
The words made her ache. “How could you even think that?”
“Just like my mom woulda been better and Monster. Not gonna ruin you too.”
“Oh, hell no, it’s not that easy between us. You think you get to steal my heart, bring me to life, tell me we’re forever and then cop out? You need help and that’s what you’re going to get wither you want it or not!”
“What are you talking about?” he snapped.
“Monster.” She stepped back and his brother took her place.
“You’re going to dry out and see someone about this fucked up head space you’ve got. I let it go on for far too long.”
Pan snickered. “You and what army?”
“This one,” Demon added his presence.
Pan’s face paled. “D—demon what?”
“You’re no good to anyone like this. I tried to give you a chance to get yourself together.
But I see now, you can’t do it on your own. I am my brother’s keeper and that means if you’re weak…I’m weak. You’re broken; then I need to fix you. Monster, get his left side.” Demon grabbed his right. “As your President, I’m ordering your ass to rehab and counseling. You got shit in your head that’s eating you from the inside out. When it starts to affect everything around you…it becomes my problem and we all know how I feel about that.”
“What? No you can’t do this!” Pan yelled.
His anguished cried gutted her.
“You fucking bitch. You had no right. You ain't even my ole lady.”
“Shut the fuck up!” Monster roared.
She understood addiction was the devil’s tongue. It made people say things they didn’t mean and wouldn’t remember. Crossing her arms over her waist, she reminded herself this was the right course of action to take.
Chase walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You did the right thing,
girl.”
“Then why does it feel so wrong?”
“Because no one likes to see the one they love in pain. Come on, let’s get out of here. I think a change of scenery and some food could do you good.”
“Yeah,” she whispered, allowing herself to be lead off. The sound of Pans ramblings would forever be etched in her brain. Please tell me I got him the help he needed soon enough. Let this take. She was counting on his love for her and the counselors at Arbor Heights to heal what was raw and bleeding inside him. I’ve done all I can. Now, the rest is up to him. She chanted the words of her therapist in her mind as she walked out into the sunlight. Not even the ninety-degree weather could take away the chill that had settled into her bones. It would be a hellishly long ninety days.
“I’ll drive,” Chase said. She hit the FOB and opened her door. Like a puppet, Lark entered the passenger seat and stared after the black SUV that took Pan away. Chase fastened her seatbelt. The click of the buckle brought her back to the present.
“It’s okay. I don’t expect you to spill your guts. I just don’t think you should be alone.”
Chase patted her shoulder.