Page 79 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

“Nate, that’s enough,” I said again, my patience running razor thin. “You’re drunk, and you’re saying things you’ll regret. Let’s get you out of here before you do something even worse.”

He tried to jerk away from my hold, but I tightened my grip, keeping him steady. “I don’t need you to tell me what to do, Jaxon! She’s my sister. This ismybusiness.”

“You’re making it mine when you act like this,” I shot back, my voice like steel. “You’re too drunk to even know what you’re saying.”

“Nate, please,” Lila said again, her voice trembling. “Just stop.”

I didn’t wait for him to argue further. I nodded toward the ballroom door.

“Stay here, Lila,” I said, not taking my eyes off Nate. “I’ll handle this.”

Her hesitation was palpable, but eventually, she nodded.

“Okay,” she whispered.

I began steering Nate toward the exit, his drunken resistance nothing I couldn’t handle. He grumbled under his breath, still fuming, but he didn’t try to fight me this time.

Once we reached the front of the building, I flagged down one of the valet attendants.

“I need a car for him,” I said, my tone leaving no room for questions. “Now.”

The valet nodded quickly, disappearing to retrieve one of the town cars the event organizers had on standby for situations just like this.

“You’re so damn righteous, huh?” Nate muttered, his words slurring together. “Big, tough Jaxon, swooping in to save the day.”

I ignored him, keeping my grip on his arm. He was stumbling now, his anger giving way to exhaustion, though his mouth was still running. “You think you’re a hero or something? You don’t even know what’s going on between her and…”

“I know enough,” I interrupted sharply. “I know she’s your sister, and you’re supposed to protect her, not tear her down.”

The car pulled up, and I opened the door, practically shoving him inside.

He sat there, glaring up at me, but the fight in him was gone.

He looked more like a sulking child than the angry man from moments ago.

“I’ll have someone pick up your car in the morning,” I said, my voice firm. “Go home, Nate. Sleep it off.”

He didn’t respond, just muttered something under his breath as the driver pulled away, leaving me standing there in the cold.

I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. My heart was still pounding, the adrenaline from the confrontation making it hard to think straight. But when I turned back toward the garden, the only thought in my mind was Lila.

I found her where I’d left her, leaning against the stone railing. Her arms were wrapped around herself, and she was staring down at the ground, her expression distant and broken.

“Lila,” I said softly as I approached.

She looked up, and the pain in her eyes hit me like a punch to the gut.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said quietly. “He’s my brother.”

“I know,” I said, stopping a few feet away, giving her space. “But he was out of control, and he was hurting you. I wasn’t going to just stand there and let that happen.”

She let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping. “He doesn’t even know, Jaxon. About… everything. He doesn’t know what’s been going on, and he’s already so angry.”

I frowned, stepping closer. “Then why is he acting like this?”

She shook her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “Because he thinks I’m making a mess of my life. Again. And maybe he’s right.”

“Don’t say that,” I said firmly. I reached out, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. “You’re not making a mess, Lila. You’re figuring things out. That’s allowed.”

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