Page 41 of Four Fiances & I

“I didn’t have time to call and left my phone in the car. Things progressed quicker than I thought they would, and time got away from me.”

“Are you going to tell me where you were? Or what you were doing?”

“There's no need, it’s sorted.” It’s like talking to a goddamn robot. He is giving nothing away, which is starting to get on my last nerve, and I have no doubt he knows it, too.

“How long are you going to keep doing this?” I ask, shaking my head in disappointment.

“I wasn’t aware I was doing anything.” There he goes again with that stubborn streak of his.

“You are well aware of what you are doing, and it needs to stop. Whatever is going on, you need to tell me. How can we help you when you shut us all out?”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Yes, you fucking do!” I snap, slamming both hands on his desk, and I lean against it, staring at my brother. “I know about the other buildings, Christian. I know that it hasn’t just been one vandalised but eight! I also know that something has got you so worked up you are letting Jaz down!”

“I am not letting her down!” he yells, jumping to his feet as he, too, slaps his hands on his desk and glares at me. “Everything I do is for her!”

“Except being here when she needs you the most!”

“I’m here now!” he states, standing tall and waving his hand towards the door. “I would be with her finding out what’s been going on if you hadn’t stopped me!” He shakes his head and starts marching towards the door.

“She doesn’t want you to know!” The second the words are out there, he stops in his tracks and frowns as if he had misheard.

“What?”

“She asked me to tell you that she doesn’t want to discuss what happened today. She doesn’t want to talk about the session or what caused her to have a breakdown.”

“What breakdown?” he asks as his eyes widen. Shit. I forgot he doesn’t know everything. He probably only knows that she was upset.

“Layton called after he brought her home to let me know she was really upset. He tried to call you, but you weren’t answering. I rushed back, and at first, we couldn’t find her, but then I found her in the sparring area. She was beating the shit out of a punchbag. She started shouting that she hated that bitch Carol before she broke down and screamed until her voice was gone. She then shut down completely.”

I watch as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts tapping it, looking for an email from her therapist.

“There isn’t a report to read,” I say, stepping forward.

“I’ve told him I want a report after each session!” he snaps and lifts his phone to his ear.

“She told him not to send one.” Christian stares at me before lowering the phone and ending the call. “She knows you get sent them as she has to agree to it; otherwise, it goes against client-therapist confidentiality.” I point out, taking another step towards him. “But today, she didn’t consent. She begged him not to send one, so he can’t.”

“Why would she do that?” I can see the pain on his face. “How can I help her if I don’t know what’s happening?”

“You help by letting her accept whatever she’s dealing with. All she’s asking is that we give her time, and we have to respect that.” Running my fingers through my hair, I let out a deep sigh and wish I could just go back upstairs and take all her pain and suffering away.

“Jazzy never asks us for anything. But she has asked us for this, and we have to give it to her, even if it’s the last thing we want to do. We have to give her the time she has asked for.”

Christian walks over to the sofa against the far wall and leans against it whilst rubbing his face. As he lowers his arm, I realise there are marks on his shirt.

“Is that your blood or someone else's?” I ask, nodding towards his arm. He looks at it and curses.

“Someone else’s,” he answers, unfastening the shirt and pulling it off. “It’s why I left. I was given a tip-off about who was behind the destruction. It all progressed quickly, and I ended up taking out the threat,” he explains, obviously realising he has no other choice but to tell me now.

“So it’s over? Whatever you have been dealing with on your own has finished?” He nods once before screwing the shirt into a ball. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

I look at my brother properly for the first time since he returned and see how tired he looks. Not just because he left early this morning, but like he hasn’t slept in weeks. His skin looks pale, and he has lost a little weight. All signs that he has been pushing himself too hard and dealing with more shit than he should have handled on his own.

“Because I was furious and wanted to deal with it myself. I wanted to ensure no one got near you guys or Jasmine. They made this personal, and I had to ensure I ended it.”

“I would have helped,” I point out, and a small smile appears on Christian’s face.

---