Page 53 of Tender Temptation

Finally, Jon pushes away from the table, signaling the end of the interrogation. “Approved. Now, don’t ever stand me up again.”

“Understood.” Relief floods through me and I vow never to drinkagain.

Two hours later, I’m back at my loft staring at the half-full bottle of Red Breast.

I manage to resist for a while, until the familiar self-loathing creeps into my head. Whispers of how I’m not good enough. How I’m bound to fail. The next thing I know, the bottle is empty.

Through my alcohol-infused haze, I hear the whir of the elevator.

Fuck. It’s bound to be Seamus. Or Brennan. Maybe even Connor. My brothers have been taking turns surprising me with “visits” to keep me from drinking. It doesn’t work, because I’m a stubborn motherfucker, but something about tonight feels different.

I want them to stop me because, God knows, I can’t seem to stop myself.

“Cillian!” Brennan’s voice booms as he storms into the living room.

Dragging myself to my feet, I stumble and knock the coffee table over. I manage to right myself to be shocked to my core. Da is here, standing next to my brother. Both of them look at me like I’m an alien.

“What the fuck do you want?” I slur, trying to push past them into the kitchen where a fresh bottle is waiting in the cupboard.

“Nope. We’re not doing this, Cillian.” Brennan follows me. “We’re here to end this once and for all.”

I roll my eyes. “Great. A family intervention.”

Da joins us. His presence is commanding, as always. My father’s been sober for a decade now and it’s clear he’s not here to play nice. “Sit down, Cillian.”

Ignoring him, I stagger to the cupboard to grab my last bottle. Brennan snatches it away, opens it and pours it down the sink.

“What the hell, Bren?” I snarl.

“We know. You missed an important meeting with the city.” Brennan’s voice is tight with frustration. “You’ve got a real problem. Do you understand how serious this is?”

“Of course I do.” I collapse onto the floor, my head pounding. I can’t go on. I know it. I have no control.

Da steps forward, his eyes bore into mine. “I know how you feel, son. It’s time to get help. It’s gone too far. It’s affecting everything. Your work, your relationships, your life.”

“I’ll stop,” I insist, but my voice lacks conviction.

“No, you won’t. Not on your own,” Brennan says. “This isn’t normal or healthy.”

“I don’t need your help.” I try to stand up but fall on my ass. “I can handle this.”

Da crouches down. “You’re not handling it, Cillian. You’re drowning. You’ve been home alone drinking a bottle of whisky every night. It’s time to face facts. I did and you can too.”

I look into his eyes, seeing the pain and concern there. It’s hard to argue with him, I know he’s right.

“I’m scared.” My voice breaks. “I don’t know how I got here.”

My father grips my shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. We’re here to help you before it’s too late.”

“We’re going to figure this out.” Brennan sits next to me. “We’ll find professional help.”

“No, I can’t go anywhere. The Bright Shipping job…” Panic rises in my chest. “Stan will never trust me again if he finds out.”

Da takes my hand in his. “We’ve got it covered. I’ll step in and take over while you’re gone. We’ll tell Stan you’re dealing with a medical issue and need some time off. He doesn’t need to know the details. I’m more than capable of filling in for as long as it takes. You’re more important to me than any job.”

I stare at them, my mind racing. The thought of rehab terrifies me, but the alternative is losing everything.I try to steady myself. “No, it’s too much trouble. I’m not going, I can handle this on my own.”

“No, you can’t.” Brennan is adamant. “You’re scared and you’re hurting. It’ll be okay. It’s time to focus your stubbornness and drive on yourself.”

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