Page 108 of Forgiving Fate

Chapter Forty

Wesley

Landon stares out thewindow, his face completely void of any emotions and his hands shaking at rapid speed.

Neither one of us has said anything since we left Cliff Haven early this morning and there is no need to. He is going to rehab whether he wants to or not. I will not lose my brother, nor will I let him be defeated by a liquid.

We lose too many souls every day in the line of work we do, and it will be a cold day in hell if I lose my brother.

Allie almost losing her life because of shark bait.

Landon almost losing his life to a cinnamon scented drink.

A cabin that served as a refuge for the women coming into our family, gone.

The underlying cause of everything being grown adults with god complexes brought on by someone telling them that their shit didn’t stink, not understanding that no means no.

My hands grip the steering wheel tighter and I have the urge to get my hands around someone’s neck to release the frustration dying to escape.

Not now. Soon.

The GPS on the screen hits the desired time frame that I deemed appropriate for Landon’s surprise, and I reach into the hidden compartment of my seat.

“Landon.”

His head slowly turns to look at me and his eyes go wide as he catches what’s in my hand.

“What is that?”

Not taking my eyes off the road, I say, “It’s a letter from Allie.”

He reaches over and tries to get it from me, but I simply block him with my arm resting on the center console. “No.”

“What do you mean, no? Give me the damn letter, Wes.”

I know his frustration is growing, but he will not receive this letter until he makes a promise that I will not allow him to break.

“You will get the letter when you make a promise and if broken, I will break both of your legs.”

He scrubs his hand down his face and faces me. “For fuck’s sake, Wes. What?”

Landon is my only brother that ignores my blatant threats while Noah and Gray challenge them. It keeps things interesting and entertaining.

“You will only receive this letter if you walk into that rehab center and do not step foot out until you feel like the man that we know you can and want to be. You will not run. You will not check yourself out early. You will complete the program and I will be the only one to have access to your care updates. When your therapist says you can go, that is when you can leave.” I pause to roll down the window and continue. “Promise now, or the letter goes out the window.”

“I promise! You already know I am choosing to go. I’m not being forced. I may have hit rock bottom at catastrophic speed, but I am aware enough to know that I need help and cannot keep using the people I care about to medicate.”

I nod and roll up the window.

“Good,” I say and hand over the letter that Allie asked me to give him under strict instructions that he tells me and my family the hard truth.

Landon takes the letter and stares at it like it’s about to grow arms and slap him in the face.

“We arrive in an hour until we get there. Take your time. She means every word and only wants what is best for you. Just like the rest of us do.”

Landon opens his mouth to speak but changes his mind, takes a deep breath, and opens the letter.

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