Page 131 of Savage Bosses

His words hurt, but I would never let him know it. Ashley appeared on the left side of me.

“He’s a mess.” She wailed. My brother was a lot to handle. I commended her for sticking around. My brother was incorrigible. The drinking and drugs increased when our parents died. Wes was spiraling and Ashley was trying hard to keep my brother from hurting himself and others.

That’s it. I grabbed him by the cuff of his shirt and yanked him off the stool. He struggles weakly. Pathetic. I drug him through the gyrating mob towards the exit. His mumbled protests were lost in the music. Ashley was trailing behind, trying to keep up with my long strides.

I stormed out of the club and into the night. I gulped lungfuls of the cool night air, willing myself to calm down before I did something truly stupid. I parked across the street in a lot that overcharged all the clubgoers in the neighborhood. Wes didn’t even blink as I shoved him into the passenger seat of my Land Rover. Ashley had already entered the back seat.

“You’re welcome, dumbass,” I growled as I slid into the driver’s seat. Wes was already passed out against the window. Useless. I peeled out of the lot, leaving Six Dimension behind. Maybe Monday he’ll show up to work on time for once. But I doubted it.

“Kyle. Thanks for coming. He was getting out of control. He was going to get kicked out if you didn’t come.”

“Where should I take him?”

“Home.”

“Are you going to stay with him?” I asked because my shit-faced brother needed supervision.

“Yes, I moved some of my stuff in. I don’t know if he told you.”

“No, he didn’t. But it’s fine. It’s a big house.”

“I feel like I have to be around to watch him. He’s been a mess since the burial.”

He was a mess long before that. “If he would go to rehab, you wouldn’t have to watch him.”

“He doesn’t listen to me. You’re probably the only person who could convince him to go to rehab.” Ashley surmised.

I didn’t know if that was true. I did know that I wasn’t forcing Wes. I promised our parents that I would look after him, but it’s getting more and more difficult. His antics were out of control. I was so busy looking after him I didn’t get to mourn my parents.

“Ashley, I don’t think he’ll listen to me. So you’re going to stay the night with him?”

“He didn’t drive to the club.”

“No, we took an Uber. He told me to dress up. I thought we were going to dinner, and we ended up here.”

Ashley should’ve dumped my brother years ago. I couldn’t understand how their relationship worked. He cheated on her, embarrassed her and used her. I wouldn’t be shocked if he physically pushed her around.

I was left in charge of all the properties, the company, and the money. I gave Wes an allowance disguised as a salary. Three years ago, my father sat me down and told me what to do if something happened to him. He told me how to care for my mother and brother. I was trying to honor my promise, but losing my mother wasn’t part of the deal.

I wasn’t ready to run the company on my own. But now I didn’t have a choice. Everything that was happening, I didn’t have control over.

I glanced over at my snoring brother. How long was he going to do this?

Thirty minutes later, I pulled into the driveway of my childhood home. I had to help Ashley get him out of the car and into the house.

The night started to play back in my mind. Why was Aerica out at a club? Why wasn’t she married? Why did I say all those mean things? While at a red light, I did a little self-reflection and came up with a reason for my behavior.

I didn’t want to admit it, but I was alone in my truck and alone with my thoughts. Shit, I was attracted to her. I summoned her to my office just so I could look at her. The curves of her body, her shiny hair and brown skin turned me on. I was the little boy that picked on the girl he liked. My quiet obsession with her now made more sense. Why was this happening to me, atthis time in my life?

Chapter Seven

AERICA

I

stood there motionless, as Kyle disappeared into the sea of people dancing in the center of the Sixth Dimension. The pulsing music and raucous laughter around me faded into the background when I locked eyes with Jordyn. I noticed she was coming in my direction.

Jordyn grabbed my arms. “I came looking for you because it was taking you so long. Who was that man standing with you?”

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