Page 27 of The Passion

I need answers, and I need them now.

“How did this happen!” Those are the first words out of my mouth as the office door closes, and I’m looking for something to hit or throw.

“Just breathe, man, we need to think clearly and put in place everything we prepared. We knew this day would happen, if we’re all being honest.” Nic puts his hand on my shoulders to try to calm me.

“No! It shouldn’t have happened. You were fixing it. You were all fucking fixing it. I promised I’d protect her…” I reach for my phone that I dropped onto Rem’s desk when he fired up his computer so we could all see what was going on.

“Don’t even think about that shit. You are not calling her just yet. And you can cut the bullshit. Her father fucked this up for you both, and we all know that. The moment he paid off that blackmailer we knew this would happen one day. Now that it has, we can’t change that, so sit the fuck down and help us to do the best damage control we can.” Rem’s fingers are working ferociously on the keyboard as he yells at me, not looking up at me for even a second.

Forrest takes the phone out of my hand, and the look in his eyes is one of pure anger, and I know it’s not at me. This is the face of a big brother trying to figure out how he is going to shoulder my pain for me.

His hands land on my shoulders and push me back a few steps until I feel the back of my legs hit the chair, and the pressure from him makes me sit even though I don’t want to.

So many emotions are racing through my body, and I don’t know how to control any of it.

For the first time in my life, I feel completely hopeless and like I have been punched so hard in the gut that I can’t breathe or function in this state.

“I just need to protect her,” is all I can say.

“And we need to protect you.” Forrest is now crouching in front of me, concentrating on talking to me in a calming tone.

“I don’t care about me.” And I don’t, people already think they know who I am and what sort of reputation I have constructed. But she doesn’t deserve this.

“Maybe so, but we do, and you know the way it works. We have each other’s backs, and right now it’s yours we are covering. Bare ass and all.” He has the smallest of smirks on his face, waiting for my reaction. “What, too soon? Come on, you have to admit it was funny… even for me.” Standing up in front of me again, I look up him and give him the answer he is hanging on for.

“Yeah, for you, that was actually okay.” I push myself up out of the seat because I know I can’t sit here but wrap my arms around him. And the feeling of his strong arms around me too is what I needed right in this moment. Nothing feels as comforting as your big brother when you need him.

“Thanks, Bro, you’re always here when I fuck up.” And he is.

“It’s a full-time job.” There it is again, his attempt at humor, and I have to hand it to him, he is kind of nailing it today.

“Asshole.”

“I want the whole security team and PR department in the office in twenty minutes.” Nic’s deep voice turns my attention tohim and Rem at the desk where they are coordinating the fix-Flynn’s-fucked-up-life crisis plan.

“Right, Flynn, you’re with me, we will get your car back to your place later. Let’s go.” Rem has his bag over his shoulder, and there is no mistaking he is in full work mode now. There is something comforting knowing this man is on my side, because I wouldn’t like to be someone who pisses him off.

Walking out to the car, I can’t even face the girls, I feel too ashamed. And these are my friends. How am I going to look at my parents?

Looking across to Forrest as we are about to get into separate cars, I say, “Call Mum and Dad and tell them not to open it… please.” I’m almost begging him to do my dirty work.

“On it,” he replies as he jumps in his BMW and the engine roars to life.

Thank God I don’t have to talk on the trip to the office because Rem has his earpiece in and is taking phone call after phone call from his team, and I don’t want to be a part of those discussions right now.

But what I can’t do is stop from worrying about Felisha, and I don’t give a toss what they say.

Opening up the text message thread and looking at the last message from her, it reminds me how she told me in her stern words to fuck off and leave her alone.

I don’t give a damn what she thinks she wants because I know in my heart what she needs now is me.

Flynn: Are you okay?

Felisha: No.

Flynn: I’m coming to you.

Felisha: No, you can’t.

---