Page 64 of Entice

Safety, love, and acceptance. It was all there in his voice. “It’s okay, Brady. We’ll figure this out.” Somehow they would. She wasn’t going to let Brady’s family near him, even if it meant defying Jordan and the courts. This was abuse at its core and from his family not Sage.

“I’m dressed now.”

Crystal turned around. The t-shirt and shorts hung on his frame. “You’ve lost weight.”

Brady looked down at himself. “Yeah.”

Raised voices from the living room made Brady wince. “Give me the towel and I’ll put it in the bathroom. Why don’t you lie down and rest?” His face was lined with fatigue.

“I should go out there.”

“You need to rest. Your body has had a trauma, and rest is the best thing for you. As a doctor, you are aware of what a body needs. Don’t worry about Jordan and Sage.” Crystal took the towel from his outstretched hand and carried it into the bathroom.

Brady’s ripped up clothing lay on the floor. Crystal left the items there. They could be collected later. Right now Brady was her biggest concern. She walked back into the bedroom to find him under the covers. Good, a doctor who could take advice.

Crystal grabbed the chair from the corner and brought it over next to the bed. “I’m here for you.” She placed her hand palm up on the bed. Brandy slipped his hand out and placed it in hers. “Rest. No one will hurt you here.”

“I like you,” Brady said and then began talking. Crystal let him talk, because it would help him.

An hour later, she crept out of the bedroom. Brady had fallen asleep. Her mind was still reeling from his story. When she entered the living room, Jordan was pacing, and Sage glared at him. Jordan stopped pacing when he saw her.

“We have to go,” he said. “We can’t be caught here. We’re aiding and abetting.”

“No,” she replied quietly.

“No?” His voice was low and hard.

“I’m staying.” Crystal glanced at Sage. “Brady is resting. How are you holding up, Sage?”

“Barely. And he doesn’t understand.” Sage jerked her chin in Jordan’s direction.

“I do understand. I’m just not letting emotion get in the way,” Jordan declared.

“This is all about emotion,” Crystal said. “Come sit down, both of you.” She’d listened to Brady and realized how much his life mirrored hers at times. Brady was stronger than any of them thought. He’d explained more about the dynamic between him and Sage. An education for Crystal.

“Crystal,” Jordan started.

“Look, emotions are involved. Jordan, you can leave if you want, but I’m staying. Sage needs support and so does Brady.” Crystal glared at Jordan. He was going to stay or leave; either way, this was going to happen.

“It’s not ethical for us to be here and not report this. The law is being violated.”

Her temper flared. “Oh, for fuck’s sake!” Crystal waved her hands in a dismissive manner. “Mandatory reporting of abuse is only in the case of children or vulnerable adult. This is about Brady and what his family has done to him. If you sit your ass down, I’ll explain what I think we need to do first thing tomorrow morning.”

Jordan’s mouth dropped open.

“You go, girl,” Sage said before taking a seat on the sofa.

Crystal stared at Jordan. If he walked out, then it was over. But his eyes twinkled even as he tried to frown at her. “I’m listening.” He marched over and sat down on the sofa.

“Park the attitude, please.” She sat down on the chair across from them. “I looked up the law on abuse, and it mainly covers children and vulnerable adults. Brady is neither. He can make his own decisions. So if he says no police, it doesn’t mean at a later date he won’t want to file assault charges, but he’s not required to at this point.”

Crystal took a breath. Jordan nodded. “Brady and Sage are engaged in a consensual relationship. Yes, there are archaic laws on the books the family might try to use against them, but when was the last time you saw anyone prosecuted or sued under those laws?”

Jordan ran his hand over his face. “Never.”

“Brady’s family is using him against Sage. I don’t know why they don’t like Sage, but they don’t. They hurt him, beat him, all because he wants to live his life his way.”

“I’ve never had any contact with his family,” Sage said.

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