Page 2 of Make Your Save

Raven

Deal.

Tucking my phone back in my pocket, I head in the direction of my brother’s apartment, trying to ignore the nagging dread rolling in my stomach. This isn’t like the last time. Beau’s phone died and time must have slipped away from him. He hadn’t decided to go off his meds again and joyride across the country while drinking himself into a stupor and maxing out credit cards.

I push the memories away, focusing on the road for the next thirteen minutes while chewing on the inside of my cheek until it’s raw. I faintly taste blood as I pull up along the curb out front, an exaggerated sigh escaping me as I put the car in park and kill the engine. My footsteps are heavy yet rushed as I stride to the front door.

It’s supposed to be shut and locked, but it’s ajar and I slip inside, not stopping until I reach the elevator. He lives on the fourth floor and the car is beginning its descent down to the lobby. As the doors slide open, I step in and head up to Beau’s floor, my heart pounding erratically in my chest. It feels like the longest ride of my life.

I head out into the hallway and there’s a loud bang echoing throughout the building. I glance around the common area, my gaze flickering between the three apartment doors, as if I’m waiting to hear the sound again, trying to figure out where it was coming from. It doesn’t take rocket science to figureout it came from the middle one. 402. My brother’s apartment.

The door flies open and a flurry of auburn hair comes whipping out as she slams it shut behind her. She doesn’t see me at first, tears streaking down the sides of her face as she tucks her chin in against her chest. I’m silent as I watch Hadley, assessing the moment as her chest heaves. She sucks in a deep breath, exhaling slowly as she wipes the tears away from her cheeks.

Her chin lifts, her eyes widening as she sees me standing a few feet in front of her. “Rowan?”

“Is everything okay?”

Her nostrils flare, her bottom lip quivering before a harsh laugh escapes her. “It depends on who you ask.” She wipes at her nose, shaking her head as she pushes away from the door. “Your brother seems to be doing just fine.”

My eyebrows tug downward, a crease forming between them as I corkscrew my lips. I’m so goddamn confused, I don’t even know what piece of this puzzle to touch first. “He’s okay?”

“Oh, he’s great,” she says, waving her hand as pain washes over her expression. “He’s getting ready to head to the airport.”

Confusion only grows within me as the door behind her opens. Hadley jumps toward me, her body practically colliding into me as she moves away at lightning speed. My hands instinctively wrap around her biceps, my gaze meeting my brother’s over the top of Hadley’s head.

Beau narrows his eyes as a cruel smirk forms on his lips. “Well, this is cute. Look at you cleaning up after me.” His behavior isn’t shocking and it’s a sure indicator that he has in fact fallen off the wagon. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”

“Watch it, Beau,” I warn him, a bite in my tone as I push Hadley behind me, making sure she’s safe. “You may be my brother, but I won’t hesitate to put you on your ass if you keep saying stupid shit.”

“Ooh,” he half sneers, lifting his hands as he makes them look like he’s trembling. “I’m shaking in my boots.” He rolls his eyes, pulling his door shut behind him as he looks around me at Hadley. “He’s the better pick anyways.” Beau moves past the two of us, his shoulder knocking into mine as he walks directly to the elevator.

“Where are you going?” I ask, my feet moving as I step up behind him. I hate that this is the relationship I have with my brother. I’ve always hated it. I want to knock him on his fucking ass, but I control myself, drawing my anger inward. “Are you off your meds again?”

He lets out a heavy breath. “Jesus Christ, you sound just like everyone else.” He spins on his heel, his gaze like a laser point on me. He doesn’t answer my question, and that’s the confirmation I need. “I can live my life however the hell I want, Rowan.”

“I don’t give a fuck how you live your life, Beau. I’m here for Mom, not for you, and definitely not for me,” I tell him, my tone clipped as I step into his space without hesitation. “You told her you were coming afterdinner and then your phone was off and she was worried.”

“And she just had to send her star son to come check on the degenerate.” He lets out another harsh laugh, the sound like sandpaper against my eardrums. “I’m fine, Rowan. I’ll call Mom on my way to the airport so she can hear it from me.” He sets his jaw, shoving his foot between the elevator doors. “Is that good enough for you?”

My nostrils flare as I stare back at Beau. “Perfect.”

Beau doesn’t give either of us a second glance or another word as he steps into the car, the doors shutting behind him. The silence hangs heavily in the air and I let out a frustrated breath as I’m acutely aware of Hadley standing behind me.

“I know he’s your brother, but he’s an asshole.”

I slowly turn around, a ghost of a smile dancing across my lips. “I use the term brother loosely for him.” My eyes scan her face, seeing the conflict written all over her expression and I want to wash it all away. “Where is he going?”

“He said there’s nothing here for him in this town. Someone named Darcy said he can come stay with her in Boston. He basically thanked me for my time and told me ours was up.”

Boston? Darcy?

I have no fucking clue who she is or what could possibly be there to make him throw everything away like this. Unfortunately, this is Beau. This is what Beau does.

And no one can stop him from doing what he wants.

“I don’t know how I could have been so stupid.” She shakes her head, her gaze dropping down to her feet. “He knows how to be charming and I fell for the charade like a fucking idiot.”

I can’t help myself as I step toward her. My forefinger slides under her chin, tipping her head back to look up at me. “Hey, no, stop,” I tell her, my voice soft as I lift my other hand to brush away her tears. “This is what Beau does. He uses people and then when they’ve served their purpose, he discards them like trash.”

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