Page 4 of Shattering Nash

Yes.Charley nodded.

“He needs a program where he can safely detox and then get the proper tools to handle and control his addiction. A new environment without any outside temptation or old habits threatening his sobriety.”

Yes.

“We can offer that right now. Get him into a rehab.” He raised his brows. “Tonight.”

Charley blinked, darting her gaze between both men. It was the best-case scenario but seemed oddly convenient. She didn’t have much experience with the protocol, but she’d watched enough crime shows to know this was not the usual outcome. Weren’t there steps to getting him help?

“So, he won’t arrested?” Charley asked.

Officer Becker cupped his jaw, drawing his fingers over his short beard. “We’re able to work out a deal if he complies. And he did. Cody’s on board with this. Your brother wants to get the help he needs.”

Charley drew in a breath, feeling the air fill her lungs completely. Relief washed over her. It’d been a long time since she’d felt this kind of contentment.He wants the help.This wasn’t the first time she’d heard those words, but this time hitdifferently.Again, rock bottom.Maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing.

Thiswas exactly what she wanted. She lifted her shoulders to her ears and releasing her breath in a slow exhale, his past playing over in her head. It would be easy to pin his addiction on reckless behavior. An easy culprit. But that wasn’t the case for her brother. Cody had been fighting his addiction for years, but there was a history. A story behind it. He’d gotten hooked on pills after a horrific car accident when he was sixteen. He’d broken so many bones, swelling of the brain, the doctors had to put him in a medically induced coma. It was a miracle he’d survived, and his recovery had been long and exhausting. But he was vigilant about getting better and had support from her whole family…at the beginning. His addiction to the pains meds had rapidly progressed. It took on a world of its own, and no one had seen the signs. Until it was too late. It had taken its toll on not only him, but the whole family. Eight years ago, she’d been the last member standing by his side.And I’m still standing here.

She immediately nodded. “I do.”

Officer Becker sat back in his seat. “That’s good. Now, considering the special circumstances, we are going to need something from you.”

“Okay. What?”

He brushed his hand over his mouth, glancing over his shoulder at the other officer.

Officer Mitchell folded his arms. “You’ve already said you don’t want to press charges, right?”

“Right,” she said.

“We need your word you won’t go to the hospital.”

She furrowed her brows. The hospital? That thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“By seeking medical attention for any possible injuries, and aside from the bruising, there aren’t any. But it logs a record, which could come back to hurt your brother and jeopardize his spot at the rehab. I know we’re all on the same page, Charley. Just need to take precautions. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“So, we have your word?”

Charley nodded.

“Good. Now I need something else from you. How long has he been using again?” Officer Becker asked then held up his hand. “Be honest.”

Charley’d had her suspicions. She’d racked her brain, retracing the last month. His mood swings had increased, but his behavior hadn’t gotten erratic. He’d grown more distant, but that was par for the course. Unpredictability had become a way of life with her brother.

“I don’t know.” She twisted her fingers, dropping her gaze to the pillow on her lap. “I got a promotion to manager at the store where I work a few months ago, and I’ve been working more hours. I’m not at home as much.”How did I miss this?

In the past, there had been a few instances of screaming and yelling, begging and crying when he was going through withdrawals. On a few occasions, he’s pushed her out of his way and destroyed her property. They were all tell-tale signs. She felt the heat rush from her chest to her cheeks.I would’ve seen this coming.

“Some addicts have to hit rock bottom.” He sighed and straightened in his chair. “Hopefully, this is Cody’s.”

Yeah.

“Alright, well…” He sighed. “We’ll get started on processing the paperwork. It’ll take about nine hours to get him to the facility where he’ll be admitted and…”

Nine hours? Charley jerked her head and gasped. “The rehab is out of state?”

“Your brother has agreed to enter a facility. We got one that’s willing to take him in tonight. And yeah, it’s out of state.”

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