Page 83 of Be With Me (Adair Family 4)

Mac was outside the private hospital room in the nearby waiting area with Regan, Robyn, Ery, and the kids.

“It was nothing,” Brodan insisted.

Lachlan looked like he was ready to pop a vein, and I didn’t blame him. “You’re on a fucking drip because you just collapsed from exhaustion at your siblings’ weddings.”

“And I’ll feel better soon.” Brodan looked between Thane and Arro. “I’m sorry I ruined your reception.”

“You didn’t—”

Thane cut Arro off. “You didn’t ruin the reception, but you are ruining our peace of mind. What the hell is going on with you, Brodan?”

“I’ll tell you what’s going on with him.” Lachlan looked at us and then back to Brodan. “I’ve had a word with your manager and your agent, and your manager is running you ragged. He’s a soul-sucking vampire, and your agent is a weak arsehole for not speaking up.”

Brodan sighed heavily. “I’m a big boy. I can handle the work.”

“He says from a hospital bed. Well, it’s done. I fired your manager an hour ago.”

Whoa.

“You did what?” Bro asked, his voice lethally quiet.

Our big brother didn’t even flinch. “You heard me. I’m your temporary new manager, and my first order of business is to clear your schedule for the next few months so you can recuperate.”

“You high-handed bastard,” Brodan snapped.

“Aye, I’ll take on that role. I’ll be the bastard. But at least my wee brother will be looked after.”

Brodan moved to get off the bed, and Arro rushed forward to press a hand to his chest. “Please,” she begged.

His eyes widened at her tear-filled plea, and he softened. “I’m fine, Arro.”

She shook her head. “You’re not fine.”

“This isn’t just about today,” Thane added. “You’ve been avoiding this family for over a year. Acting cagey. Distant. It isn’t like you. Christ, it’s like you and Arran switched personalities.”

“Hey,” I grumbled.

Brodan shot me a pleading look, but I was with my brothers and sister on this one. I was worried as hell about Bro. He must have seen that on my face because he slumped back against the stiff pillow. “I have to finish the film I’m in the middle of.”

Lachlan considered this. “Fine. You finish the film, and then you come home to recuperate afterward.”

“Lachlan—”

“Brodan, you’ve made more money in the last few years than anyone needs. And to be frank, some of these films you’ve signed on to in the coming months have awful scripts. You’ve not been paying attention to what that fucking manager has been agreeing to, have you?”

“And how do you know? You can’t possibly have read the scripts in the two hours since I passed out.”

Our big brother at once looked a little guilty. “I might have talked to your agent a few weeks ago and persuaded him to let me see them.”

“Then you might as well fire him too.” Brodan glared. “You do realize I’m a grown fucking man.”

“Who has changed before his family’s eyes in the last few years, and we don’t know why. What I do know is that you’ve been on some kamikaze mission to work yourself into an early grave, and it stops now. I don’t care how old you are. I am the head of this family. You could be seven, thirty-seven, or seventy-seven, and I would still be here to pull your head out of your arse when necessary.”

“Oh, Christ, whatever.” Brodan closed his eyes and sagged into the bed.

I didn’t want to piss off Lachlan even more, but I felt bad for Bro. “Maybe we can finish this discussion once he’s not in the hospital?”

Everyone reluctantly filed out of the room, leaving me and Brodan alone. I sat on the chair next to his bed and drew it closer.

He opened his eyes. “You know I’m just playing along. There’s no way I’m letting that son of a bitch take over my life. Once I’m out of here, it’s back to filming.”

“Don’t call him a son of a bitch.”

Brodan winced. “Sorry.”

“I’m not going to argue with you.” Mostly because I knew there was no way Lachlan wouldn’t follow through on trying to manage Brodan’s life and yank him out of the crazy schedule. I trusted Lachlan to take care of our brother. “But can I ask why you’re so set on doing this when you’re clearly miserable? I’ve never seen you this unhappy.”

He looked up at the ceiling. “I’m fine.”

My frustration grew. “You know everything about me. I trusted you with that. Why can’t you trust me?”

“It’s not that simple.”

“So, there is something going on that I should be concerned about?”

“Nothing’s going on. I’m fine.”

Angry, I pushed out of my chair. “When you want to talk, I’ll be here. But I will not sit and take it while you lie to me.”

“That,” he snapped. “That is why I can’t be here.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ll all pester the fuck out of me to talk when there’s nothing to talk about.”

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