Well, if Tyler was here to bust my chops, this had to be the real thing. Not even my imagination could concoct Tyler’s cocky remarks.
“Fuck you.” I lifted my middle finger, and he laughed at my sorry effort at raising my arm.
Juliana started to back up, but I clutched her hand.
“I’m just going to get a cup of coffee. Have a moment with your brother.”
I stared at her, scared if I let her walk away, reality would sink in, and she’d be gone.
She tugged her hand away. “I’ll be back, I promise.”
She smiled, turned to leave, but paused to place a hand on Tyler’s arm. Tyler smiled at her and she left the room.
“You scared the shit out of her. She lost her fucking mind when she saw all the blood you’d lost.” He moved to my bedside and hopped on the edge of the bed.
“Ugh…” The shift in the bed caused another jolt of pain in my arm. “Thanks for that, ass.”
“You’ll survive.”
“How are you even here?”
“I got a tip from a friend out here that Damien was spotted in town. I hopped the first plane the minute I heard.”
“It would’ve been nice if you gave me a heads up.”
“I wasn’t one hundred percent sure, and I didn’t want to trigger an episode.”
“Well, your plan worked perfectly.”
He shook his head at my sarcasm, his face turning somber. “He’s finally gone, Devlin.”
I nodded my head. “I finally did something right in the world.”
“Why do you always do that? You do a shit-ton of good in the world. Your past doesn’t define you. Damien doesn’t define you.”
“But pieces of him sure as hell live in me.”
“You may never overcome schizophrenia, but you can maintain it and live a normal life, but that’s not the problem, Devlin. Your biggest problem is you haven’t been able to overcome your father. And you can do it if you try. You’re not him, Devlin. He’s gone. Let him stay that way.”
I felt so tired, and not just physically. I felt drained. Tyler tapped me on the face to keep me awake. “It’s time to get help. If you want to keep that amazing girl out there, you’re going to have to take steps at making life easier for both of you.”
I nodded. Tyler raised an eyebrow, telling me with one look that he’d kick my ass if I didn’t follow through.
“The police will be back to speak to you.” His tone suggesting problems to come.
Great… I’d kept the fact that I was Damien son under wraps for years and this situation could bring a lot of ugly down on my corporation.
“You’ll tell them you were ambushed, and you never saw the man who shot you.”
My head snapped up as I met Tyler’s gaze and shook my head slowly. “What did you do?”
He shrugged. “Damien won’t be found. He was never even here.”
Fuck.
“I don’t want you getting yourself involved in my shit again, Ty.”
He snorted as he reached out and squeezed my arm. “I’m so far buried in it that the only way I’ll get out is if I carry you out with me.”
“I hate to keep depending on you.”
“You don’t depend on me, Devlin. You always take care of your own shit. I just come in and clean up the mess you leave behind. I brought you here in my truck so the story is I found you in an alleyway. The warehouse Damien brought you to is being swept as we speak.”
I nodded. “Thanks.”
He ruffled my hair and I glared at him. He knew I hated it when he treated me like the little brother.
“Get some sleep.” He chuckled as he walked backwards toward the door. “Your big brother got this.”
I didn’t even try to hide my smile as I let my eye drift shut. I heard the door swish shut behind him and I knew he’d be taking up post on the other side of that door.
My constant guard.
Chapter Forty
Juliana
I ran through my room, tossing items in an overnight bag. After three days in the hospital, Devlin was finally being discharged, and I meant to be at his side for a while. I strapped the bag over my shoulder then overlapped my dance bag. As I pulled the door open, I froze, letting both bags slip to the floor.
“Dad… What are you doing here?”
My dad hadn’t been to visit me since I left Chicago and came to Boston. We’d talked on the phone, and since Devlin came back, I’d avoided his calls. It was like I was afraid he’d hear it in my voice.
“I heard what happened.”
Of course, he did.
Oh, God. With Devlin still in the hospital, I didn’t need my dad coming down on me now.
He stepped past me, and I was forced to drag my bags away from the doorway and join him in my living room. “I don’t want you to think I’m trying to control your life, but I’m scared for you. I’ve never admitted to my fears before, but that man is dangerous. I think you know that. You left him, Juliana. Don’t let time blur the circumstances that led to that.”