I scampered through the lounge and straight to the elevator, thinking it was the quickest way out of the apartment, all the while hearing Gareth cursing and fighting in the kitchen. His cries of misery and anguish pierced my heart deep as I pressed the button, hoping to God the cart was this end of the building. Come on, please come on.
Panicked, frantic and knowing I couldn’t waste another second waiting for the elevator, I went to abandon it and try the stairs. Thankfully, as I turned around, the doors slid open.
I ran inside and hysterically pressed the button to close the doors. “Go, go, go!” I shouted, willing the doors to slide shut and swiftly take me to safety. My agitation and fear were increasing at the sound of Gareth’s outbursts getting louder and I knew he was losing, losing his internal fight. “Please!” I screamed, as I backed up slowly to the far end of the cart.
The doors began to slide shut, painstakingly slowly, and just as the elevator started to descend, there was an enormous explosion. I screamed as the cart shook violently, thinking that it would plummet 43 floors to the ground, but it didn’t. It dropped only slightly then shook violently again, knocking me off my feet.
I felt a surge of pain through my head as I hit the hand railing, and almost instantly, I recognised that feeling of sleep, that feeling of losing control. I felt that feeling of unconsciousness and watched my sight tunnel into darkness with no power to stop it.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Bryce
As I made my way back to work, I realised Gareth’s prognosis wasn’t good even though he’d been taking his meds daily. I’d fucking made him take them in front of me like a God damned child, and I hated having to do it like that, but I’d had to—there was no choice.
It worried me that Jessica had mentioned he’d missed a few sessions, which was never a good thing, and now the evidence before us suggested he would need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital ward. I hated that, I hated having to commit him to such a place. When all was said and done, I fucking loved the poor guy; he was my cousin—my brother. Deep down I knew it had to be done, though. Alexis was pregnant again and she was in far too much danger. Not only that, Nate and Charli could be in danger, too, and I was not about to let anything happen to any of them. They were my family now, and I had to do everything in my power to protect them.
Fuck! I needed to call my uncle and tell the miserable old bastard that his son would be spending some more time in the hospital. Not that he’d give a shit. It made me furious knowing he wouldn’t care, he never had. He only cared about one thing and that was money. It’s ironic how miserable bastards only ever seem to care about things they don’t have, can never have—explains why they are so fucking miserable in the first place.
I went to request that the Bluetooth on my car dial my uncle’s number, when an incoming call came through the speaker. It was Gareth. Thank fuck for that.
“Gareth, where are you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”
“If only that were true, Bryce. I’m where I always am, right under your nose,” he said sarcastically, but with a tone of sadness.
My stomach clenched, my instincts immediately telling me something was wrong.
“Are you okay? Do you want to talk?” I offered, sincerely.
“I’m past talking.”
His voice was flat, and that just reiterated my unease. Fuck! I’ve neglected him lately, pushed him aside.
“Listen, I know I have been distant with you lately, so much has happened, but I promise that will change. Things will get better.”
I had a horrible feeling I wasn’t talking to Gareth, instead talking to Scott. Remembering what Jessica had told me many times before, I spoke of things that would make Gareth happy.
“You’re taking your meds again, Mate, and you’ve been doin’ good. You’ve also got Samantha. She cares about you and was really worried last night.”
“I don’t fucking want Samantha, Bryce. I want you. I’ve always wanted you,” he screamed down the phone, hurt and pain sounding throughout my Aston Martin.
Painful sobs then followed, filling me with dread. It is Scott. I should’ve known better. Fuck!
“Scott, what are you doing?
“I’m ending it, and I’m taking her with me.”
It took me a second to comprehend those last words, and when I did understand his threat, my chest pained immensely.
“Bryce, I love you. I’ll always love you. Tell the kids I love—.”
Alexis’ terrified voice hit me like a ton of bricks.
“Alexis!” I shouted, frantic with fear.
“Shut up, bitch. You don’t get to say goodbye,” Scott hissed with such hatred.