Condemned (13 page)

Chapter Sixteen

Brett woke with a start. Fighting to control his breathing,
he relived the incredible dream he’d just had. Once he married Tish, it just
wouldn’t be acceptable to wake her, calling out another woman’s name. He
pondered the dream again. Revising his first impression, he concluded that the
ending had indeed been incredible. Why the beginning was so violent disturbed
him. Probably just a side effect of last night’s excessive alcohol consumption.
Funny thing, for the first time in months, Brett didn’t feel hung over. He
glanced at the clock. It was only four-thirty. That explained it. He was still
too drunk to be hung over. But he didn’t feel drunk either. Brett sighed and
shifted against his pillow. When a hand landed on his chest, he was afraid to
breathe. The soft body that snuggled against his side was most definitely not a
dream.

What had he done? Brett’s mind reeled as he recognized
Andie’s scent. It was real, not a dream. Andie was still in his bed and he had
treated her worse than he even knew he was capable of. It all crashed down on
him. She had appeared shortly after Jesse left. Damn, why had he insisted that
Jesse didn’t need to come back? Why had Jesse picked yesterday to believe him?

Andie had kept trying to make him listen to something she’d
maintained was important and he’d refused in every way possible. She had been
so brave. The way she’d forced herself to go along with his demands. She must
have given in to his brutal treatment to keep him from hurting her even more
than he had. The last time, when he’d finally treated her decently, he
remembered thinking he saw love in her eyes. Love! Yeah, right. Try relief that
he’d stopped being rough with her. Poor thing. She must have fallen asleep,
waiting for him to release her. Well, she may not have been able to make an
escape but he could spare her from suffering more when she woke up. Easing away
gently so he didn’t disturb her, Brett grabbed the first clothes he found and
rushed from the room.

In the kitchen, he saw her clothes. He really had shredded
them when he’d ripped them from her body. He’d be damn lucky if she didn’t have
him arrested. Guilt washed over him. Andie wouldn’t do that, no matter how much
he deserved it. She’d suffer the effects of his criminal treatment on her own,
without making him pay for his actions. How had he let this happen? All she’d
wanted was to speak with him for a few minutes. His life may suck but that was
no excuse for his atrocious behavior. She hadn’t asked for much of anything,
but he was such a monster that he’d used her insignificant request to take
horrific advantage of her.

Brett held up her clothes again. The very least he could do
was leave her something to wear. There were clean clothes in the dryer. He
vaguely remembered a pair of sweats. There had to be a shirt of some variety
too. He would slip back in the bedroom and leave them on the dresser where
they’d be instantly obvious to her. Searching his mind, Brett tried to find a
few words that might ease some of the terror she would feel when she woke up in
his bed. He had to let her know that he was gone and she was safe from any
additional abuse. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could say beyond that.
Nothing could ever begin to make up for what he had done to her.

* * * * *

In a daze, Andie let herself into Jesse’s apartment. Her
mind had stopped functioning when she’d read Brett’s note and realized that he
was gone. He’d left without listening to her. He’d left before she had the
chance to explain and show him that there was nothing wrong with what had
transpired between them.

“Andie,” Jesse grabbed her arms, “Where the hell have you
been? Where’s Brett? Why didn’t you call last night?”

“Jesse.” Holly tugged his shoulder. “Stop it,” she urged
when she had his attention. Pulling Andie away from him, she asked softly,
“What happened, honey? Are you okay?” Holly hugged her tightly when Andie’s
sobs started.

The four men stood by helplessly as Holly comforted her.
They couldn’t fail to notice her attire.

Wordlessly, Andie stepped away from Holly. She swiped her
face, trying to clear the tears. After she handed Jesse a crumpled note from
her pocket, she walked to the room she was using. Each step seemed to require
almost more effort than she could make. When she was finally inside, she closed
the door behind her with a resounding click.

Andie,

There are no words to excuse the way you suffered from my
behavior. I went to the other house so you have nothing more to fear from me. I
would beg your forgiveness but I know not to. How could you ever forgive me
when I will never forgive myself? I regret every moment I terrorized you. Even
more, my biggest regret is that I destroyed your trusting innocence. You have
always treated me with nothing but friendship and kindness. I know it will
never be enough but I must tell you anyway. I’m sorry.

Brett.

Jesse took a deep breath to steady himself before he
followed Andie into her room. He paused in the doorway, his heart breaking at
the sight of her. Andie was sitting on the side of the bed, her hands folded in
her lap, staring blankly at nothing. Approaching slowly, Jesse stopped and
knelt in front of her. He folded her hands in his and waited. When Andie
finally raised her eyes to his, he could see the tremendous pain she was
feeling. Why hadn’t he trusted his instincts and gone after her?

“Hey.” He smiled. “You need to tell me about it.” When
Andie’s face crumpled, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
Waiting for her tears to slow, Jesse stroked her back and whispered comforting
words. “Andie, I know something happened to hurt you again but I can’t help
unless you talk to me. I’m sorry. I am so sorry. I should have stayed last
night. I wanted to come back but Holly insisted that you needed to be alone
with him. I read the note. I don’t understand. Please, what can I do?”

“He wouldn’t let me talk,” she sniffed. “When I got there he
tried to chase me away but I knew it was too important so I refused to leave.
We made a deal. He promised to listen this morning.”

“What did he do to you?”

“He,” she buried her face against his chest and said through
her sobs, “he made love to me all night. And this morning he left me that.”

“I’m sorry.” Jesse cursed himself again as he attempted to
soothe her.

“You don’t understand.” She forced the words. “I’m not
crying because of what we did. That part was overwhelming and magical and I
wouldn’t have denied either of us one bit of it. I never got to tell him that
it was exactly what I wanted. Don’t you see? He thinks he forced me and ran
away so he doesn’t have to face me. He must think I hate him. I love him so
much and he thinks I hate him.” Andie was crying too hard to continue. “What if
he elopes with Tish?” she managed to get out.

“He won’t. I won’t let him. I’ll tell him why you were there
and I’ll fix this.”

“No,” Andie resisted. “I can’t let you do that. I need to do
it myself.”

“Brett won’t let you get out one word before he runs from
you again,” he told her. “Think about it from his point of view. He’s about to
be married out of some twisted sense of loyalty. He is convinced there is no
other choice because he made a foolish promise and he doesn’t have it in him to
go back on his word. The girl who he just figured out is better than perfect
shows up and refuses to leave. Right after I got done convincing him that she and
I have no romantic ties, I might add. He spends the night, making love to her.
I won’t ask for more details.

“Andie, Brett has been torturing himself but underneath he’s
still a good guy. He doesn’t take advantage of women, even if they want him to.
From what I’ve seen he doesn’t fool around. His relationships may not last long
but he’s devoted while they do. He was drinking long before I left last night.
In his mind, I’m sure he does believe he forced you and used you. I’m sure he
hates himself more than we can imagine right now. Not only for you but for
betraying Tish.

“I think he’s wrong for giving into to his desire for you.
If I didn’t know you so well and how you feel about him, I’d probably think he
forced you too. But I do know you. I also know how hard you are to resist. If I
were positive my life was already ruined beyond repair and wasn’t thinking
clearly, I might not have the strength to say no to you either. I’m plenty
pissed at Brett at the moment but I’m still his friend. I’m still going to go
find him and tell him everything he wouldn’t let you say. Frank got some very
enlightening photos of that game last night. There’s more than enough to get
Tish out of his life.”

“I’m going with you.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea now. Let him get out of
this mess first. He’ll know the truth as soon as he hears about Tish. Give him
a chance to get over what he’s thinking right now.”

“I am going with you. You can take me or I’m going alone but
one way or another, I’m going. I have to make sure he knows I wanted him last
night, even more than he wanted me. If anything, I forced the situation, not
Brett.”

“Andie.”

“Don’t argue with me. I’ll wait outside until you tell him
but then I have to see him.”

“Okay. I think it’s a bad idea but okay. After you get some
sleep, I’ll take you with me.”

“We have to go now.”

“You look like hell, no offense. You’re clearly exhausted.
If you want to be convincing, you can’t show up looking like that. Brett will
blame himself and won’t hear a word either of us says.” He paused for her to
accept his statement. “I’m not sure how much more he can take. If Brett had sex
with you last night, he’s worse than I thought. It’s really not like him.”

“Fine, but promise you’ll wake me soon. I don’t think we
should wait more than an hour or so. If you’re right, Brett needs to know as
soon as possible.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll tell the rest what we’re doing. I
know Holly will protest so I’ll say you’ll call her. You get to sleep so we can
take off.”

“Thanks, Jesse.” Andie let him tuck her in.

Before he left, he sat on the edge of the bed and stroked
her cheek. “So. It was really great?”

“Better,” she sighed as she sunk into the pillow.

“Good.” Jesse kissed her forehead and rejoined the others.

Chapter Seventeen

Flynn saw Brett’s car in the driveway when he was on his way
to work on the tree house he and his friend were building. Instantly, he
detoured toward the door.

“Hey, Uncle Brett,” he greeted him cheerfully. “I didn’t
know you’d be around today. Want to go over to Joey’s with me? We might get the
tree house done today if you help us.”

Brett glared as he gulped from the bottle he carried. “What
the hell makes you think I want to waste my time with a snot-nosed misfit like
you?”

“I, uh…” Flynn reeled at his cruel words.

“Not everybody gets to fuck up royally like you did and get
handed a second chance on a silver platter. No, most of us are stuck dealing
with whatever shit life crams down our throats. I don’t have time to play at
being a little boy like you do. Why do you come around here anyway? Aren’t your
mommy and daddy enough for you? Are you so greedy that you need to pull me into
the fantasy you live in now, kid? Well just forget it! Get the fuck away from
me! Take your sorry, useless ass out of my house. Nobody wants you here. The
sight of you pretending to be a normal kid when we both know it’s a big lie
makes me sick.” He turned his back and raised the bottle again.

Flynn had been backing to the door as Brett screamed at him.
When he felt it, he spun and ran, not caring that it stayed open behind him.
His vision clouded with tears, he didn’t know Jesse was there until he caught
him to prevent Flynn from plowing into him.

“Whoa. Whoa. Slow down.” Still holding his arms, he
continued, “Flynn, I need you to promise you will wait right here for me.”
Violently, Flynn shook his head no. “You have to. We need to talk about
whatever he just said to you. I can guarantee that he didn’t mean it.”

“Oh yes he did!” Flynn pulled himself together and wrapped
himself in the protective emotional shell he used to hide behind.

“No, I promise he didn’t. There are some things going on
with Brett that you don’t know about. If you’ll wait a minute while I speak
with him, I’ll explain them to you. I have to ask you to trust me here. And I’m
going to need to trust you in return because Brett hasn’t told anyone else
about this. I’ll need your word that you won’t repeat it.”

Flynn’s desire to run was rapidly replaced with curiosity.
Uncle Brett told his dad and Uncle Jordan everything. It must be something really
bad if they didn’t know about it. And for him to be drinking this early.
“Okay,” he agreed to stay put while Jesse went inside.

“I’ll be right back,” Jesse assured him, fighting to control
his fury. He could almost understand the way Brett ran from Andie when he
thought he had carelessly taken advantage of her. But now he had obviously
taken out his own pain on a kid who was still coming to terms with his new
life. That was unforgivable, even with the circumstance Brett thought he was
in.

“Hey.” Jesse made Brett aware of his presence.

“At last.” He held up the bottle in salute. “The avenging
hero has arrived.”

“You are such an asshole.”

“You finally noticed? I can’t believe it took you so long.”

“Shut up, Brett.”

“Or what? You gonna do something if I don’t? Well, go for
it. Give it your best shot. Wait, let me put this down. I don’t want to waste
any.” He carefully placed the bottle at the back of the counter. “Okay. I’m
ready now.” When Jesse didn’t move, he lurched toward him. “What’s the matter?
Don’t feel right, taking the first swing? Maybe this’ll help.” Brett lifted his
fist and tried to aim for Jesse’s chin.

“You stupid son of a bitch,” Jesse swore as he trapped Brett
against the wall, his arm across his throat. His other arm was raised, fist clenched,
ready to strike.

Flynn had been unable to resist following Jesse after he
went into Brett’s house. He stood watching.

Brett stood passively, waiting for the first blow as if
nothing Jesse did would be enough to serve as the punishment he thought he deserved.
Jesse saw the pleading in his friend’s eyes, silently begging him to inflict
some damage. Unmoving, Jesse struggled to control the rage he knew wouldn’t
solve a thing.

“Jesse,” Flynn said softly. “You probably shouldn’t do
that.”

Slowly, Flynn’s presence registered. Jesse heard his words.
Releasing Brett, he let go of the tension that had been building. “You’re
right, Flynn. Thanks for not listening to me when I asked you to wait outside.”

“Fuck,” Brett muttered as he reached for the bottle. “A guy
can’t ever get a break.”

“That’s enough.” Jesse wrenched the alcohol from his grasp
and poured it down the drain. “Listen carefully.” He gave Brett no option as he
stood inches in front of him. “Tish is lying about everything. Andie discovered
it and came to tell you. She was supposed to bring you with her so I could give
you the hard evidence you’d need to expose the fraud of your situation.”

“Oh God,” Brett shuddered as he processed what Jesse told
him. “Aw fuck!” he cried as he stared hopelessly at his one remaining friend.

“Damn right,” Jesse agreed. “You are going to take a shower
and pull yourself together while Flynn and I discuss some things.”

“Flynn,” Brett voice cracked, obviously replaying his
earlier statements in his head.

“Focus on me here,” Jesse commanded. “When I get back you
are going to be ready to present yourself as the respectable man I know you
still are. I’m going to take you back to the city. Along the way I will give
you the rest of the details about Tish. After a brief stop with Andie, you are
going to figure out how to get Tish to your office where we are going to
present her with all the things I have with me.

“Then you are going to straighten out all the other messes
in your life. By that, I mean the way you’re tearing yourself apart needlessly
by holding on to the job I know you’re more than ready to leave behind. You’re
going to explain to your best friend and his big brother why you didn’t turn to
them in the first place. You’re going to apologize to Miss Sadie for neglecting
her and excluding her when you know she would have supported you in any way
possible. And then you’re going to find a way to fix the two biggest things
that are left.

“I’m going to tell Flynn everything in a few minutes but
only you will be able to prove you were lashing out at yourself and find a way
to make it up to him. Finally, you are going to do whatever it takes to get
Andie to forgive you. Not that you deserve her, but that woman loves you. In
the Kiley and Alyssa kind of way. Or she did before you ripped out her heart.”

Brett didn’t try to hide the tears that ran down his face.
Everything he was feeling played across his features as he relived the recent
events in his messed up life.

“Brett.” Jesse squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll do this one
step at a time. I’ll help you.”

“Why?” Brett whispered, finally meeting his eyes.

“Because we’re friends and you need me.”

Brett heard the sincerity in his words. “Thanks, Jesse. I-I
know—”

“Save it for later. Flynn and I are taking off now but I
promise, I’ll be back. You be ready.” He waited for Brett to nod before guiding
Flynn from the house.

* * * * *

“Hey,” Wyatt said when he saw Andie open her eyes.

“Who? Why?” She blinked in confusion at the man holding her
in Jesse’s guestroom.

“I’m Wyatt. You were restless so I stretched out here in
case you needed anything. When you rolled over against me, I stayed so I
wouldn’t wake you.”

“Where is everyone else?”

“Holly and Dwayne had to get to work. Frank is trailing
Tish.”

“Where’s Jesse?”

“He, um, well…”

Andie sat up, pulling away from him. “Wyatt?”

“He went to get Brett. He thought he would make it back
before you woke up and wanted to make it easier on you.”

“Damn him!” Andie hopped from the bed. “He promised he’d
wait for me. How could he do this!”

“Now calm down, Andie.” Wyatt retreated to the living room.

“I will not calm down. Do you know what it’s like when no
one bothers to listen to you? Do you have any idea how furious I am?”

“Well, I—”

“No! I’m sure you don’t. That’s it.” She stomped back to her
room and changed her clothes. “I’m done being everybody’s doormat. If they
think I’m going to just sit around while they go traipsing around, ignoring me,
then they’re about to see just how wrong they are.”

“I think Jesse would want you to wait for him here.”

“I. Don’t. Care.” Andie glared at him. “Are you willing to
try to stop me? Let me assure you that, if you do, I will find you as soon as
this is over and I will make your life a living hell. Do you want that, Wyatt?”

“Um, no, but it doesn’t really make sense for you to drive
all the way there and turn right around to come back with them.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about. If you think I plan
on spending another second with either of them, you are sadly mistaken.” Andie
found the keys. “I don’t know where I’m going after I say what’s on my mind,
but it won’t be anywhere near where they are. And if you even think about
calling Jesse to tell him I’m on my way, I will be even worse than I would be
if you tried to keep me here.”

“Andie,” Wyatt stalled as if considering whose anger would
be worse, hers or Jesse’s.

“Now what?” She stalked closer, her chest heaving as her
fury grew.

“Well, um, I just wanted to ask you to calm down for a
minute. If I let you drive when you’re this excited and something happens to
you, it’ll be my fault. Don’t do that to me, please.”

Andie actually smiled, instantly more controlled. “I’m sorry
for yelling at you. I should thank you for watching out for me. I really do
know I shouldn’t be taking this out on you.”

He shrugged. “Yeah, well. I’m here.”

She surprised him by giving him a hard hug. “Thanks. If I
bother to speak to him, I’ll make sure Jesse knows you tried to talk me into
staying here with you.”

“I can handle him,” he declared as he held her to him.
“You’re quite a woman. I’m glad to see you again, even if it is like this.”

“Me too.” She kissed his cheek, making him blush. “Maybe we
should get together sometime. Jesse says you don’t talk much and, at the
moment, I think I’d like to hang out with someone like that.”

He laughed. “Any time.” He released her. “Drive carefully
and go give ’em hell, tiger.”

“I will,” she stated as she left him standing in the middle
of the room.