“So, what happened?” Mikel asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I failed her . . .” He took a deep breath. Perhaps it was time to speak his truth. “Like I failed you and Jasmine.” The confession was like a gasp of fresh oxygen.
Mikel’s brows drew together. “Come again?”
The old Bently would have found some sort of sexual innuendo to retort with, but he was at the end of his rope. He was tired of carrying this burden and pretending that everything was okay. That he had everything under control when in truth, every single thing in his life was falling to pieces, including him. His fists clenched as he ground his teeth together hard enough to snap bone. “When I found you in a pool of your own blood and that sick fucker was nowhere to be seen . . . I should have been there.”
“Bent—”
Bently held up his hands. “Then, when you told me what you’d seen. What he’d been doing to Jasmine. Why hadn’t I known? Why did I wait so long to get you guys out of there?”
Mikel blew out a breath and shook his head.
“I went there to kill him, you know.” Bently’s voice sounded dead, even to him.
Mikel’s eyes widened before he looked around the small office, eyes narrowing on the closed door. “You did?”
Bently nodded and stared at his brother. He knew what Mikel had done. Mikel shifted uneasily under his gaze.
“I never got to thank you for doing what I’d been too weak to do before.”
“Th—thank me?” Mikel asked, jaw ticcing.
“I was there. I came in the back window with a fucking hammer. But he was already convulsing on the ground and you were standing over him with that needle in your hand.”
Mikel swallowed and looked down at the desk. “You knew. All this time . . . I thought . . .”
“I figured if you wanted me to know, you’d have told me. You saved my life that day. Because If I had followed through with my plan, I’d be in jail.”
Mikel blinked and met his gaze. “I thought you’d turn me in. Always Mister Righteous, following the rules. You’re the fucking sheriff.” He lowered his voice and shook his head in disbelief.
“Ironic, isn’t it?”
“Someone needed to put that monster down,” Mikel agreed.
“I wish I could have done it sooner, protected you both.” Bently rubbed his eyes.
“It was never your job, you know? You took that upon yourself.”
Bently sighed. “How could I not? Who else was going to do it? Mom abandoned us, leaving us with that horrible man. Maybe if I’d been better, stronger, she would still be alive.”
Mikel shook his head and sat forward. “No. Don’t fucking take that on. That’s on her. She put us in that situation. But she was also sick and never got the help she needed. And Dad, what that bastard did is on him. You can’t fix everyone’s problems, Bently.”
“Who else will?” he shouted, anger rising.
“I never realized you thought so highly of yourself, that you actually think you have the ability to save the world,” Mikel said.
“That’s not what I mean,” Bently denied.
“Isn’t it though?”
No. Because I’m nothing. I’m unlovable. I’m a failure.
“So, you’re having a pity party instead of going after the happiness you could have with the woman you love?” Mikel asked.
Bently frowned. “I’m not having a pity party.”
“If anyone knows what self-loathing is, it’s me, big brother. Don’t fuck it up and waste your chance at happiness like I did,” Mikel said sympathetically.
Bently remained silent. He’d already ruined any chance with Belle. She’d told him her worst fears and then he’d gone and done just that. He’d sabotaged their only chance. “It’s too late.” The words felt like the last breath he’d ever release. Like inhaling without at least a spark of hope was too painful.
“True failure isn’t in failing, but in not trying at all. You can still fight for her. Just talk to her. Tell her what you told me. Except, maybe leave out the murder part. Might want to work up to that later.” Mikel smirked.
“Does Remy know?”
Mikel swallowed and nodded solemnly. “I told her when I returned before we got back together. I wanted to lay all my cards on the table. I’d held everything from her before. I knew this time, I couldn’t hide the worst parts of me. That she needed to know what she was getting into.”
That sounded terrifying.
Bently opened a file on his desk and pushed it towards his brother. Mikel looked down at the picture of Bently and Belle climbing into his truck. He still got chills knowing that the stalker had been this close to them and he hadn’t even suspected anything was off.
Mikel frowned. “Is this from . . .”
“Yeah. One more reason I need to keep my distance from Belle.”
Mikel sighed. “I think she deserves to know. She needs to have all the information so she can be vigilant and protect herself. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”
That made sense. So why was he holding back?
Because I don’t want her to walk away from me. I’d rather leave before being left.
“I’ll think about it.”
Mikel stood. “Good. And while you’re at it, get some sleep and maybe have a shave.” He laughed.
“How did you know that I loved her?” Bently asked.
Mikel met his eyes. “Because you’re different since you’ve been with her. You’re better. You seem more . . . peaceful.”
Wow. Hearing those words was like a blow to his chest.
“Not to mention the hearts in your eyes whenever you look at her or talk about her.” Mikel chuckled. “It’s about time you met your match. She knows how to put you in your place.”
Bently laughed. “You think I need to be put in my place?”
Mikel smiled. “I think every man does. We just don’t know it until it happens.”
***
Bently
