Brad went from having a pleasant evening with his girl to having his happiness shattered by a surveillance video. What hurt him the most was Paige's keeping it a secret from him. He knew she thought she was protecting him but what it felt like was that she was protecting Steve.
He was furious. With Steve, of course, but also with her. What was it about her that she could allow herself to be so manipulated by toxic men? He couldn't understand. She had Andy and himself, who were ready, willing, and able to protect her...and she willingly stepped away from their protection. She should have called the police, or him, not gotten in a vehicle with her ex who literally had his hands on her not even a week ago!
Once Brad felt he had gotten all the information he needed, he silently communicated to Andy that he needed her restrained so he could leave. It broke his heart a little to hear her screaming for him but he was too angry to care much. He left for Steve's in a cloud of fury.
How DARE he?!, thought Brad. How fucking DARE HE come here and put his hands on her again?!? Again?!!
Brad checked that the pistol he kept in the truck was loaded. It was. He tucked it into his waistband as he drove.
.............................................................................
Steve let Paige go then watched her run off in the rearview mirror. He punched his windshield two more times as hard as he could, spiderwebbing the glass even further. He had promised he wouldn't hurt her and then he watched himself do it again. He hadn't ever had issues with his temper before, but for some reason this situation was infuriating him beyond his control.
He took several deep breaths then slowly turned the truck around. At the stop sign he could see her running back to Andy's, so he went right instead, and took the long way home. He was mentally preparing himself for a visit from the police soon.
When he got home, he grabbed a bag of frozen peas from the freezer and put it on his hand. He sat down on the back porch, on the furniture she had bought for them, and started crying.
Suddenly the rage hit him again. He picked up the loveseat he was sitting on and threw it off the porch as hard as he could. The rest of the furniture followed suit. Then he went and got his axe and hacked at it all until he could barely lift his arms.
.............................................................................
Brad pulled up to Steve's house and noted it was completely dark. It was after eleven, so it was very likely he could be sleeping, or not at home. He walked to the garage and peeked in. Steve's truck was there with the windshield all cracked to shit. Brad walked up the front porch, prepared to bang on the door until either Steve woke up, or he broke the door down, whichever came first.
The front door was open with just the screen door in place. That wasn't like Steve. Brad suddenly got the feeling that something was off but he had no idea what. He opened the screen door and it squeaked slightly. He reached for the lightswitch right inside the door and flipped the entry and porch lights on.
His breath caught as he looked around. It looked like the house had been vandalized. The staircase posts were cracked and several had been pulled off the railing right in front of him. Dishes were smashed in the entry way. The living room to his left showed smashed and sliced furniture.
Either Steve was robbed, or he did this, Brad mused. He took a couple steps toward the kitchen and could faintly see Steve's TV still mounted on the wall in the kitchen.
Well, he wasn't robbed, Brad decided, pulling his gun out of his pants and glancing up the stairs before proceeding to the kitchen. If Steve had lost his mind, he had no idea what he would encounter.
Brad flipped on the light inside the kitchen door. There was Steve at the kitchen table, one hand up to shield his eyes from the sudden light, the other hand resting on a gun similar to the one Brad was holding. There was an empty bottle of vodka on the table and a half empty bottle of tequila in front of Steve with the cap off.
"Steve?" Brad asked. "What's going on here?"
Steve slowly lowered his hand and tried hard to focus on the old friend standing in front of him. He was swaying in his chair and closed one eye.
"Haha!", he burst out in humorless laughter. "Do it! Save me the trouble", he said, waving his own gun in the air.
Brad clicked the safety off on his gun.
Steve continued with the gun still in his hand, "I can't seem to do it, Brad. I want to so bad, but when it comes down to it, I'm a fucking coward".
"Put your gun down, Steve", Brad said calmly, though his heart was pounding.
He had no idea how this situation was going to play out. Steve was clearly not in his right mind. If he shot himself, or Brad ended up shooting him to defend himself, either way it wouldn't be good for Brad. He needed to get the gun away from Steve first and then go from there.
"Why don't you shoot me?", Steve asked. "I know you want to. I would if I were you. Come on", he laughed, "it'll make you feel better".
"I don't want to shoot you", Brad said. "I want to pound the crap out of you some more but I don't want to shoot you".
"Took you a long time to get here, didn't it?", Steve asked. "Feels like it's been a long time. I suspected police to be here already too".
He was slurring and waving the gun around. Brad couldn't tell if the safety was on or not.
"Why don't you put the gun down and we can talk some more?", Brad asked him.
"Nope", Steve said, pointing it at him. "I need you to do it. I can't. You do it".
"No", Brad said. "I want to talk to you. Put it down so I can talk to you".
"If I give you a reason, you'll do it", Steve replied, shutting one eye and aiming at him.
On instinct, Brad decided to act. He ducked, dropped his own gun, and launched his body at Steve all at the same time. He grabbed Steve's gun arm with both his hands and shoved it upward as he used his own body weight to propel Steve backward, toppling them both over on top of the chair.
The gun went off as they fell, and when they hit the ground, it clattered out of Steve's hand.
Brad was up in a flash as Steve was swearing at him and flailing around trying to right himself. Brad snatched Steve's gun, emptied the chamber, and stuck it in his pocket. Then he grabbed his own gun, got the safety back on and stuck it back in his waistband. He whipped his phone out and dialed 911 as Steve was using the table to pull himself to standing.
"911, what is your emergency?", the operator asked.
"I need some help. My friend was trying to kill himself, and I got the gun away, but he's still suicidal and possibly has alcohol poisoning", he told her, then gave Steve's address.
"Why did you do it?", Steve asked, lunging at Brad and falling flat on his stomach on the ground, nowhere near Brad at all.
Brad hung up with the operator and stood a reasonable distance away from Steve.
"Why did I do what?"
"Why did you take her from me?", Steve wailed from the floor.
"Steve, you know that isn't true", Brad tried to rationalize with him, staying calm even though his blood was boiling at the accusation.
Since Steve wasn't moving, Brad quickly texted Andy an update- Steve was threatening to kill himself. Tried to shoot me. He's been disarmed. Police are on way. He's drunk. Trashed the whole house.
"Steve, you know I didn't steal her away", Brad said. "She was already intending to leave".
"Yeah, but you SEDUCED HER!" Steve raged from the floorboards. "How could you do that to me? I SAW video of you hugging her at work! You KISSED HER before we broke up!"
Brad did feel a little pang of guilt about that. "I'm sorry, man", he said. "I didn't intend to. It just happened. I didn't even realize what I had done until after".
"But you were supposed to be my friend", Steve said, crying. "I love her, Brad. I don't know how to live without her!"
"I understand, Steve", Brad sympathized. "I love her, too".
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!", Steve bellered at him. "YOU HAVE HER! I DON'T!"
"Steve, that's no one's fault", Brad suggested gently. "You and I both know we can't stop our feelings for her. So why can't you understand that she can't change how she feels?"
Steve replied with muffled sobs.
"You need to let her go, man", Brad said. "You're hurting her. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can't keep showing up and manipulating her into continuing to discuss this. It's done. It's not going to change. She isn't coming back here. Let. Her. Go".
There was silence from the floor. Brad wondered if Steve had passed out.
"Just kill me", Steve requested.
"No. Your life has a purpose. This will pass", Brad assured him. "You need to let her go so you can heal and move on, too. You will be okay".
"How do you know?", Steve asked. "I'm alone. I've always been alone. I thought I was building my family. Now I have to start all over".
"I thought my life was over for many years. I was totally alone, but I kept going, and you know what? Things got better. Slowly. They always do but it doesn't happen unless we try. You can't give up", he said.
"She tell you what I did?" Steve asked.
"Yep", Brad assured him, heart rate increasing again.
"I deserve to die for that", Steve said. "I hurt her twice now. I'm no better than the scum she was with before me. I don't even recognize myself anymore. I don't know what's happening to me".
Brad saw flashing lights out of the corner of his eye.
Thank God.
The police and EMTs got Steve handcuffed and restrained in the ambulance. One of the officers went with the ambulance and the other stayed to collect a statement from Brad.
Brad gave him all the information, including why he came to the house in the first place, but leaving out the part about having his own gun. He gave him Steve's gun, and the officer collected the other bullets from the ground and ceiling, where the bullet had lodged when it was discharged.
The officer took photographs of the destruction in the house and of the axe lodged into the wall next to the patio door. Brad flipped on the outside light and noticed the destruction outside as well.
"Wow", he said softly.
"How long have you known Mr. Larsen?", the officer asked him.
"My whole life", Brad said, feeling numb.
"Has he ever acted like this before?", he asked.
"Not even a little bit. Not ever", Brad said, shaking his head in disbelief.
.............................................................................
Andy was getting text updates from Brad and was rattled by what had occurred. As unstable as Steve was, Paige literally could have been killed by him that afternoon. Andy felt a chill run up his spine.
As he walked the officers out of his house, he quietly informed them of what had transpired at Steve's. They appreciated the heads up and assured Andy they would let him know if, and when, Steve was released.
Andy wasn't going to tell Paige anything about this tonight. In fact, he was probably going to leave it to Brad to tell her...assuming he was coming back, that is.
Andy texted Brad, letting him know the police were done on his end. Brad said he was going to clean up some of the mess at Steve's and then go home.
I'm not telling Paige, Andy texted.
I will, Brad replied.
When?
I don't know, Brad admitted.
I know you're mad. I am too. But she needs you.
I know, Brad replied.
Will you contact her tomorrow?, Andy asked.
Yeah.
...........................................................................
Brad roamed through Steve's house, looking at all the destruction. An external display of his internal pain. Steve had told him he didn't understand but Brad knew he did. The thought of how easily Paige could have been lost to him forever tonight had grabbed him when they were watching the surveillance footage. And seeing Steve in the state he was in actually made Brad more terrified of how close he was to losing her. Paige could have been the furniture Steve took his rage out on with the axe.
Brad got the point from Andy's texts that he wanted to make sure Brad wasn't leaving her, and he didn't intend to, but he was having a hard time wrapping his mind around all of this. Around all of her behaviors which didn't make sense to him. She seemed determined to self-destruct and he couldn't understand why. He needed some distance to think. He felt hurt and betrayed, and it was hard to be empathetic toward Paige when he was feeling that way.
Brad sighed. He should be mad at Steve, and he was, but not like he had been an hour ago. Now, he mostly felt sorry for him. Brad grabbed the kitchen garbage can, pulled the garbage out, tied up the bag, then started loading up the broken dishes into the plastic bin.
.............................................................................
Andy and Kendra watched a defeated, emotional Paige leave the living room and head upstairs.
Kendra looked up at Andy from where she had been sitting next to Paige on the couch.
"I don't even have words", she said, leaning back against the couch and rubbing her hands through her hair.
"It gets worse", Andy said, sitting down next to her. "Brad says Steve is suicidal. He was wasted, tore the house up, and apparently tried to shoot Brad while threatening to shoot himself".
"Oh my God!", Kendra said, sitting bolt upright and clapping her hand over her mouth. Her golden brown eyes were huge. "Are they both okay?"
"Yeah", Andy said, pinching the bridge of his nose and squeezing his eyes shut. "I'm getting too old for this shit", he said. "Steve's in custody and Brad's cleaning up the house. Brad is not coming back here tonight but he promised me he would tell Paige what happened tomorrow. We're not going to be the ones to tell her", he informed Kendra, who nodded.
"I can't comprehend what she's been thinking", Kendra said. "I understand her explanation but it isn't logical. I think she might need more counseling, Andy. I really do. I think she's still messed up from Jay".
"You might be right", Andy agreed. "I mean, once a week for over a year seems sufficient, but clearly she's not making the decisions that we all think she should, so something is still wrong".
"Let's see if she can come to the same conclusion without us telling her what to do", Kendra said, rubbing Andy's knee.
"Yeah", Andy said. "Well, I'm going to bed. Hopefully she doesn't sneak out while I'm sleeping".
Kendra looked horrified at the thought. "Maybe you should sleep down here", she suggested.
"Yeah. Maybe I will", he answered. "It will make me feel better anyway".
She kissed his cheek. "I'll bring you some blankets", she said.
.............................................................................
I lay on my bed with no intention of falling asleep. My heart was aching with regret, remorse, despair. How did I keep doing the wrong thing and making the situation worse than it already was?
Tears kept leaking out as the same thoughts kept running through my head over and over.
Steve doesn't have a job now, and he's not going to be able to get one because he's going to have assault and a restraining order on his record.
I've disrupted Kendra and Andy's life. Again.
Andy is going to have more legal fees dealing with this restraining order.
Brad doesn't want to see me anymore.
No one understands why I left with Steve, including me.
I thought I understood my thought process, but by the looks on everyone's faces, including the officers, my thought process was faulty. I felt slightly crazy and a lot in the wrong. I hated being wrong more than almost anything. Probably second only to asking for help.
.............................................................................
Brad slept fitfully for a few hours, got up, showered, and ate breakfast. Shortly after, he texted Andy.
How is she?
He didn't feel the need to elaborate. Andy would know exactly what he meant. When he didn't get a reply he decided to work out. He lifted some weights, did situps and push ups, then checked his phone. Nothing. He decided to go for a long run.
As he settled into a comfortable rhythm, he came to some conclusions.
First, Paige was messed up. From her childhood, from Jay, or from both. He didn't know if she had ever been in, or was currently in therapy, but he felt very strongly that she needed it. It wasn't her fault but something needed to be done about it because she could have been murdered, twice now, by fiancΓ©s.
Second, Brad wasn't going anywhere, regardless of all that. He had meant it every time he said it, and he meant it now, but in order for him to stay, she was going to have to get help. There was no way he could live in fear of her putting herself in danger like that every day.
Third, Steve's life was a wreck, and he also needed help, but hopefully he was getting the help he needed right now.
Fourth, Jay needed to be punished for what he had done to Paige. The physical damage was bad enough, but she had been mentally and emotionally damaged as result of the abuse and manipulation she had endured at his hands, and the effect was longer lasting.
When Brad got back, he checked his phone again. Andy had replied.
Not real great. Lmk when you plan to come. I need to talk to you first.
Brad sighed. He thought about her crying and screaming for him the night before and got a pang in his chest. He could imagine she probably had a rough night.
Brad checked the time then gave Andy an ETA of noon.
Text when you're on your way, and don't tell Paige you're coming, was the reply.
Brad wondered what was up.
Within the hour he had showered again, changed, and ate lunch.
Brad texted Andy when he got in the truck and Andy called him within a couple minutes.
"Hey", Brad answered.
"How are you doing with everything?", Andy asked, by way of greeting.
"I'm okay", Brad replied. "Just trying to wrap my head around it".
"Same", Andy replied. "I feel like it's three years ago, all over again".
"Has Paige ever had counseling?", Brad asked.
"Yep. I paid for her to go once a week for over a year, out of pocket, because she didn't have insurance then. I'm not bragging, that's just how I know the details is because I was paying the bill", Andy explained.
Brad frowned. He wasn't expecting that answer. "You have any idea if they talked about Jay?"
"Well, that's the reason we sent her but I guess I don't know exactly what they discussed in therapy. It's interesting you bring this up because what I wanted to tell you was that Kendra and I believe she needs more counseling. We think Jay really messed with her mind, and what we're seeing in her interactions with Steve is how she learned she had to behave with Jay in order to survive".
"That's really fucked up", Brad said.
"Yeah, man, I know. Believe it or not, she was in a much worse condition three years ago".
"I believe it. What can I do?", Brad asked.
"We need to get her to see she needs counseling without coming directly out and telling her she has to. If we tell her, she will get defensive and refuse. We need her to decide on her own".
"Makes sense", Brad said.
"You still mad at her?", Andy asked.
"Nah, just hurt", he replied, honestly.
"Okay. The police are supposed to let me know if Steve gets released. The restraining order isn't going to get processed until Monday but Kendra has the paperwork already drafted to keep Steve out of the building. We need Paige's manager, Heidi, to check it over and make sure we aren't missing anything. I can't ask Paige to look at it".
"No, you can't", Brad agreed.
"Anything else?", Andy asked.
"Not that I can think of", Brad answered.
"Okay, I'll give her a heads up you're on your way. See you soon".
.............................................................................
I hadn't really slept at all, nor had I even changed. Sometime mid-morning Kendra checked if I wanted anything to eat and brought me some coffee. I drank that but refused food. She told me she didn't know anything else about Brad or Steve. I had her help me put the bags over my cast and took a shower. I felt a little better after that but only laid back down.
Andy checked on me close to noon. He looked concerned, and I was reminded of the worried look that had constantly been on his face for at least six months after my accident. I told him I was okay and he looked doubtful.
"Sweetheart, you put me through hell last night", he said. "I need to know you're not going to do something like that again".
Tears sprang to my eyes. "I know, Andy. Saying I'm sorry can't take it back but I'm really, really so very sorry. You and Kendra mean the world to me and I keep dragging you into these situations I get myself into".
"What are you going to do about it?", Andy asked me.
I shrugged. "I don't know. Obviously I was wrong. I don't think that because you and Brad told me I was wrong. I also saw the look on Kendra's face, and on the faces of the two officers who were here that never even met me before. I don't know why I didn't see things the way you all saw them until it was too late".
"That's what you need to figure out", he told me, giving me a hug. "Brad is on his way over. Is there anything you need before he gets here?"
"Does he want to see me?", I asked.
"Uh, yeah, you're the reason he's coming", Andy smiled at me.
"I wasn't sure he'd ever want to see me again after last night", I said, relief flooding through my veins like an elixir.
"'Course he does. He's not going to run at the first sign of trouble", Andy assured me. "He's made of stronger stuff than that".
He kissed me on top of my head as he left and I re-evaluated my appearance. I decided to change into dark gray leggings, a mustard yellow long flowy blouse, and a denim jacket. I put on a pair of navy canvas Converse and quickly applied some makeup. I was getting better with my cast hand but it was tricky. My hair was still damp. I sprayed some curl spray in it to help combat the frizz and left it loose.
As I headed downstairs, I could hear quiet voices and then Brad's gorgeous frame came into view in the living room. He was standing, talking with Kendra, in faded jeans and a brown and blue flannel. He looked up and his eyes met mine. He looked tired, sad, and disappointed. He hadn't ever looked at me like that before and the change was almost too much to bear.
Kendra smiled encouragingly at me and excused herself.
"Let's go for a walk", Brad said, offering me his arm. I took it willingly, grateful he was allowing me touch him. We went out the patio door and down the back porch into the yard. There wasn't anywhere to really walk to but plenty of yard to roam around in.
"Brad, I am so sorry", I started, voice breaking.
"Are you okay?", he asked, not looking at me, which hurt my heart so much.
"I'm fine", I assured him, "aside from all the guilt I feel about everything I put you, Andy, and Kendra through. I wish I could take it back. If I could go back and do it differently, I would".
I looked up at him hopefully. He was still looking forward as we walked.
"Paige, I need to know that you aren't going to expose yourself to Steve, or Jay for that matter, ever again". He turned to me and met my gaze. "I need your word that you aren't going to communicate with either of those men, without my knowledge, ever again".
I nodded. "I won't. I am so sorry I didn't tell you".
He continued, "I need your word that you will never go anywhere with either of them willingly again, and that if either of them were to approach you in the future, your instant reaction would be to call the police or me before they even tell you what they want".
I nodded again, eyes swimming. "I promise".
He put his hands on my shoulders. "I need to know that you are serious", he said, and he definitely looked it himself.
"I am".
"Because I cannot go through that again", he said, "especially when you made the choice to put yourself in that situation".
The tears fell down my cheeks. "Brad, please forgive me. I've done a lot of stupid things but that was one of the stupidest".
"Paige, I can't get over the fact that he could have killed you right then, in his truck, with his bare hands, and I wouldn't have even known you were missing. I've only just found you and I could have lost you forever". His voice caught and tears welled up in his beautiful icy blue eyes. "How could I live with that?"
"He wouldn't do that", I protested. "He might have lost his temper a couple times but he loves me. He wouldn't kill me".
Brad's face changed. He looked almost...sympathetic, maybe?
"You were in so much more danger than you even know", he said. He hadn't lifted his hands from my shoulders yet.
"What do you mean?", I asked. "Andy wouldn't tell me anything about what happened between you two last night".
Brad released my shoulders and took his phone from his pocket.
"Look", he said quietly, and brought up a picture of the Steve's backyard. The patio furniture was in pieces all over the yard. He slowly flipped through the rest. I felt sick and slightly dizzy. Every photo showed destruction, rage, lack of control. I felt a chill go up my spine at the last picture of the axe blade buried in the wall.
"What he did to that house he could have done to your body", Brad said quietly. I looked up at his furrowed brow.
"What happened when you got there?", I asked, scrutinizing Brad's face. I didn't see any new injuries.
"He was sitting at the table, completely wasted, waving a gun around and talking about shooting himself".
I felt my breath catch in my throat.
"Then he tried to talk me into shooting him instead, and when I refused, he tried to shoot me".
Now I felt lightheaded for sure. I grabbed Brad's arm to steady myself but still felt like I couldn't breathe.
"I wrestled the gun away and it went off, but the only thing it shot was the ceiling. Then I called the police and they took him away".
"Paige?" was the last thing I heard before everything faded away.
.............................................................................
I could hear Brad calling my name but it sounded muffled and far away. I tried to open my eyes, then I could hear him more clearly.
He sounds scared, I thought.
"Paige! Open your eyes!", he kept repeating.
I finally was able to and found myself looking up at a very upset Brad leaning over me, hair hanging in his face.
"Oh thank God. Baby, are you okay?", he asked, looking relieved.
"I couldn't breathe", I said. "I can't believe he almost killed you".
"Now you know exactly how I feel", Brad said.
"I'm so sorry", I said, starting to cry again. "It's my fault that he almost killed you...and himself. Is he going to get psychiatric help?"
"I would assume they will hold him for a psychological evaluation and go from there, because he did try to hurt himself, you, and me", Brad said. "They will let Andy know if he's released, though, so I don't want you to worry".
"It's my fault Steve wants to die", I whispered.
"No, it is NOT", Brad said firmly. "I knew you were going to blame yourself. It's not your fault. You have been trying to tell him for months. He didn't want to see it. If you had actually gotten married, he would have been miserable in the long run, too. You being honest about your feelings did both of you a favor". He shook his head. "From what he said last night, I don't think it's just the loss of you that's got him in this state".
"How do you mean?", I asked.
"I think he feels like he's running out of time. He's in his thirties, and he thought he would have already been married by now and on his way to filling that house up with kids. I think ever since he lost his parents, his life goal was to have a big family to replace what he lost".
"I think...that makes a lot of sense", I agreed. "How awful for him".
"Yeah". Brad looked sad and uncomfortable. "I feel really bad for him".
"Brad, how can I fix all of this?", I asked him, still on my back, tears trickling down into my ears.
"I think you need to find out how to change your thought process to ensure you make better choices next time something like this comes up", he said.
I nodded. That was essentially what I had been considering.
"After my accident, I was in psychotherapy for about a year and a half. I thought I was good to go, and it was difficult to get to appointments when I started working for Andy, so I stopped". I paused. "I'm thinking maybe I should start up again".
"I think that's a great idea", Brad said, "and I fully support you doing it". He leaned in and kissed me on my forehead, then moved back inches from my face and asked, "Do you want to try sitting up?"
"Yeah".
He put his hand under my head and guided me to sitting. I felt fine.
"I'm okay", I assured him.
"Let me guess, you haven't eaten yet today, either", he asked softly.
I shook my head no, cheeks coloring.
"Paige...".
I didn't even let him finish. "I know, I need to take better care of myself", I said before he could say it.
"Yeah", he breathed. "I'd really appreciate it if you did".
"Okay. I'm ready to eat", I told him.
He stood, then took my hand and helped me up, wrapping the other around my waist as I stood. He let go of my hand and placed his palm against the side of my face. I put my hand on his arm. He didn't say anything, just stared into my eyes for what felt like forever, silently communicating from his soul to mine. Finally he leaned in to kiss me- slow, long, and gentle.
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*So much drama... Please vote for more*