Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

“I can’t. Go!Go!” he begged while opening his eyes and clearly conveying to methat it was now or never.

In the back ofyour mind you think that there could come a time in your life whereyou may be faced with the decision to fight or to take flight. Ithink all of us like the notion that we would chose to stay andfight if we had to, but in hindsight that may not always be thebest choice. If I didn’t have family that loved me, children Iadored and who depended on me, and a life growing deep within thatI was blessed with protecting, I may have stayed and helped Garethfight. I wanted to but I didn’t. I chose flight and ran, ran asfast as I could.

I scamperedthrough the lounge and straight to the elevator, thinking it wasthe quickest way out of the apartment, all the while hearing Garethcursing and fighting in the kitchen. His cries of misery andanguish pierced my heart deep as I pressed the button, hoping toGod the cart was this end of the building. Come on, please comeon.

Panicked,frantic and knowing I couldn’t waste another second waiting for theelevator, I went to abandon it and try the stairs. Thankfully, as Iturned around, the doors slid open.

I ran insideand hysterically pressed the button to close the doors. “Go, go,go!” I shouted, willing the doors to slide shut and swiftly take meto safety. My agitation and fear were increasing at the sound ofGareth’s outbursts getting louder and I knew he was losing, losinghis internal fight. “Please!” I screamed, as I backed up slowly tothe far end of the cart.

The doorsbegan to slide shut, painstakingly slowly, and just as the elevatorstarted to descend, there was an enormous explosion. I screamed asthe cart shook violently, thinking that it would plummet 43 floorsto the ground, but it didn’t. It dropped only slightly then shookviolently again, knocking me off my feet.

I felt a surgeof pain through my head as I hit the hand railing, and almostinstantly, I recognised that feeling of sleep, that feeling oflosing control. I felt that feeling of unconsciousness and watchedmy sight tunnel into darkness with no power to stop it.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FOUR

Bryce

As I made myway back to work, I realised Gareth’s prognosis wasn’t good eventhough he’d been taking his meds daily. I’d fucking made him takethem in front of me like a God damned child, and I hated having todo it like that, but I’d had to—there was no choice.

It worried methat Jessica had mentioned he’d missed a few sessions, which wasnever a good thing, and now the evidence before us suggested hewould need to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital ward. I hatedthat, I hated having to commit him to such a place. When all wassaid and done, I fucking loved the poor guy; he was my cousin—mybrother. Deep down I knew it had to be done, though. Alexis waspregnant 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 letanything happen to any of them. They were my family now, and I hadto do everything in my power to protect them.

Fuck! I neededto call my uncle and tell the miserable old bastard that his sonwould be spending some more time in the hospital. Not that he’dgive a shit. It made me furious knowing he wouldn’t care, he neverhad. He only cared about one thing and that was money. It’s ironichow miserable bastards only ever seem to care about things theydon’t have, can never have—explains why they are so fuckingmiserable in the first place.

I went torequest that the Bluetooth on my car dial my uncle’s number, whenan incoming call came through the speaker. It was Gareth. Thankfuck for that.

“Gareth, whereare you? I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“If only thatwere true, Bryce. I’m where I always am, right under your nose,” hesaid sarcastically, but with a tone of sadness.

My stomachclenched, my instincts immediately telling me something waswrong.

“Are you okay?Do you want to talk?” I offered, sincerely.

“I’m pasttalking.”

His voice wasflat, and that just reiterated my unease. Fuck! I’ve neglectedhim lately, pushed him aside.

“Listen, Iknow I have been distant with you lately, so much has happened, butI promise that will change. Things will get better.”

I had ahorrible feeling I wasn’t talking to Gareth, instead talking toScott. Remembering what Jessica had told me many times before, Ispoke of things that would make Gareth happy.

“You’re takingyour meds again, Mate, and you’ve been doin’ good. You’ve also gotSamantha. She cares about you and was really worried lastnight.”

“I don’tfucking want Samantha, Bryce. I want you. I’ve always wanted you,”he screamed down the phone, hurt and pain sounding throughout myAston Martin.

Painful sobsthen followed, filling me with dread. It is Scott. I should’veknown better. Fuck!

“Scott, whatare you doing?

“I’m endingit, and I’m taking her with me.”

It took me asecond to comprehend those last words, and when I did understandhis threat, my chest pained immensely.

“Bryce, I loveyou. I’ll always love you. Tell the kids I love—.”

Alexis’terrified voice hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Alexis!” Ishouted, frantic with fear.

“Shut up,bitch. You don’t get to say goodbye,” Scott hissed with suchhatred.

She cried out,her petrified weeps echoing right through me.

Oh God, he’sgoing to hurt her. I have to do something.

“Scott, pleasedon’t hurt her. I beg you. I’ll do anything. I’ll leave her and wecan be together.” Yes, lie to him. Trick him. Make sure she’ssafe then have him committed. Shit! He’s worse than any of usrealised. Fuck! How could I let this happen? I’ve fucking let herdown again.

Scott pausedfor a second as if he were deliberating what I’d said.

“No. You’relying. I can see how much you love her,” he answered dryly.

Feeling utterdread pass over me, I whispered to the speaker of my car. “I loveyou more, Scott.”

“No, youdon’t. Goodbye, Bryce.”

Terror hit mewith force in that moment. “Scott, don’t be fucking stupid. I swearto God if you hurt any hair on her head, I’ll kill you. I’llfucking kill you myself.”