Page 68 of The Protection Agreement

“Keep watching,” I say to Ice as I get up to leave the room. “I need to check on Jola,” I say, checking my watch. We have been in the room for about twenty minutes, and fucking David probably did not go back up.

I move fast, racing toward the living room, and get there in time to see my asshole brother on his knees, running his hands slowly over her thigh. Rage fills me as I charge toward him and toss him across the room, making a loud bang as he hits the TV and everything crashes on him. I go to him and begin punching him hard until I am pulled away by Ice. He tries to get up, and I charge toward him again, but Ice holds me back. I am probably going to end his life tonight.

“Stop!” I hear my dad yell. David makes the reasonable decision to stay down. I look toward Jola; she is sleeping through it all. Her dress is up. I go to her and pick her up. She curls into me.

“I love you, Bruce,” she mumbles. I carry her up the stairs to our room and put her in bed.

“Good night, beautiful,” I say, kissing her lips. She does not stir. I have a love and hate for this pill. If she did not take it, she would have kicked David and screamed for me, but if she had not taken it, there is the possibility of her having nightmares. I sit for a moment with her to calm my rage. I hear footsteps. I kiss her forehead and step out of the room to meet my dad’s sorry face.

“I am sorry, son,” his voice cracks with emotion. “David told me what he did. I have called Lincoln to come and take him to the hospital, then to his house. He is not allowed back here while she is here,” Dad says, but I do not respond.

“Is she okay?” he asks, his voice laced with concern.

“She is asleep and does not know. She is vulnerable when she takes that pill, and she trusted she was in a safe place, which is why she took it. I need to speak to him before he leaves. I need to know exactly what he did to her,” I say through clenched teeth.

“I do not think that is a good idea. Please, Bruce, let me speak to him. We raised both of you in the same house, yet one saves and the other destroys. I do not know where I went wrong with him, but I also do not want you to kill him.” He looks sad and frightened that I might cross the line and kill my brother. My rage is currently lidded.

“I just need to know what he did. I cannot keep it from her. Trust is a currency you cannot buy. Plus, she will see the mess in the morning. I will not lie to her, Dad.”

He gives a slight nod after I finish speaking, then turns toward the stairs, sensing my unwavering determination. I follow in solemn silence. We get to the living room. I find Ice standing guard, watching David, his lips busted, eyes swollen, and some blood on his face. He sees me and shrivels.

I sit on the coffee table and pull it closer to him. “You clearly have no inkling of who I am and what I am capable of. If you did, you would not have looked at my woman, let alone touched her.”

He attempts to get up, and Ice forces him back down. He looks at Dad, who is behind me, and whatever he sees makes him realize he crossed a line. “Now, I need you to tell me exactly what happened and what you did, if you want to leave here alive.” His eyes widen just as I hear my dad gasp. Deep down, we both sense that my brother could assault a woman, yet I never imagined he would try to assault my girl with me nearby. “You better start talking.”

He pauses, his silence hanging heavily in the air for a moment.

“I came down to get some water and some snacks. I finished snacking and drank some water. As I was heading up, I heard her say, ‘kiss me.’ I moved closer to her and noticed she was asleep. I called her name, she did not respond. She moved and her dress rode up, showing her legs.” He looks down, like he is hoping the ground will save him.

“She smiled and said, ‘kiss me.’ I moved closer to her and touched her face. I kissed her forehead and her cheeks, she giggled. I wanted to leave, I swear, but she looked so beautiful. I touched her hair to feel the texture, and she giggled again. I slowly touched her legs and moved my hands up her thigh; I was getting close to her—” He pauses. “When you threw me.” He quietly says

I’m raging, but I maintain control because if I do not, I will kill him.

“Did she say, ‘kiss me,’ or did she say, ‘kiss me, Bruce’?” I counter. I know he is omitting that part. He is quiet and looks down.

“Answer!” I growl. I have been around her long enough to know she is specific on her requests, even in that state of unconsciousness.

“She said, ‘kiss me, Bruce.’”

Right on instinct, I punch him in the face. His nose starts to bleed more.

“Fuck you for doing this,” I yell at him. “What else did you do?” I bark at him.

“Nothing, I did not do anything else, I swear,” he pleads, trying to get out of the chair and run, but Ice keeps him in.

“What did you plan to do before I showed up?” I ask in a calm and deadly tone, looking him straight in the eye.

“I did not plan anything. I just got enthralled looking at her and I wanted to touch her.” His voice shakes. He wipes blood from his nose with his torn T-shirt.

“You better thank your angels that I stopped you before you got too far. Because I would not think twice about killing you.”

I hear Dad exhale.

“I have killed for less,” I continue, locking eyes with him. “Once Lincoln picks you up, you do not ever come here when I am here. If Dad calls you and you know I am here, do not show your face. This is your first and final warning.”

“Bruce, please, I need help. I am sorry. It will not happen again,” he cries, but I know he is lying.

“I do not give a shit what you need. Stay the fuck away from me!” I stare directly into his eyes, each word delivered with unwavering focus.