✔Vengeful Valentine

Thirteen: Adam

"What the hell's wrong with you, Archie?"

My brother remained silent in the backseat of my truck. Not even my cherry car freshener could ward off his awful BO though. Where the hell had he been lying low? In the damn dump? Archie couldn't even provide a good enough defense for the bullshit stunt he just pulled. I was glad he didn't try to either because that would've resulted in a huge ass fight. While I always tried giving him the benefit of the doubt, that blew it for me. I was done being nice with him. If he wanted to fuck up his life, fine. Just keep Everly out of it.

I arrived back at the police station in no time. Archie kept quiet all the way inside, not bothering to apologize for his actions either. It was clear that he didn't care. His only concern was finding his fix. The meth stole my brother away. It turned him into a despicable person who cared about no one but himself. I hated him when he got that way. I just wanted to knock some sense into his ass.

"You're gonna put your own brother in jail?" Archie scoffed as I led him up the sidewalk. "That'll teach me a lesson for sure. Shows that my family doesn't give a fuck about me."

"Look, you little asshole. We've done everything for you, yet all you've done to repay us is get high again. Do you wanna live like this for the rest of your life? Like a dirty bum?" I asked him. "I want to help you get clean again. You can go back to that rehab center–"

"Fuck that place. You'd have to drag my dead body there to get me back," Archie spat.

I rolled my eyes. "You're being ridiculous. But whatever. We won't waste our time and money on you anymore then. I'm tired of your bullshit, I'll be honest. I'll give Adrian a call and let him handle you."

"Real nice. Always pawning me off to Adrian. Is that what you'll do when you get tired of Everly?" Archie smirked. "I'm sure her hot ass could turn him straight."

"You think just because we're in the police station I won't smack the hell out of you?" Gritting my teeth, I wrenched his arm and led him to an empty interrogation room, away from prying eyes. "What the fuck is your problem? Your own life is going to shit, so you gotta poke fun at mine? At least I don't smell like I just climbed out of the sewer."

"Well, I'm not the only one with stains on their clothes." Archie pointed to my uniform shirt. "Fuck even is that?"

"Spit up. But that's not what we're here to talk about."

"Spit up?" Archie frowned. "Like, from a baby?"

I groaned. "Yeah."

"Holy fuck. Did y'all steal a baby?" Archie questioned, eyes widened and jaw about to drop. "Man, I never would've expected that in a million years.."

Massaging my temples, I tried to resist the urge to strangle my dumbass brother. "No. I went to visit my good friend, Larry. He's got a baby and a two year old. Jeez, you're too high to think reasonable."

"That's all you ever gotta say to me anymore. Just bitchin about how I get high. You don't even wanna ask how I'm doing." Archie rested his head down on the table.

"It's pretty clear how you're doing," I told him.

"Yeah, go on. Tell me how I'm the fuck up of the family. I heard that a hundred times already."

"You want me to pity you, and I'm not gonna. I'm not momma or even Adrian. I see through this bullshit. In a few minutes, you're going to beg me for money. But you'll promise it isn't for drugs. You'll want some shampoo and body wash to use at the motel. You'll need some supper money too. They might fall for that crap, but I won't anymore. Want food? I'll go grab something from the vending machine here. Want a bath? I'll take you back to Everly's and hose you down in the backyard."