Obedience Lessons

Chapter Thirty-two

Dylan's POV

Two Years Ago, December 10, 2016

Liam was pissed. The sight of it threw me, since he so rarely lost his temper. Watching it was like seeing a flower kill someone, the sight ridiculous, shocking and entirely unexpected.

"I'm not the enemy here," I tried to placate him in a low, calming tone, as if I was addressing a wounded animal. From the lounge chair in his office, I could see his body actually trembling from rage behind his desk.

"Really? I'm beginning not to see the difference! Dad's right about you," He screeched at me, driving shards into my heart. Liam used bitchiness. It's super effective!

"Right about what?" I was afraid to ask.

"You're selfish! And you suck everything that's good from people, you're a taker Dylan. You don't know when to stop and stand up for yourself, you always think you're better than everyone, but you're a coward. You're a fucking coward, Dylan..." I didn't care to see my brother's tears even though I knew his anger was misdirected. Those words hurt because I feared the truth in them.

"I'm the coward?" I shouted, nastily the thought came into my head, "I'm not the one who can't even stand up to dad. At least I don't roll over and do tricks."

"Oh you of all fucking people know about doing tricks." Liam's tone was bitter. "I was drunk Dylan, not dead, I saw you take Jean right from on top of me. And fine! I'd always lose the guy to you, because you're more confident, and sexy and everything I'm not but that no excuse to treat me the way you did."

"I knew this was about that guy! He's nothing, he's just another fuck."

"It's always another fuck with you, isn't it? Couldn't you for once just think about someone besides yourself?" His words brought several million pinpricks into my conscience.

"What do you want from me?" I threw out my arms, as if it held some gift to make it all better. I was angry, but it was nothing in front of Liam. His judgment was like that of an avenging angel, and it sobered me up quicker than anything else could.

"How about you do your job? I've had this company even while I was studying in college, I've always borne dad's expectations and I've been doing what they've wanted all this time, I've never asked you for anything before, but Dylan, I can't do this on my own anymore, I need you to be here. Be a part of this fucked up family instead of on the sidelines watching me get torn to pieces. Dylan I fucking need you, because I'm drowning in all this shit and I can't depend on anyone else.... You're all I've got." His stark blue eyes were intent, arresting my gaze with an earnest I'd never seen before. He really was fragile right now. My brother had finally reached his limit.

I made my way around his work desk and threw my arms around him, hating the tension between us. "So I'm here."

"And you'll help," His voice came weak, and tired, as if he was just tired of fighting.

"Yes, I'll help, I promise."

I awoke to darkness with pressure around my shoulders and someone stroking my back. My shirt was soaked right through with cold sweat and I was struggling against the person holding me without thinking.

"Dylan, Dylan, it's me! It's Andy, I'm right here," Andy's voice, commanding although tinged with panic stilled me. What was he doing here? He shouldn't have to see me like this, after a night terror. I didn't even want to remember what it was about... for me it just confused the world in my head with the actual world, blurring the lines between imagined and real, the realm of dreams and the world of wakefulness. It felt real.

My eyes finally focused and I saw him, his worried face hovered over my own and I wondered how I could have missed those piercing golden eyes before. I must have been so out of it. "Hold onto me," I called as if I was still far away. I didn't want him to let go, if he did something bad would happen, I was sure of it. Andy would chase away the bad dreams as long as he held me.

"I'll always hold onto you," I heard him reply and his words vibrated through his chest and spread all over me in warm tingles. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Talking about it was the last thing I wanted to do. I hadn't remembered how cruel sweet Liam could have been. And I didn't want to remember how his words had sliced me up that day. It was real alright, Liam had been right after all. Here I was taking again, this time from the young and beautiful college student with a bright future ahead of him. I deserved a fucking medal from the leeches. I was the best of them. I shook my head frantically, no. No I wouldn't talk to Andy about this. "Just a bad dream."

"You were shaking... and calling out in your sleep, I -" Andy's eyes were red rimmed and I knew it was hard for him to see me like that. "I tried to wake you after I realized you could have hurt yourself."

"I'm fine now, it's nothing," I insisted.

His face showed that he had no intention of forgetting it, but he let it drop for now. I kissed him for that little understanding and reveled in the softness of his lips. He was gentle with me, probably guessing I couldn't handle any more sharp edges for the moment.

"I'm in love with you," He murmured into my hair when our lips separated. I stilled, wondering if he was actually fully conscious right now. Had he just said that he loved me? I was holding my breath, listening to see if he would say anything else to show he was awake. But he didn't say anything else, and his breathing had deepened.

I drifted back to sleep with a heart heavy with all the words I should have said. Four little words shouldn't have been so heavy. I love you too.

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A/N: Food for the romantic soul. And also a little for the dramatic soul, yes I know... 180 degrees from last chapter.

But was it worth it? I had to drop the 'I Love You' after all! Tell me what you think.

See ya next time with Andy's POV again.

You'll see more action up ahead from Andy's POV and Dylan's will provide more back story and explanation of motives and reasons.

Shout out to readers in the USA, Russia and Japan!

Stay Golden.

-Ender Xen