Chapter 149: Let her go
1355words
Getting everything out in the open felt liberating and I wanted to keep going. I wanted lynn to completely trust me when I was all done. There would be nothing to hide from her after this.
"You should know the whole truth about my family before we tackle this. I want you to know everything," I told her.
She slightly nodded as her arms tightened around my neck. "I'm all ears, Drake."
This was going to be hard to get out, but it needed to be done. Figuring out where to start was the hard part, though.
"I grew up in a house that lacked any sort of love or respect. My father was an abusive alcoholic and my mom was so doped up on pills all the time that she was numb-"
"You left at fifteen years old because he beat you, right?" She asked, cutting me off.
I nodded. "I forgot that you know that part. It was rough, lynn. I grew up hating myself and I never thought I'd amount to anything. So I left, right?" She nodded before I continued. "I thought leaving would keep them out of my life, but I had two younger siblings that I felt horrible for leaving. They were just as lost as I was. I'd sneak back every few days to make sure they were cool and that they had food. Once I got a job, I only kept enough for my necessities and then the rest went to make sure they were good. But that all came to a stop when my dad came home from jail. I was a scared fifteen year old boy and his threats were terrifying. I ran and never looked back."
"Dakota understood years later and joined me here in Florida once I had settled. Diego, on the other hand, still blames me for a lot. He's done everything he can think of to destroy me, but nothing has worked. He thinks I stole Brooke from him. He thinks I stole a lot of things from him. Diego is vindictive and I don't trust him as far as I can throw him."
Lynn had moved from my lap as she continued to watch me. "Siblings will always butt heads, have you met mine? Well, the one I grew up with? She was a nightmare and I've finally defeated her. Now let's defeat yours."
I chuckled, wanting to pull her to me and kiss her, but I wouldn't. "Well, what do you suggest we do first?"
"Change the lock codes on your house for one thing and then... then we should get Dakota the help she truly needs. It's obvious that you can't help her anymore."
She was right. Dakota needed help that I couldn't give her. She'd just keep running back to Lex and then back to me when things got bad. I knew she'd hate me for what I was about to do, but I hoped she'd forgive me one day like she had all those years ago.
"I know of a treatment center that's like a hidden oasis. She'll be safe there and can receive the help she needs," I replied.
Lynn nodded. 'She might be angry with you at first, but she'll eventually see that you did this for her."
"I'll go make the call." I stood up and headed for the door. The number for this place was in a kitchen drawer after I had thoughts of sending her there the first time she came to me out of her mind.
"Change the lock code on your way down. I'm going to go check on her," lynn stated.
But then luis appeared out of nowhere and scared the hell out of me.
"What the hell, man? I thought you left."
He shrugged. "I don't mean to piss on your parade here, but you should know that your mom and brother are back. They brought the Miami PD."
"What?!" I screamed.
"The cops?! Why would they do that?" Lynn inquired as we made a run for the stairs.
We descended down as lynn and luis had their own little conversation behind me.
"You seriously left after scolding me to go buy a cherry slushie?" Lynn asked him with annoyance in her tone.
"Um, yeah! It's like a hundred degrees outside, lynn." Luis scoffed like it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard her ask.
And if I weren't so pissed off right now, I'd have laughed at that one. I had other things on my mind, though. Not only were my mom and Diego back, but they had brought the police. I was seeing red. It was probably a good thing they brought the police because I was going to kill them.
I nearly ripped my front door from its hinges when I opened it. Two police officers greeted me as my mom and brother stood just behind them.
"Are you Drake Hudson?" An officer asked me.
"You don't have to answer that, D-man," luis stated. "I've seen enough episodes of Law and Order to know that."
The cop scowled at luis. "And let me guess, you've seen enough episodes of Grey's Anatomy to make you a doctor too, right?"
Luis chuckled. "No, sir. I don't like blood."
"Shut up, lu I s," I snapped. "What is this all about officers?"
"We have a report that says you've been holding a Ms. Dakota Hudson against her will, and-"
"What?!" I barked out. "You're out of your mind! Dakota isn't here against her will! She fucking lives here!"
Just then I heard thuds coming down the steps and turned in enough time to find Dakota lugging her bags behind her. She marched straight for the front door as my jaw nearly hit the ground. Did she make the call? Or my vindictive mother and brother?
"Dakota, tell them you haven't been-"
"I'm going with them, Drake," she snapped, cutting me off.
I literally had no words while I stared at my sister. She was a complete stranger to me. Then my hot gaze turned to my mother and Diego. It was them. Ever since they'd been around, Dakota has been out of her damn mind. That's what they did!
"Dakota, you can't. Look at them!" I pointed to who was supposed to be our family. "You can't seriously be choosing them over me!"
I grabbed for her arm, but the two officers quickly got between us and let Dakota pass.
"We suggest you back down, Mr. Hudson. We don't want to arrest you if we don't have to. Ms. Hudson is coming with us."
I ground my teeth as I stepped back, feeling Lynn's hand on my arm. Then I stood there and watched my little sister walk away from me like it was nothing. She didn't even glance back over her shoulder once, but my prick of a brother did. The victorious smirk on his face told me everything I needed to know. Those pricks planned this and I didn't trust them as far as I could throw them. They weren't looking out for Dakota's best interest. No, they had a plan and I didn't have a good feeling about it.
They all disappeared from my driveway before I shut the door and turned to lynn and luis. I honestly had no idea what to say or do. I felt helpless all over again; something I hadn't felt since I was a kid still living under my parents thumb back in Chicago. I hated this feeling.
"It'll be okay, Drake," lynn whispered against my arm as she embraced me. "We'll help her get away from them."
But the anger I currently felt blinded any rational thought I might have had. "Fuck her," I spat. "If she wants to be with them, fucking let her. I'm sick of playing Daddy to her fucked up life."
I moved around lynn, heading for my office for some alone time. There was too much going through my head right now and I didn't want to accidentally take it out on either of them. They didn't deserve it.
