Page 68 of Twisted Redemption
He never shamed me for my body.
He never told me he wished I didn’t exist.
He did make me work to earn his love, though.
But abusive? It feels like a cop out. An excuse to push all of my blame onto someone else because I was a victim. It makes me feel weak. How stupid do I have to be to go from one abuser to another?
“I’m not saying that you need to tell Blaze everything. I think it’ll help him to understand, though.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t fight for him.”
Dominic’s left eye twitches. “You shouldn’t’ve fucking had to. David never should’ve placed you in that position.”
I frown. “I suppose that’s one way of looking at it.”
Dom waves his hand. “That’s not exactly the reason I’m here. I talked to Blaze last night. He wants to fix things. He’s told you that, right? Apologized?”
I nod.
“I suggested that he starts going to therapy. You know, to work through everything.” He pauses, gauging my reaction.
I give him a half-smile and a nod so he’ll continue.
“I want it to be as... effective as possible, I guess. So I want your permission to also talk to his therapist—to let them hear your side of the story. That way Blaze doesn’t frame everything to make you look like the bad guy. You know, even if it’s unintentional.”
“You want me to go to couples therapy with your brother?”
“What? No! No. I understand you don’t trust him, Brooke. I wouldn’t make you spill your heart out in front of him like that. I don’t even want to ask you to rehash everything you had to go through with David. I’d explain everything to his therapist. I think I have a pretty good idea what happened.” He raises an eyebrow, like he’s asking me to clarify.
“You know enough.”
“Would it be okay? If I told his therapist everything?”
My fingers drift to the daisy pendant around my neck. “You think it’ll help him work through everything?”
If you and Blaze are both willing to fight for each other, you very well might be able to make this work.
Dominic pauses for a moment before turning so he’s completely facing me. He takes my hands in his, squeezing. “I don’t know. But I know Blaze. And I know how desperate he sounded last night. Brooke, there isn’t a single thing he wouldn’t do to make things right again. And I think therapy is probably the healthiest, safest way to go about it.”
“You mean that?” I whisper.
Dominic nods solemnly.
“Okay. Then yes. You have my permission.” My stomach flips at the thought, but if this is what we need, then I’ll allow it. I don’t know if I could admit to the extent of my hurt in front of him, not fully, so this is probably for the best.
“Thank you, Brooke.” Dominic’s voice is quiet. “You mean everything to him. I’m sorry that he hurt you.”
“Funny how those two things are connected, huh?” I laugh. “He hurt me because I’m his everything—and I hurt him.”
Dominic squeezes my hands one last time before letting them go. “You’re both each other’s everythings. It’s why I know you’ll work things out. The world hasn’t been right without the two of you together. And it won’t be until you’re back where you belong.”
Tears fill my eyes, but I blink them back.
He gives me a sad smile. “I don’t want to say this, but I feel like I have to. If things get worse—if he goes back to treating you like shit—I need you to tell me. Please.”
“I will.”
He stands. “I’m gonna go now.”