Chapter 12 - MICHAEL'S ANGER
Michael struggled after the case.
Not Claire.
Michael.
He replayed the foyer constantly.
Daniel raising the baton.
Claire on the floor.
The bruises.
He wanted harsher punishment.
He wanted Daniel afraid forever.
Claire told him:
“I need you to stop making my life the place you store your rage.”
Michael stared.
“I’m angry because I love you.”
“I know.”
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Be my brother.”
Not prosecutor.
Not bodyguard.
Not avenger.
Her brother.
Michael entered therapy.
He hated it.
Then admitted he had built part of his identity around protecting Claire since childhood.
Their father died when she was fourteen.
Michael was twenty.
He became the person who fixed things.
Cars.
Bills.
Bad landlords.
Breakups.
But Daniel’s abuse happened inside a marriage Michael could not see.
That made him feel useless.
So he wanted revenge to restore usefulness.
Claire said:
“You got there when I needed you.”
Michael looked down.
“Barely.”
“You got there.”
That became enough.
Then Claire asked him something harder.
“Would you have kicked Daniel if he hadn’t raised the baton?”
Michael thought.
“Yes.”
She sighed.
“I know.”
He apologized.
The rescue had been necessary.
But he understood Claire did not want violence to become the family language on her side either.
Then Michael told her:
“I’m proud of you.”
Claire immediately said:
“For surviving?”
“No.”
“For making decisions when every man around you thinks he knows what you should do.”
May you like
She laughed.
“Better.”
