Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 88

Anders Point of View.

Anger pulses through my veins, the past 24-hours have been a total nightmare. Whilst helping out at Cal's house yesterday, I get a phone call, from a number I do not recognise. Answering, in case it is business was my first mistake. Billy, my f*****g younger brother, is in the s**t! My Elder brother has a 'business' of his own, one that includes the distribution of none prescription drugs to the locals in his area, the other lending money to those who cannot afford to pay for their purchases from him, or need cash for any other reason and cannot get it by legitimate means, where he charges extortionate rates of interest, and should they not pay, he will send some i***t goons to go harass them.

My younger brother was involved in the family 'Business' and had often sampled the 'product'. He had been caught dealing, was prosecuted, found guilty of supplying illegal substances, and sentenced to 5 years, and got out of jail 6 weeks ago. However, going to prison does not make an addict clean, if anything, they get worse.

Now his problem is, he was stealing from my eldest brother and my father, who have charged him for the product, plus the interest. He is now broken on the bottom, his supply cut off, and facing more than a few beatings as he cannot pay his family back. Yeah, I call them his family, because I do not class anyone who I share DNA with, as family.

Desperate and rattling, he called me last night with his tale of 'Woe is me. I really have no sympathy, however when Josie said she wanted to stay at hers last night, I did not argue, because I doubt I would have been good company to be around right now anyway. My second mistake was I didn't text Josie when I woke up this morning, because I wanted her to have a nice lay in. I did not want to wake her.

Yeah, I am regretting that now, because I have not spoken or been in communication with her all day, and I am not going to any time soon.

I arrive at work this morning, to find my youngest brother rattling in the reception, and the fucker has been here all day, whilst I try and get him into a rehab facility.

Should I just kick him out? Probably, and pre-Josie I would have without a second thought, but my beautiful feisty firefighter, and her compassion and want to help people, has kind of rubbed off on me. Plus, he is saying that he is determined he wants to get clean, and to put him back onto the street would be akin to signing his death warrant.

On top of that, his brother and father have followed him here, and are camped outside my office, so I had to get Lucy to cancel Josie, because there is no way on earth I want them to know anything about her. Posted by FindNovel.net; visit us for more free novels. I will never ring her and disclose that I have someone important in my life in front of any of them. My brother may need my help, but I do not trust him as far as I can throw him. I will face their backlash, but I do not want her anyway near this s**t show. I don't even trust him, to leave him in my office and go to the bathroom, and ring her from there.

I have spent hours ringing different places where he could go, trying to find a place that can take him ... tonight, tomorrow at the very latest.

I need a good face-to-face conversation with Josie; however, I cannot go near her home whilst daddy dearest and the bastard brother are hanging around. They could, and probably would follow. I will not lead them to her door. At the moment she is safe, and for me, that is enough for now.

Longer term, I want a conversation with her, possibly to ask her to move in with me, but if she is still at the stage of needing a small break from always being together when not at work, now may not be the time.

However, if these guys find out about her, or where she lives, the decision may be out of her hands. I have to worry about her at work, but I refuse to worry about her at home. Mine is safer, with a full state-of-the-art alarm system, high walls, CCTV and electronic gates. That is just the facts, but I know my feisty girl and she will fight me every step of the way, which will be annoying, but very satisfying when we make up after arguing for hours.

"Billy, I know you are in pain, but please try and keep your f*****g moaning and groaning down, this is a place of work," I snap at my brother.

I know that sounds heartless, but honestly, me pulling so many strings, I could play in an orchestra, is more help than I would normally give, so forgive me for not wanting him disturbing my staff any more than he has already.

I pick up the phone and call another rehab centre, this one is down south, like way down south a 10-hour-plus drive away in Cornwall, but I am getting desperate now.

As the phone rings, my leg bounces up and down, I mean the logistics of this are going to be a nightmare to sort, but if they have space, I will make it work, even if I have to drive all f*****g night. After all, I doubt those idiots waiting outside can keep up with my Porsche if it comes to a race.

Finally, someone picks up on the fifth ring.

"Hello, this is Sandy," the woman at the end of the phone says, sounding fed up with their lives. I know the f*****g feeling!

"Hello, I am calling on behalf of my brother, who is addicted to heroin, cocaine, and is a frequent user of m*******a. He has come for my help, stating he wants to get clean. I would like to get him into rehab ASAP. I was hoping you might have a space for him," I say, getting straight to the point.

"I am sorry, we are full," Sandy states, and I sigh.

"Okay, thank you." I groan out.

I am just about to put the phone down, when she begins to speak again.

"We are all so busy, however, there is a new rehab centre that has opened up about 20-miles away from us, they may have a place, but I have to warn you, it is a private facility, and the cost is a lot higher than ours, as they have no charity backing yet," Sandy tells

me.

"Money is not a problem; do you happen to have their number?" I say, this is the first bit of good news I have had all day.

I'm not suspicious at all, but you can bet your last penny I am crossing my fingers, toes, touching all the wood in the world, whilst actually praying to the heavens above I can get him into this place.

"Yes, I do, they are good people." Sandy gives me the number, along with their website address, and at this point I don't care what their credentials are, I just need to get Billy into rehab and out of Sunderland.

Before logging onto the website, I ring the number, then upload the site on my computer, taking a quick look at what they have, and the rates.

Yeah, this is not going to be cheap, but I have no concerns about affording it, obviously, but I cannot help but worry I'm throwing good money away, if he comes out and starts using again. Taking a breath, I wait for them to answer.

"Hi, this is Carson, how can I help you?" the man sates.

I repeat my problem to Carson, holding my breath.

"Yes, I have two spaces available, and we can take him as soon as you get here," Carson states.

I could kiss the f*****g ground this man walks on right now.

"I live in the northeast of England, so it will be around 10 to 12 hours before I can get him to you," I tell him, as Billy doubles over, groaning and almost screaming.

"Okay, how long since his last fix?" Carson asks, hearing him over the phone.

"Billy, how long since you used?" I ask him as he is practically foaming at the mouth.

"Two days," he groans out in serious pain.

"Okay, he is in serious withdrawal, try and get him to eat, it will help a tiny bit, it's going to be a hard journey for him," Carson states sounding sympathetic.

"Okay, do I need to take him to see a doctor or something?" I ask.

"If he has been prescribed methadone, then yes, else it will take longer to get him a prescription than it will to get him here," Carson answers.

"Okay, well book him in, I will pay for the 12-week program, then we can go from there. I will get him to you as soon as I can," I state, wanting to get off the phone and onto the road.

I put the phone down when Lucy waves through the window, the staff have all gone for the night. I motion for her to wait, then turn to Billy.

"Do not f*****g move," I tell him, walking out of my office, closing the door behind me, but standing so I can still see him through the glass in the door.

"Lucy, I need to speak with Josie, but cannot whilst he's around. I'll be out of the office tomorrow, and Wednesday but tell her I'll call her as soon as I can. Also tell her I hate her for me please." I add with a wry smile.

Lucy laughs, then looks at me earnestly.

"Anders is everything okay?"

"Nope, it is a s**t show, but I have no time to explain. I hate to ask, but can you and Ben come up with a reason for Josie to stay at yours tonight? Just till I get back tomorrow. Tell her not to ring, but I'll call her when I can and explain," I ask, hoping they don't mind looking after her whilst I'm gone. Call me paranoid but the thought of her alone at home, even if my father and brother don't know she is my girlfriend, and the most important person in my life. I really do not want to take a risk with her safety. For all they're the 'Big' men, they're just bullies, and seeing the size of Ben will make them think twice if they do know of her existence.

"Of course, she can stay with us, Anders, are you going to be okay?" Lucy asks.

"Yeah, I'll be fine, just look after Josie for me, and leave this place with others if you can, not on your own," I tell her, not that I think they'll follow her, but you never know.

"s**t, okay, some of the girls from the offices on the bottom floor finish around now, I'll head down and walk out with them." Lucy sighs, then grabs her bag, rushing out the door.

I walk back into the office, to see Billy sweating buckets and still groaning like a f*****g animal.

"Right, we need to go," I tell him.

I pull Billy to his feet, and help him get to the elevator, for all my family are idiots, they're still not stupid enough to approach or do anything outside the building, as it is covered in CCTV cameras. My only concerns are them following me, or my staff. I let out a sigh of relief when I see them both sat in their clapped-out car in the car park. At least they didn't follow Lucy.

Bundling Billy into the car, I pull his seatbelt on, then go round to my side, turning on the engine, I set off. Flipping the fuckers the bird as I pass their car. Probably not my smartest mood, but it gives me a degree of satisfaction.

As predicted, they follow me round the city centre, as I head towards the A19, I need the dual carriageway so I can put my foot down and lose these bastards. As I get to the Grangetown area, they are still following behind, and I keep an eye on my rear-view mirror, as thye weave in and out of the traffic.

The journey to the slip road, is a lot f*****g longer than it normally feels but we are finally there, and I join the dual carriageway, pulling into the outside lane, but given it is half-five in the evening the road is busy, so I cannot go as fast as I like, and my f*****g wankers of a family are close behind.

I have travelled 25 miles, and still they are easily keeping up to me because of rush hour traffic, and I look at my petrol gage, knowing with quarter of a tank left, this car will eat that fuel in no time. s**t, it never rains but it pours.

I wanted to lose these bastards before heading into a petrol station, and if I am honest, I am just passing Middlesborough, and see that there is a petrol station just 5 miles ahead, so pull over to the slow lane, ready to go to it, hoping that they don't see me, or notice to late to make the exit. Looking in my rear-view mirror, I see they are four cars behind, so I watch for the turn into the station, then indicate last minute, pulling over to the far side pumps, hoping they haven't noticed and sit in the car. I watch the road and breath a sigh of relief when they drive past.

Getting out of the car, I run round and fill up the car.

"Stay there," I tell Billy, as I rush into the petrol station, to pay the cashier, then pull my phone out, and quickly drop Josie a text.

Babe, don't text me back, but have an issue. I am okay, will call when I can, go to Ben's tonight do not be stubborn about it. I love you xxx

Once I see the message is read, I rush back out to the car, then pull away, back onto the A19, I relax slightly that we are not being followed. That is until I pass a layby, and see the clapped-out car sat, it spots me, because hey I am driving a f*****g Porsche 911 and you can hardly miss it, and I see that they pull out, and I'm back to f*****g square one. Brilliant!