The kitchen grew quieter as the group processed everything Brian had just shared. Jesse was still staring at Brian, clearly moved by the story. Dom's arms were crossed, his expression unreadable but protective, while Mia lightly placed a hand on Brian's arm, a steadying touch offering silent support. Even Letty's usual tough exterior softened, a thoughtful look crossing her face.

Leon, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke up. "Brian, you mentioned rage disorder earlier. How did you get diagnosed with that?"

Brian blinked, taking a moment as if gathering his thoughts. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the edge of the table, the pages of a sketchbook in front of him curling slightly under his hand. "Yeah," he said, his voice lowering. "That wasn't something that came out of nowhere. I wish it had."

The group waited, a tense silence filling the room, each of them leaning in slightly as Brian began.

"It started back in high school." His gaze dropped, and his voice was quieter, almost distant. "I'd been dealing with... some tough situations. There were a few guys who liked to push my buttons, you know? Typical bullies. But they didn't stop at calling names or shoving me in the halls. It was constant. And it got worse."

Dom frowned, his fists clenching slightly. "What did they do?" he asked, his voice a low growl.

Brian hesitated, a shadow passing over his face. "They took things too far one day. Cornered me after school, tried to intimidate me." His voice was steady, but there was a raw edge to it. "It wasn't just a fight—they wanted to break me. Mentally, emotionally."

Letty's eyes narrowed, her voice thick with contempt. "Bastards."

"Yeah." Brian gave a nod, the ghost of a bitter smile on his face. "But something snapped in me that day. I fought back, harder than I ever thought I could. It's all a blur now, but when it was over, I was the only one left standing... and two of them were hurt pretty bad. I was shaking, barely able to breathe." He paused, glancing around the room, almost as if he were still half-expecting judgment.

Mia's hand tightened on his arm. "Oh, Brian..." Her voice was barely a whisper, full of quiet sympathy.

Brian swallowed, his voice thick. "I didn't mean to scare everyone. I couldn't help it. When you're pushed like that... you lose control. It's like something else takes over, and no matter how hard you try, it's almost impossible to stop." He looked down at the floor, his face tight with the weight of it all. "After it happened, the school called me into the principal's office. Then the cops got involved. They thought I was dangerous."

Jesse's brow furrowed, his tone indignant. "They thought you were the problem, not them?"

Brian let out a bitter laugh. "Yeah, that's how it goes sometimes." He let the words hang for a moment, then continued, voice softer. "They sent me for evaluations, tried to figure out what was 'wrong' with me. The doctors said I had intermittent explosive disorder—rage disorder, basically. I'd been carrying all this anger around for so long that when it finally came out, I didn't know how to control it."

Dom's fists had slowly unclenched as he listened, the concern in his gaze clear. "What happened after that?"

Brian ran a hand through his hair, glancing off into the distance, almost as if he could see his younger self struggling alone. "They put me in therapy, got me on meds. For months, I had to see counselors every week, talk through things I didn't even know I was feeling. It was tough, but they taught me how to recognize the signs, how to calm myself down before I snapped. It's not easy... it never will be. But I've learned to manage it."

Letty's voice softened, her tough demeanor slipping for a moment. "You've been carrying this for a long time, haven't you?"

Brian nodded, the smallest hint of vulnerability in his eyes. "Yeah. Since I was about sixteen. I've had a lot of ups and downs since then, but I've never let it get that bad again."

Dom's voice was filled with quiet understanding, his gaze steady. "You're not alone, Brian. We've got your back. Whatever you need, you come to us."

Brian's face softened, a small, grateful smile breaking through. "Thanks, man. That means a lot."

Vince, who had been unusually quiet, cleared his throat, his voice gruff. "That's some heavy stuff, Brian. But you're handling it, right?"

Brian nodded. "Yeah. I've learned to keep myself grounded, to deal with the emotions before they take over. Therapy helped, and so did having people who understood. It's been a long road, but I'm in a better place now."

Mia's hand on his arm shifted, her voice a touch wary. "Have you ever felt like you were close to losing control again?"

Brian's expression grew serious. "There've been a few times where I felt it creeping up." He paused, fingers tapping against the table again. "But I've gotten better at recognizing the signs. I take a step back, breathe, go for a drive if I have to. Anything to clear my head."

Letty leaned back, studying him with a look that was almost admiring. "You've been through a lot, but you're still standing. That takes strength."

Brian's lips quirked into a small, appreciative smile. "Thanks, Letty. Honestly, though, I wouldn't have made it without the support of people who cared. That's the key. I've learned to lean on others when I need to." He looked around, feeling a new sense of belonging, a weight lifting.

Jesse finally broke the silence, his voice soft with awe. "I had no idea, man. You always seemed... like you had it all together."

Brian chuckled, a touch of humility in his voice. "Trust me, Jesse. I've had my moments. But that's the thing—everyone's got something they're dealing with. It's just a matter of how you handle it."

The kitchen filled with a quiet, contemplative silence as everyone let Brian's words settle in. They all knew he was right. No one was perfect. They all had their own struggles, their own battles. But tonight, Brian had shown them something real: that strength wasn't in pretending, but in owning what you'd survived.

Dom, his voice low and resolute, spoke up. "We're here for you, Brian. Whatever you need, we've got your back."

Brian looked around the room, each familiar face meeting his gaze with unwavering support. For the first time in a long time, he felt a quiet strength settle in his chest. This time, he knew he wasn't alone.