I can’t go back.
Ever.
Do I regret my decision? No.
It doesn’t erase the guilt I feel for kidnapping her. I keep trying to convince myself she was going to end up here regardless, but there’s still that lingering thought that I brought her to my home against her will. For her safety, I’ll do whatever it takes. After she called the local authorities, I had to do a lot of maneuvering to get us out of that town. Luckily, we were only two hours away from Columbus. It made thetransition smooth, and with the drugs making her pliant and cooperative, it kept her out of it for a few days while my family and I tied up some loose ends.
I’m trying not to think of the taste I got of her while she was sleeping. I’m already fucked in the head over her.
Loxley is still unaware that I have her friend. I convinced my brother to give me until the end of the week to tell her anything. There’s still so much I’m itching to know about Addison. I don’t want to let this opportunity go. No matter how wrong it feels to keep her here. How wrong it feels to keeptouchingher.
She rears back as if struck, blinking away that dreamy look as her lip curls in a sneer. “Let me go!”
Not a chance in hell, Sunshine.
At least I know that I affect her. She can fight this all she wants, but it won’t change the fact that I’ve left my mark on her. She’s on my radar now and under my protection.
I release the chain and take a step back. If I want to get to her center, I have to reestablish her trust in me. It’s going to be tricky, but having her hate me is better than risking her safety. The South syndicate is under our foot now, but that doesn’t mean they’re neutralized. Anyone could strike, and I’ll be damned if they fuck with my girl.
“How are your bruises?” I ask, raking my eyes over her fantastic legs. They’re toned and long, the suppleness of her thighs making for my deepest, darkest fantasies.
She’s ethereal. Even when she’s staring daggers at me like right now.
I doctored her cuts up a few days ago, and they’re healing nicely. I’m pleased with her state. She’s had plenty of time to sleep off the drug, and she doesn’t look like she has any remaining aches or pains. I make a mental note to take out some aspirin for her since a headache is a nasty side effect that usually follows.
“Forget about that!” She spits, her plump lips twisting in disgust. “You drugged me! Where the fuck am I?”
Right where you were meant to be.
“You’re where you need to be for my protection. You were going to end up here in the end.” I try to reason, but I sound insane to my own ears.
Addison bites her lip, pacing in place. “No. Where is Loxley?”
“Here,” I reassure her. “She’s on the compound with my brother.”
She stops, her eyes flickering to me. “Compound? What are you talking about?”
I place my hands on my sides, looking toward the kitchen. “Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat—”
“I’m not worried about fucking food right now!” She shouts in a rage, stomping her little foot. It’s highly comical to see her so out of sorts, but I know now isn’t the time to laugh. Not when she’s staring at me like I’m enemy number one. “What is this?! What the fuck is going on?” She chokes on a sob before turning away from me. She places her hands over her face, and it makes my face fall to see her like this.
Any ounce of humor dies as I lift a hand in her direction, only to lower it when I realize that my touch isn’t what she wants. She’s scared and confused.
I rub a hand across the back of my neck, battling my internal turmoil as I gentle my words. “You haven’t eaten in two days—”
“And whose fault is that?” She quips quickly, wiping at the tears I hate to see. Making her cry from pleasure is one thing, but when I’m the center of her sadness, it makes me feel like an incomparable ass.
“I can make dinner and we can talk about things,” I offer an olive branch as I motion to the kitchen. “I know you’re hungry and upset.”
“Understatement of the year,” she mumbles, looking up at the ceiling as she blinks her tears away. “Fine. But I’ll only sit if you promise to stop being so cryptic.”
My brows lift in surprise. “Of course. Sit and ask meanything. I’ll answer.”
I walk over to the kitchen table and pull out one of the dated, oak chairs. She eyes me wearily as she shuffles towards me. She stops a few feet away, pointing to the open kitchen. “Go stand over there.”
I give her a withering look. “Addison, if I wanted to hurt you—”
“Youdruggedme!” She hisses. “Let’s not discuss trust right now. Either stand over there, or I’m not sitting.”
