Page 53 of Addicted

I didn’t tell him about the way Stone made me feel. About the fact that I was starting to think I might actually have feelings for this crazy ass nigga. That was too much to explain. Too much to even process myself.

By the time dinner was ready, I felt a little lighter. A little more like myself.

I didn’t know what was coming next. Didn’t know what life at Stone’s estate would be like. But I had my brother back. And for now, that was enough.

Chapter 12

Stone

I sat in the passenger seat of the blacked-out SUV, staring out the window as my driver navigated through the early morning traffic.

Behind me, Indie and Ishmael sat in silence.

The atmosphere in the truck was tense and awkward as fuck. Nobody was talking. Indie was probably still pissed about me forcing her to move. Ishmael was probably still processing everything. What his sister had done for him, what I’d revealed, what the fuck was happening to his life.

I was sitting here wondering if I was making the right move.

Moving Indie to my estate was extreme. I knew that. It was the kind of shit I’d never done before. Never even considered.

I didn’t bring women to my estate. Ever.

That was my sanctuary. It was my fortress. The one place in the world where I could exist without constantly looking over my shoulder, without worrying about enemies or traitors or any of the bullshit that came with running an empire. And now I was bringing her there. Bringingthemthere.

What the fuck was I doing?

I knew the answer, even if I didn’t want to admit it. I was obsessed with her. Completely, dangerously obsessed.

Indie had gotten under my skin in a way nowoman ever had. She’d fucked with my head, made me do shit that went against every rule I’d ever set for myself.

I’d kept her captive for weeks. Fucked her without protection multiple times. Moved her belongings into my crash pad like she was mine to keep.

And now I was taking her to the most secure, private place I owned because the thought of her being anywhere else made my chest tight.

Because I needed her safe. Because I refused to let her go. Even though I knew it was reckless as fuck.

In my line of work, attachment was a weakness. Caring about someone made you vulnerable. It gave your enemies a target, and Indie was the biggest target I could’ve painted on my own back. But I didn’t care. I couldn’t. Not when it came to her.

The drive was long. It was about an hour and a half from the crash pad to the estate. I’d deliberately built it far from the city, far from the traps and the corners and all the bullshit that came with my business. Out here, I had space, privacy, and security. Out here, I could breathe.

I glanced in the side mirror, catching a glimpse of Indie in the backseat. She was staring out the window, her face unreadable. I wondered what she was thinking.

If she was scared. Angry. Resigned. If she had any idea how deep I was in this shit with her. Probably not. Because I barely understood it myself.

All I knew was… she wasn’t going nowhere. Not now. Not ever.

The SUV turned off the main road and onto the private drive that led to my estate. The road was long and winding, surrounded by trees on both sides.

I felt myself relax slightly as we got closer.

This was my domain. My kingdom. And now it was hers too, whether she knew it or not.

***

The twelve-foot wall came into view first.

It surrounded the entire property. Five acres of land, all of it mine. The wall was solid concrete, reinforced with steel, and topped with security measures that would make a prison jealous.

Cameras were positioned on every corner, every angle, capturing everything that happened on the perimeter. Ain’t shit getting in or out without me knowing about it.