Page 59 of Addicted

Then she grabbed a plate and pushed it towardme, shaking her head slightly like she was tired of explaining herself.

“Just eat.”

I pulled out a chair and sat, but I wasn’t focused on the food right away.

She did this because she wanted to. Not because she had to. Not because I told her to. That wasn’t something I was used to. Not in my world. Everything I had was bought and paid for. It was expected.

Brady quietly excused himself, giving us space.

I picked up my fork and took a bite. The food was good. Same as that night at the crash pad.

“You remember what you told me last time you cooked?” I asked.

She gave me a look. “I say a lot of shit.”

“You said, ‘don’t get used to it’,” I reminded her, smirking.

Her lips twitched, but she rolled her eyes instead of smiling. “You shouldn’t. I wasn’t planning on making it a habit.”

I laughed. “You ain’t gotta make it a habit, Brady gon’ make sure we eating good. But I appreciate the gesture. For real.”

We stared at each other for a long moment, something unspoken passing between us.

“You’re welcome,” she said finally, turning back to the stove.

Silence settled over the kitchen.

I leaned back in the chair, watching her move around my kitchen like she wasn’t even thinking about it. Like this was normal. Like she was supposed to be here.

I wasn’t questioning it anymore. Bringing herhere. Keeping her here.

That shit felt right.

Chapter 13

Indie

Stone moved me and Ish into this estate two and a half weeks ago, and I was losing my fuckin’ mind.

At first, it didn’t feel that bad.At first, I’d been amazed. Blown away, really. The size of the place, the fact that Stone had a whole staff just to maintain his lifestyle. The way everything looked, the way everything worked. The luxury of it all. It didn’t feel real. Like something I wasn’t supposed to have. The kind of shit I used to dream about before life beat those dreams out of me.

But the novelty wore off quick. Real quick.

Because I realized pretty fast that I’d just been transferred from one prison to another. This one was bigger, more luxurious, with a pool and a theater room and a closet full of designer clothes I couldn’t even wear anywhere.

But it was still a prison.

Stone stayed with us the first two nights after we arrived. Those nights, I’d felt... I don’t know. Less trapped, maybe. Like his presence made the whole situation feel less suffocating.

But then he left, and he’d been in and out ever since. Some days he’d come home late at night, fuck me until I couldn’t think straight, then leave again before I woke up. Other days he wouldn’t come at all, and I’d be alone in that Alaskan king bed, too much space and nothing but my thoughts, staring at the ceiling andwondering where the hell he was.

What he was doing. Who he was with.

I hated that I cared.

Hated that I’d lie there in the dark, my chest tight, my mind racing with images of him with other women. Women who weren’t trapped. Women who could leave whenever they wanted. Women who weren’t... me.

Meanwhile, Ish got to leave every single day.