Page 21 of The Addict

God forbid, I made a move and he denied me. I wouldn’t live past the rejection. I’d probably drive my Royce off a bridge.

I never pursued. Even when he turned seventeen. Eighteen. Did I think about it? Sure. All the fucking time.

Tonight, everything I had held back over these years surfaced. I sat in the back of the car trying not to keep thinking about how I nearly fucked Noah in the alley. My cousins were infuriated at my display. Rightfully so, I guess. I pinched my forehead at the migraine beginning to spread.

I couldn’t stop thinking of that stupid girl as well. The red head.

I had never assaulted someone before. That was new. The only part I enjoyed was her pain, which I understood was fucked up, but I didn’t have remorse. My family thought pussy would “fix” me, and if it hadn’t been for Noah’s return, maybe it would have. Who knows?

No one would know about the deal Noah and I made. I was going to keep it to myself. My body shook with anticipation of the next day’s arrival.

I clenched my fists against my thighs. He better follow through with what he promised me.

Or else there would be hell to pay.

Chapter seven

The Hansens

NOAH

It wasn’t long before the driver arrived, and for that, I was grateful. After the brief contact and shaking of hands with the girl I now learned was Delane, the silence set in and caused me to grow agitated and uncomfortable. I had no idea what to say to her, and even if I did, I doubted she would answer me. She remained dead quiet when the driver pulled to a halt in front of the bar and we entered the car. She remained motionless throughout the entire ride, blinking furiously to hold back her tears.

Every so often her chest would rise and fall sharply with a quick intake of breath. I only assumed she was trying to calm herself down.

Nothing else was said between the two of us, and I felt as though I was missing out on something potentially important.

One of my major downfalls was that my personality begged to fill silence. I became anxious when people in close proximity didn’t speak to me. My mind would deceive me into thinking that they were scrutinizing my every move. Studying me and my imperfections.

“Do you...uh...go to college?” I asked her.

Fucking idiot. What a question.

She side eyed me skeptically and tugged my hoodie closer to her exposed body. She gave a swift nod in response.

I held my fingers to my temple. She probably thought I was crazy.

“Noah,” My driver Marcus inquired. “Where should I drop your friend?”

I watched Delane’s eyes grow wide, but before that fear could blossom, I chuckled lightly in an effort to calm her nerves.

“No need for any additional stops. She will be accompanying us home” I answered.

“Ah, I see.” Marcus shuffled nervously in his seat, a thin frown line replacing his normal smile. Immediately, I realized something was wrong.

“Might I suggest a brief stay?” he whispered.

I glanced back at Delane who was staring silently out the window. She hadn’t heard.

I leaned forward across the leather interior. “Why is that?”

Marcus laughed quietly and shifted again, his shoulders giving a weak shrug. “I do not wish to question your authority, Mr. Hansen, but it’s your mother—”

“What happened?” I growled.

“Well, uh, Mrs. Hansen, she...umm...had an accident a few moments following your phone call...”

I grew gravely quiet and locked eyes with him through the rearview mirror. A quick and sharp nod let me know that the accident my mother had was not really an accident at all.