Page 39 of The Addict

“I just don’t see the practicality of Noah engaging further with them.” Damian urged, crossing his arms. “And since when did you invest with stocks at Pinnacle?” He continued to try and catch my line of sight, but I kept my head down, something I’d gotten pretty good at when needing to avoid sticky situations.

“I’ll see you guys later.” I gestured to my mom and Damian quickly before pushing Delane out the door and slamming it shut behind me.

I just prayed they would leave before Silas got there.

DELANE

“What the fuck are you trying to do exactly? Don’t you know that this is for your own safety?” Noah shouted as we made our way down to the car he had waiting for me.

“This is so wrong. You’ll be hurt. This guy is a monster,” I urged.

“It’s my life, Delane,” he answered harshly.

I wanted to rip my hair out. I couldn’t believe Noah was so nonchalant about this. But in a way, he was right. What did I know? This was his choice and he already made it. There wasn’t much more I could do.

“You make me so–”

Noah’s face suddenly turned pale, and I stopped, fear bubbling inside of me.

“Oh, fuck,” he muttered.

I turned, seeing what he saw: A bright white Rolls Royce pulling up in the driveway right next to the car waiting for me. He emerged as the doors opened, his brunette hair glistening in the setting sunlight. He made his way up the winding walk that led to the mansion, his face stone and menacing. He wore a grey coat, buttoned up his body that trailed in the wind behind his body.

“Damnit, Delane,” Noah murmured, pulling me to his side. My shock immobilized me, and I didn’t fight him.

We began to descend the hill towards him, essentially meeting him at the halfway mark to the vehicles. We all stopped in front of each other, saying nothing. I wondered who would speak first.

Those grey eyes shot to me, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I stiffened next to Noah, wishing I could sink closer into his side. He had himself angled slightly in front of me. My shield.

“Hello,” Silas acknowledged, tipping his head down slightly to align his eyes more with my own.

He didn’t receive any reply from me.

With a smirk toying at the edges of his lips, he raised his hand out towards me. “I do believe we’ve met before,” He gave Noah a quick sideways glance. “Delane,” he purred.

At the sound of my name leaving his lips I shuddered. I tried to convey with my eyes just how much I detested him, and how I would never, ever shake his filthy outstretched hand.

He seemed to have received the message, because he lowered his arm and chuckled. “I see she still holds a grudge. That’s fine.”

I steadied myself, the tension in the air was making me feel unstable on my feet.

Silas took a quick look over his shoulder to the cars. “Is she leaving so soon?”

“Yes,” Noah answered firmly, without wasting a moment.

Silas smiled. “Well then, she should get going.” He looked back down to me. “Isn’t that right, Delane dear?” he taunted.

I felt a sharp jab into my back—Noah’s hand urging me forward. “Go,” he ordered.

I didn’t waste any time. I sprinted to the car, despising Silas’s harsh laughter from behind. Once I reached the vehicle, I turned back, disgusted that he was standing so close to Noah. He thought he had won, and it repulsed me.

But he had won.

I didn’t know why, but I felt the impulse to run back to them. My body was fighting against my departure like two magnets facing similar poles, repelling the other. Noah’s expression conveyed to me how much he wanted me to get into the car. I shook my head, and without further consideration, opened the door and slipped inside.

Before the driver pulled out of the driveway, I took one last look back.

Noah seemed pleased, his features relaxed.