Page 97 of The Addict

“Then tell me, Ronald.”

There was a booming sound, and horrific music began to play as Ronald slashed his lover’s throat, taking the limp and bloody body and throwing it into the screen.

Alex flinched violently and covered his eyes as the dead Jessica lurched in our direction. The unexpected slaughter that sprung out at me from the screen made me jump a little, though I would never admit it. A quick adjustment in my seat was all it took to mask my jolt. The last thing I needed was to look like a frightened little girl from a silly movie.

The body slipped from view, but the blood stayed in our faces as if the theater screen was made from glass, and slowly the bloody remnants molded into the movie’s title: Love Love Kiss Kiss Death, stared back at me in red, dripping letters. I groaned, already able to tell that the movie was going to be a huge flop.

I could only hope that it wouldn’t last long.

DAMIAN

I was pacing the living room when the phone rang. I jumped for it, suspecting and hoping that it would be Noah calling.

“Hello?”

I hadn’t even known Noah had left. But when I returned home from work, he was of course gone, again, without permission. I was about to blow a fuse, unleashing all of my authority and grounding the brat as soon as he reached the front door.

I tried telling mom that giving him his own personal driver was a mistake. I’d have to confiscate that too, and then he’d profess his hatred for me even more. Everyone else in the household was so incompetent when it came to following through with consequences. The responsibility was on my shoulders alone.

All of this on top of that fucking phone call from before and I was ready to rage. I didn’t even want to consider that Noah was with Silas right now. That young Thorne had some nerve to hang up on me.

“Hi, Honey,” my mother sang from the other end of the phone.

I sighed and collapsed onto the couch, rubbing my temples. “Hello.”

“What’s wrong, dear?” Instantly, she was able to notice the strain in my voice.

“Noah isn’t here.”

“Well, where–”

“I don’t know. His cell phone is off. He isn’t answering.” I massaged my head with my two fingers. I had already sent him multiple texts, which I knew he was ignoring on purpose.

“Should I call your father?”

Her comment set me back some. I definitely didn’t want David to arrive home early.

“No. I doubt it’s that serious,” I paused. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do with him anymore.”

“I’m so sorry sweetheart. I’ll have another talk with him, I promise.”

I knew there wasn’t much she could do. Noah was a rebel, his life goal was to prove that he had no bounds, and I was starting to believe it was true. I knew that Noah had lost all respect for himself, and that’s what frightened me the most. How was my little brother supposed to survive in a world of hatred when he had no desire to protect himself from it? He was stepping into the firing range, unknowing and uncaring to who was shooting, too engulfed in his shell to see just how close he was to the bullets.

Noah had his share of bullets, and I knew that.

But it seemed my brother thrived on the pain of being shot down. And what he didn’t seem to understand, was that I couldn’t live without him. I wanted him to take better care of himself.

“I apologize for worrying you,” I spoke softly and calmly, so as not to upset mom further. “I’m sure he is fine. I’ll call you when he gets home.”

“Alright, hon. Are you sure you don’t want me to come home?”

“It’s fine, I will figure it out.”

“Okay then,” I could picture her smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

NOAH