Addiction (33 page)

I would smile if I could. This is what it’s supposed to feel like. And this feeling is what no drug can give you.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

BLANE

Ring … Ring … Ring
…
I hang up the phone and toss it on the passenger seat. My sister has been ignoring me for the last three days. I know something is up with her, and I don’t believe for one second that it has to do with wanting to give Savannah and me some time alone. Even Savannah said she hasn’t heard from her in the last few days. I have a feeling she is seeing someone she met while working up at Seven Deadly Sins, and I plan to put an end to it. But at this moment, I have bigger things to worry about besides who my sister decides to jump into bed with. But rest assured, I will beat the shit out of whoever it is.

I bring my car to a stop and turn off my lights. I look around out of habit, but I’m not as nervous as I have been in the past. I’m actually starting to feel the adrenaline from it, the rush. It makes more sense why others do this in the first place. They always talk about that rush they get. I hate to admit … it’s addicting.

I get out of my car and walk to the front. I lean back against my hood crossing one ankle over the other while I listen to the wind howl in this abandoned parking lot.

“Blane.”

I look up to see them walking toward me as they have the last three times. But this time, there’s three of them. Finally! I get to meet Cricket.

I walk toward them and meet them halfway. I’m already grabbing the cash out of my back pocket. I know how things work now.

The one with the snake tattoo places his arms over his huge chest. “How are things going?”

“Great,” I say slowly. Why does he care? Oh yeah, I’m a druggie. I always forget I’m supposed to act as if I am starving for my next hit.

The two guys in front of me exchange a glance and my heart rate speeds up. “We hear you have been hanging out at Seven Deadly Sins,” he muses.

“I have.” I pause. “Is that a problem?” I look back and forth between the three of them.

“Why are you hanging out up there?” I can’t mention Case. That was part of our deal.

“My sister works there.” As soon as I say it, I cringe. Why did I say my sister? I would hate to put her in danger.

“We know about Taylor,” the one on the left says. “We wanna make sure it doesn’t have to do with Case.” He arches a blond eyebrow. “We don’t associate with him.”

Shit! Shit! Shit! “No,” I say quickly shaking my head. “I … I, uh, have never met him. I’m not up there enough to know this guy named Case.”

“Wanna know what I think? I think you’re lying.” The one with the snake tattoo takes a step toward me, and I take a step back matching it.

The third guy who I have never met before steps toward me also. “We have word you’re selling out from underneath us. To Case.” I shake my head again. “I heard the police are looking for him.”

I swallow nervously. “Why would they be looking for this guy Case?”

The one to the far left answers. “Rox ratted him out.” Fuck! That was the guy who Case took me to see. The one I smoked weed with. “Rox’s club got busted and surveillance was obtained by the police, but somehow it went missing. Rox ratted out Case. Said they were working together.” He shrugs. “But the proof has just vanished.” He places his hands out to his side in wonder. “We also heard Case was there with you …”

“Nooooo,” I say stupidly. Fuck! Could this get any worse? Thank God, something happened to that damn tape. I need to ask Case about it. “I wouldn’t do that.” I wish I could ask them who their source is, but that would just make me look guilty.

“I hope not.” He takes a step toward me. “For your sake.” Then he punches me in the face.

I stumble back grabbing my jaw. I didn’t even see it coming. “Come on, guys,” I say placing up my hands. My heart pounds in my chest, and I breathe heavily. I’m about to get my ass kicked, and there’s no way for me to stop it. “I didn’t come here to fight.”

“Maybe not! But we want you to give Case a warning.”

“I don’t know a Case,” I growl getting frustrated. My temper flaring, I was being a scared little bitch, but now that they want me to deliver Case a message, I know they’re not gonna kill me.

He smirks. “Well, then give your sister the message, it will make it back to him.”

“What does Taylor have to do with this?” I demand.

The guy with the snake tattoo throws his head back and his large body shakes as he laughs. “This fucker really has no fucking clue.” He laughs at the other men. They all laugh as I stand there looking back and forth between them.

“What don’t I know?” I yell.

“You’ll find out soon enough!” Then his hand comes out to hit me in the stomach.

CASE

“Case.”

I open my sleepy eyes to my dark bedroom. Without thought, I wrap my arms around the warm and petite body I know is Taylor and pull her to me. I inhale her vanilla scent and let out a moan.

“Case?” A firm hand on my shoulder gives me a little shake.

“What?” I growl opening my eyes once again. I pull away from Taylor to look over my shoulder and see Brecken standing by my side of the bed. His head is looking up at the ceiling. I do the same and frown when I don’t see anything. “Why are we staring at my ceiling in the middle of the night?” I ask, my voice gruff.

He clears his throat. “Well, Taylor is lying next to you naked, and I didn’t think you would appreciate me looking at her. The ceiling was my only safe option,” he replies dryly.

I look over at her and see her exposed chest as she lies on her back. I sit up quickly and jerk the covers up and over her with a growl. Once I pull them up all the way up to her neck, I place my feet on the floor while sitting on the side of the bed. “Why are you in my room in the middle of the night?” I ask through a yawn.

He sighs heavily, and he lowers his head to look down at me. “I tried calling you. Blane tried calling you. None of us could get you to answer. But Blane is in the office and you need to speak to him.”

I rub a hand over my naked chest and let out a sigh. “Does he know Taylor is here?” Why else would he be here this time of the night?

“No.”

I get out of bed and throw on a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. I kiss Taylor on the forehead and follow after him to my office on the second floor.

I walk in after him and see Blane standing in front of my desk with his back facing me. “What is so important that you have to wake me up, Blane?”

He spins around and my heart speeds up. “What the hell happened to you?” I demand as I take in his appearance. His right eye is black. Blood runs from his nose and on to his shirt but it’s dry, letting me know that it is has been a while since he got into the fight. He has a gash above his left eye and a bruise on his cheek.

“They know,” he declares, and my eyes widen.

“Who? What do they know?” I ask trying not to panic.

He sighs. “I went to pick up another package about two hours ago. Three guys showed up this time. And they told me that they knew I was running product for you. That I am buying underneath them.”

“Fuck,” I hiss.

“I told them over and over that I didn’t know who you were. But they said they knew I had been to Seven Deadly Sins.”

“This is bad,” I say looking over at Brecken, and he grunts his agreement.

“They brought up Taylor.”

My feet move without thought. I’m in his face in a matter of seconds, my hand around his throat. “What in the fuck did they say about Taylor?” I snap, feeling my anger so high it burns my skin.

“They know she works here,” he rasps as my hand stays around his throat. “How’d they even know her fucking name?” I demand. “I told you not to fucking mention her to anyone.” And I took her to see Rox, but her name was never mentioned. Hell, as far as they were concerned, she could have been some hooker I just picked up that night.

“I didn’t,” he grinds out underneath my hand.

“Case!” I close my eyes when I hear Taylor’s voice screech my name. “What the hell are you doing?” she demands.

I let go of Blane and turn to face her. She stands inside the door to my office looking back and forth between Blane and me wide-eyed. I can only imagine what this looks like to her. She thinks I just beat the fuck out of her brother. “It’s not what it looks like,” I say softly.

“Then what the fuck is it?” she snaps.

I take a step back trying to clear my mind for a second. I have no way out. It’s time. I have to tell her. And that makes my chest physically hurt. ‘Cause I know I’m about to lose the best thing I will ever have because I have done nothing but lie to her.

“What the fuck are you doing here, Taylor?”

I look over at Blane as he stares at her with narrowed eyes as he takes in the overly large sweatpants and t-shirt of mine that she has on.

Fuck! Well, shit has officially hit the fan.

TAYLOR

Shit! I should have stayed in Case’s bed. I woke up and saw he was missing. After looking around his place, I decided to throw on some clothes and look down in his office. This is the only place he would be at five in the morning.

“Are you fucking my sister?” Blane gets my attention as he turns to face Case.

“Blane,” I say softly. “It’s not …”

“Yes.”

I feel my heart pound in my chest as Case answers his question. I was gonna try and sugarcoat it. But oh no, he has to go and out us.

Blane’s fist shoots out and connects with Case’s face. I gasp in horror. “Blane,” I cry out. “Don’t!”

Case stands there staring at him, now breathing heavy and nostrils flared. “I’ll give you that one cheap shot. But if you hit me again, I’ll hit you back,” his deep voice rumbles.

Blane seems to consider his words for a second and then turns to face me. From the looks of him, he’s already been in one fight tonight. “How long have you been letting him fuck you?” His words are like a whip to my face. He makes it sound so cold. So heartless. But it’s not like that.

“It’s not like that,” I try to explain.

He throws his head back and laughs out loud. “Did he tell you that? Did he make you feel special?” he asks in a girl’s voice.

“Stop!” Case barks, grabbing his arm and pulling him back.

Blane spins away from me to face him. “You tell her right fucking now!” he yells.

Case swallows hard and narrows his eyes at him. “Fucking tell her!” Blane spits in his face. “Fucking tell her who you really are!” he demands.

I stand there waiting to see who is gonna throw the next punch. Movement in the corner of my eyes gets my attention. I turn to see Brecken standing there looking anything but amused. “Do something,” I beg him. “Please.”

“It’s not my place.”

My mouth falls open, and I stare at him confused. Why would he want them to fight?

When I realize the room has fallen silent, I turn back to face my brother and Case. Blane is breathing hard as he stares at me with narrowed eyes. I look over at Case, and his eyes are soft and a frown is on his face. It makes me nervous. “What is it?” I ask softly.

“Taylor …”

“Just tell me.” My hands start to shake. “What is it, Case?”

He runs his hand down over his unshaven face, and he lets out a long sigh. Then he looks at me and straightens his shoulders. “I’m a cop.”

I stand there staring at him for what seems like forever in the silent room waiting for the punchline to that joke. A cop? There’s no way! They’re fucking with me. He doesn’t think I can handle the truth.

“Taylor?” he asks softly. “Say something.”

I look from him to my brother. The hard look is still on his face. I feel a laugh start to bubble up from deep in my throat. And before I can stop it, I burst out laughing. I place my hand over my mouth to try to muffle it, but it still echoes in his office. I can’t stop as I laugh so hard, my body shakes. “A cop?” I ask, and I actually snort. I hear Brecken chuckle behind me, but my brother and Case just stare at me with concern. “What kind of joke is this, babe?” I finally ask when I start to calm down.

I reach up and rub my cheeks as I laugh once again. I laughed so hard that tears are running down my face.

“It’s no joke, Taylor,” Case says, his voice harder than before. “I am an undercover narcotics officer.”

My laughter completely stops at that, and I look at him with confusion. “Quit with the joke, Case. I’m not gonna fall for it.”

“It’s true.”

I shake my head. “You own a night club.” I give a hard laugh. “One that I see drugs in on a daily basis,” I add seriously.

“Brecken and I do own a club.” He nods once. “But it’s a cover.”

I turn to look over my shoulder at Brecken. “Come on. Tell him to stop,” I ask him, but he just stares at me with those scary dark eyes.

“This isn’t happening,” I mumble to myself and look back to Case. “I went to that club with you. The club …”

“The club that was raided the week after we went?” He arches a brow. “Brecken and I went there for recon. We busted them a week later. How do you think I kept the tapes from leaking?”