Addiction by Shantel Tessier Read Free Book Online Page A

wraps his arms around me, and I tighten mine around him.
    “I can’t lose you too,” I whisper.
    “I promise.” He leans down and kisses my hair. “Don’t worry about it. He needs me too much to do anything to me.”
    I don’t say what I’m thinking. That he will eventually no longer need you. Or what if you end up getting arrested? You won’t be useful to him if you’re in jail.
    “Please, don’t worry. I promise it will be okay,” he says again as if he can read my mind.
    I pull away from him and head to my room without another word. I shut my door and lie down on my bed for the second time today. But this time, I close my eyes as the tears continue to silently fall.
     
     
    BLANE
     
    I stand in the hallway as I listen to my sister cry inside of her room. I want to go tell her everything. I want to tell her Case is going to take care of me and now her, but I can’t. It would only cause many problems I know I won’t be able to control, let alone explain. And Case was right—I can’t protect her in this world. Even if I have enough confidence in myself not to fuck it up, I won’t risk her life.
    With a heavy sigh, I turn around and walk down the hallway as I enter my bedroom that I share with Savannah. She lies under our brown silk sheets as she quietly cries. I’ve hurt the two women who mean the most to me.
    It breaks my heart. I hate to hurt either of them. I quickly remove my shoes, jeans, and then my shirt before making my way over to my side of the bed.
    “Baby,” I say softly as I lift the cool covers and crawl in next to her. I wrap my arms around her and pull her back to my front. I bury my face in her hair as I inhale her scent. “I promise it’s going to be okay,” I whisper.
    She turns in my arms, fresh tears running down her gorgeous face. I’ve been in love with her for as long as I can remember. She’s been friends with Taylor since grade school. When she told Taylor that she would follow her to Chicago after high school graduation, I was on cloud nine. I was already committed to going with Taylor because I wasn’t gonna let her move without me. Taylor may be an adult, but she doesn’t understand how the world works. I do! She needs a man to protect her, so I tagged along. Then came Savannah.
    We’ve been in Chicago for three years now, and it was hard as fuck not to tell her how I felt. Living with her across the hall was torture. Seeing her bring men home was devastating. But somehow, she came to me. She gave me a chance, and I took it. We’ve been together for six months now. I never stopped to think that this could push her away from me.
    “I love you,” she whispers.
    “I love you too.” I lean down and kiss her cheek, the taste of her salty tears break my heart.
    “Promise me.” She looks up at me with those big green eyes, and I melt.
    “Anything!” I say without hesitation.
    She licks her lips and swallows nervously. “Promise me that you won’t leave me. Promise me that you will stay with me. I won’t leave you, Blane. No matter what you do. I’ll be here to help you.”
    I hate that I’m breaking her heart. Even though she knows I’m involved in something bad, she still wants to save me. “I promise.”
    She grabs my face and pulls my lips down to hers. She kisses me desperately. I can taste the fear on her lips and the desperation on her tongue. I grab a hold of her face and deepen the kiss, taking her breath away. Needing her to be a part of me as much as I am a part of her.
    “Blane.” She pulls away from my lips breathless.
    I reach over and push the hair back from her slick face. “What, baby?”
    She licks her lips and lets out a breath. “Have you been on drugs?” I let out a long breath of my own as she stares up at me. “I just want you to be honest with me,” she whispers. “You can tell me anything.”
    I give her a soft yet reassuring smile. “No, baby. I haven’t done any drugs.” It feels good to actually tell the truth, but I can