Addiction by Shantel Tessier Read Free Book Online Page B

tell she’s not a hundred percent sure she believes me. But I can’t blame her for that.
    “I …” My phone ringing on the nightstand cuts off my words. I reach over and pick it up to see it's Case. With one last deep breath, I get out of bed and answer it.

 
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    TAYLOR
     
    “Good morning.”
    I look up from the kitchen table as Savannah enters, wearing a big smile on her face. “Morning,” I respond softly. I look down the hallway waiting for my brother to enter behind her. It’s Saturday; we always stay home and do nothing on Saturdays. But after a few seconds, I look away. “Where is Blane?” I ask, wrapping my hands around my warm coffee cup.
    “He left earlier this morning. He had to go meet with that guy from last night.”
    I spin around in my high-top chair to face her. “He what? And you let him go?” I ask in panic.
    “I don’t control what he does,” she responds softly. “He said it was important.”
    I snort. “Only an addict would say anything related to drugs is important.”
    “He’s not a drug addict,” she snaps, her temper rising.
    I feel sorry for her. Her love for him is going to overshadow the truth. The truth is Blane needs help. “Maybe not.” I choose my words carefully. “But he does need help. This guy is bad news.”
    She comes around the table and sits down in front of me. She places her coffee mug on the table and looks up at me. I see it in her eyes. The determination. The hardness she is giving me. “I believe him,” she says matter-of-factly. “I believe him when he says it’s going to be okay. He hasn’t been on drugs.”
    I remember being at this stage with my father. I saw the signs but refused to believe them. There were even times I ran to him when he came calling for help. “Savannah …”
    “I would have seen it,” she interrupts me. “He hasn’t changed one bit in the last six months we have been together. He said this thing with this man is temporary, and I believe him.”
    I don’t. But I find myself nodding my head. Me, on the other hand … I think I need to make a trip to see this guy on my own. I need to try to save him before he gets in too deep.
     
     
    CASE
     
    I’m sitting in my office overlooking my club when my cell phone rings. A glance at it tells me it’s Miller.
    “Yes, Miller?” I ask as I place him on speakerphone.
    “There’s a woman here wanting to see you,” he says sounding amused.
    I look up from the paperwork that sits on my desk. “Who is it?” I ask curiously. Women don’t come to see me. Well, not the kind that my security guard has to announce.
    “Taylor. And she said if you refuse to see her, she will call the police.” He chuckles, and then covers it with a cough.
    And I can’t help but smile myself. She’s more trouble than I thought she was going to be. “Of course, I will see her. Send her up.” I hit end and sit back in my chair. Well, this could be easier than I thought. I’ve been wondering how I was going to get her under my thumb. And here she is, coming right to me.
    Must be my lucky day!
    A knock announces she has arrived, and I cross my arms over my chest, getting more comfortable. “Come in,” I call out.
    The door opens, and she comes walking in as if she owns the place. Shoulders pulled back and chin up. She is dressed much differently than she was last night, but it doesn’t change the fact she’s beautiful. She’s pulled her long, dark hair up into a messy ponytail with loose pieces framing her flawless face. She has an oversized white t-shirt on that hangs off one shoulder. The color of her bra strap gets my attention. Black—my favorite color. She’s wearing a pair of black yoga pants that hug her thin legs. Even though they cover more of her legs than her shorts did from last night, they seem more sexual. More intimate in a way that makes me want to peel them off her slowly.
    “I need to have a word with you …” I arch a brow at her hard tone even though