Page 170 of Vicious Addictions

Forever yours,

Jude.

“Cousin?” Remus and Rolo both stand at my side as they watch my hands shake with the card in my hands. “You look pale.”

“I’m…fine,” I stammer, feeling flushed and terribly cold all at the same time.

“Fuck. Help me get her back to her seat, Rolo.”

Rolo is about to do just that when I slap both their hands away.

“I’m fine,” I say after I’ve collected my composure, or as much of it as I can under the circumstances. “I’m fine,” I repeat with a little less heat behind the remark.

I look at the two large boxes, all filled to the brim with… Jude’s journals.

I swallow dryly, and before I can stop myself, I grab three of them and rush to my seat.

“Tell the pilot that we’re ready to go home. And boys…during this flight, I don’t want to hear a peep from either of you.”

I settle in and crack the first journal open, and I’m immediately pulled back into a past life I tried so hard to forget I ever had.

March 18th Kent, England.

The day turned out better than I could have expected.

Annamaria turned five today, but instead of being there for her birthday, all I got was a quick video that Gio made for me of my baby sister blowing out her candles.

It’s been six months since I first arrived at Kent Manor, and as hard as I try, I still miss being home.

Being away from everyone I love just to prove a point seems so ridiculous now.

I think I might have fucked up.

Maybe when I finish my first year at college here, I can transfer my credits to a college closer to home.

Argh.

Even as I write this, I know it’s all bullshit.

I won’t leave to go back home.

Not until my father gives me his word that he’ll initiate me into the Outfit.

He’ll cave eventually. Even if that means I have to stay here another six months.

Hell, I’ll stay another year if I have to.

Sooner or later, one of us will have to bend, and I refuse it to be me.

Though I must admit, being under Victor Crane’s tutelage has been an eye-opening experience.

I’ve learned so much in the last six months that I wouldn’t have been able to learn if I had remained in Chicago.

I’ve also made a friend.

No. Scratch that.

I believe I’ve found a true friend in Victor’s daughter, Mina—perhaps the only real friendship I’ve ever had outside my own family.

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