Page 101 of Altered

"Come on, boys," Teagan announced, tone bright and full of forced excitement. "Let's go see if we can find some of Uncle Noah's old fight tapes."

"Cool!" both boys cheered in unison before scampering off with Teagan, all thoughts of revenge and comic conventions forgotten.

"Come on, Hope," Derek began to say once Teagan and the boys were gone. "Talk to us. We're worried about you."

Derek looked at me with the same green eyes Jordan bore.

The same way he used to look before the heroin had taken a hold of him.

It was a painful reminder of my stark reality.

I was certain I hadn't just lost Jordan today.

Once Derek found out about what I'd done, I would lose him, too.

The adopted uncle who had helped raise me.

Protected me from harm.

When it all came out, he would hate me, too.

"I'm not the one you need to worry about," I told him, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

Derek balked. "Jordan?" Concern flashed across his features. "What's wrong?" Panic rose in his voice as he said, "I've been calling and visiting for weeks now, and he's not answering."

"Because he's drinking again," I whispered, hating myself for still caring so much.

I didn’t want to care anymore.

I wanted to wash my hands clean.

But Icouldn’t.

"And he's using, too. Heroin, I think. The one with the needle. So maybe you should concentrate on him. I can handle myself."

Derek flinched at my words.

I didn’t say it to hurt him, but he needed to do something.

I was done being the anchor that held Jordan Porter's world together.

He needed to be his son's anchor, or better still, help him realize that he could become his own.

"No," Derek choked out, sounding winded. It was one word, but it brought with it so much pain and emotion. "Why?"

"He's an addict," I whispered, pressing my thumbs to my temples. "That's what they do."

"Hope," Mom gasped, cheeks turning bright pink. "Don’t say that."

"Say what, Mom?" I demanded, turning to give her my full attention. "The truth? Because that's what this is. He is an addict." I felt the sting of tears build up in my eyes, but I quickly batted them away, refusing to add another tear to the cesspool of pain I was drowning in.

"Why didn’t you tell me before now?" Derek demanded. "How long have you known?"

Because he threatened me with Hunter's freedom, that's why I didn’t tell you!

"I don’t know," I choked out instead, feeling guiltier with every word that spilled from my lips.

"You don’tknow?" Derek countered, paling. "Jesus Christ, Hope. This is his life we're talking about."

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