Page 43 of Sweet Addiction

I cross the kitchen, clapping him on the shoulder. “I know brother. It’s just a friendly reminder.”

Soon after we return to the lounge, Killian, sets his plan in motion, slipping Scarlett a valium. Her slurring becomes worse, and she can barely keep her eyes open. Mom and Dad call it a night, but I don’t miss the looks of disapproval they shoot her. Little do they know she is in that mess because of their sons.

“I will get her up to bed,” Killian grunts as he gathers Scarlett into his arms.

“At the top of the stairs go left. It’s the last bedroom,” I tell him before rushing out and up the stairs. Striding to my room, I pull out my underwear drawer, grabbing the black velvet box that holds my dove’s gift.

Grinning, I make my way down the hall to Madison’s room, not bothering to knock on her door. Her head pops up from whatever book she is reading, a frown marring her features. “Knox?”

Kicking her door shut, I close the distance between us, dropping down on her bed. “I wanted to give you your gift while it’s still Christmas.” I hold the box in the palm of my hand. Her breath hitches, her wide eyes darting to mine. “Open it,” I urge.

She smiles, taking the box from me and opening it. She gasps, her gaze snapping to mine before moving back to the platinum necklace that sits on a plush cushion. The pendant is what makes it special. A custom-made diamond-encrusted dove. It cost me a small fortune but is worth every penny if her reaction is anything to go by. “This is too much.” She shakes her head, her emerald orbs turning glossy.

Reaching for it, I take it from her, unclasping it. “It’s not enough Dove. Turn around so I can put it on you.” She turns, doing as I asked, and I place it around her neck, before clasping it. She shifts to face me. My eyes drop to her neck. The diamonds glint in the light coming from her lamp and she looks so exquisite it hurts.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers.

“You’re beautiful.” I lean forward, pressing my lips to hers. She smiles, staring down at the necklace.

I smirk, happy that she likes it, but also ecstatic that she hasn’t noticed the little tracker in the dove’s eye. Some would call me crazy for doing something so extreme. And fuck it. Maybe I am a little crazy. I don’t care.

Because not only is it a beautiful piece of jewelry for the woman I love, but it will also allow me to know where she is at all times and keep her safe.

And above everything. Her safety and happiness are all that matter to me.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

MADISON

“It’s been so nice to spend time with you today honey,” Mom chirps.

We are in a limo, on our way home after a day of pampering, dinner and drinks. Though I’m only eighteen, because of who my mother is, no one questioned her when she ordered me a cosmopolitan. I stuck to two drinks as I don’t like the thought of being drunk and out of control. Lord knows, I have seen Mom in that state enough times.

“It has.” I smile as I glance over at her.

Her eyes drop to the necklace Knox gifted me last night. After clasping it on me, he demanded I always wear it. When I argued that my mother would get suspicious, he shrugged and told me to lie about it if I didn’t want to tell her the truth about where it came from. Her eyes had zeroed in on the jewelry this morning making me squirm and blurted the first thing that came to mind. “I can’t believe your father brought you that. Just like him to one-up me. He is so over the top, always has been. He and hiswifealways try to make me look bad. Look less than them. It’s frustrating and quite frankly annoys the hell out of me,” she huffs, annoyance lacing her voice.

I sigh, gripping her hand. “He hasn’t one-upped you Mom. It’s just a gift.”

She smiles but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes and squeezes my hand. “You’re right. He and Vanessa,” her face screws up as she says my stepmother’s name and I try to resist an eye roll. “Can throw all the expensive shit at you they want. Butshewill never have the one thing she wants. You.Youare my daughter.” Her lips curve triumphantly, but I don’t miss the jealousy in her eyes or voice.

I squeeze my eyes shut, counting to three. I hate it when Mom gets like this. It’s unnecessary. I should not have to feel guilty about having a good relationship with my stepmom, but Scarlett makes it hard not to. It’s another reason why I haven’t told her about the internship yet. I know that all hell will break loose. Especially when she knows it’s Vanessa helping me. To the world Scarlett Grisham may be a confident, self-assured actress, but deep down she has insecurities and issues, like the rest of us. She is just better at hiding them. That is until times like now when she feels threatened. I know it’s not my responsibility to placate her like I do, but I feel responsible and sometimes protective of my mother. She has her faults but in her own way, she loves me.

“Oh honey, they have confirmed that we are going to start filming our show in March. I will be done with shooting my movie by then and the dates that they are pushing for happen to be around spring break, so you won’t even have to miss school.” She shoots me a look. I know exactly what is going through her head. She thinks school is pointless for me. “The production company is drawing up contracts. Once my lawyers and agent have gone through and are happy with everything, we can get them signed.”

Glancing away, I look out the window. My shoulders sag as anxiety swims in my belly. My reaction to the news, tells me everything. I should tell Mom that I don’t want to film our show. It’s on the tip of my tongue but the words die in my mouth and instead, I say, “Great.”

She squeals, bringing my attention back to her. “They are already talking about pushing it as the real-life version of that hit Netflix series, Ginny and Georgia.” She pauses, chuckling. “Minus the murders obviously.”

“Obviously,” I joke, my voice upbeat but fake.

Mom rolls her head on the headrest, a big smile on her face. “I will miss you when I’m away. I know I don’t always show it, but I love you Mads.”

I swallow as a lump forms in my throat and tears burn the backs of my eyes. Guilt and shame consume me, and I feel like I can’t breathe. I really am the worst daughter in the world. I need to tell her the truth. Sucking in a breath, I chew my lip as she watches me. “Mom, I…” I trail off with a cough. She raises a questioning brow waiting for me to continue. I blow out a shuddering breath. “I-I love you too Mom.” I force a smile as I swallow down what I really want to say. Now is not the time. Not when she is flying out to North Carolina tomorrow. I can’t ruin this opportunity for her.

Smiling, she glances down at her cell as her fingers race over the screen. Sinking back into the buttery leather seat, I close my eyes.

Fuck.

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