Page 74 of Enticing My Off Limits Billionaire

"When do you leave?" I ask.

"Tonight," he says. "I got a flight as quickly as possible—my family is going to their cabin in the Alps two days from now, and they're going to take Adam there for some much-needed rest and recovery. There's a facility...well, you get it. He needs the help if we're going to keep him clean."

"I get it," I nod. "And I admire the way you take care of him. I'm just being selfish."

"This will be good," he says, taking me by the shoulders and looking into my eyes. "Let's figure out what we're doing here—give it some time. And then when I come back, things will be even better."

I nod, biting back the urge to beg him to stay. "Sounds like a plan."

He leans in and kisses my forehead. "I love you, Madison."

"I love you too," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.

He gives my hand a final squeeze before walking away, his back retreating into the distance until he disappears around the corner. I stand there for a long moment, watching the empty street where he once stood, feeling like my heart has been ripped out of my chest.

I can't imagine how I will get through the next few weeks without him.

But Delia is right. Love is worth fighting for. And if that means I have to spend some time alone, figuring out what I want, then so be it.

I take a deep breath and turn to face the performance space, ready to throw myself into the work. Because at least that's something I can control.

Chapter twenty-four

Quinn

Myrelationshipwithmyfamily is complicated at best, fucked up at worst. This is why it was shocking when I called them to tell them about Adam...and they called me back first thing in the morning to tell me they'd gotten him a space at one of the most sophisticated, nicest rehab facilities in the world.

It feels like some kind of prank on us both as we board a private jet from New York City to Lyon, Adam looking around with wide eyes and barely a personal belonging with him. He sits across from me and looks out the window, politely saying no when the flight attendant offers us champagne.

"This is...dude, I've never felt like a rich kid until this morning," he says. "Why couldn't they have done this shit before I got close to liver failure?"

"Because hindsight's twenty-twenty," I mutter. "Are you good?"

"Man, I'm great," he says. "Look at us, riding in style all the way to the Alps. Sometimes it's good to be a Young."

I nod and look out the window as the plane takes off, thinking about how my family always seemed to have an endless supply of money for things like this. But they never seemed to have any interest in using the money actually to help me or Adam before. It's almost like they're more invested in the idea of having a perfect family than the reality of it.

It wouldn't do for one of us to die of an overdose...so they're finally helping.

Which is why I have to go with him, to make sure he sees this through. Because it's for appearances, nothing more.

Adam falls asleep soon after takeoff, his head lolling to the side in a way that makes me smile despite myself. It's been long since I've seen him so relaxed and peaceful. I take out a book from my bag and try to read, but my mind keeps drifting back to the Madison.

I'm still not sure if I did the right thing, leaving her behind. I considered inviting her to come with us, but it really seemed like she needed to work things out with Kylie and her father. Not only that, but her words stuck in my mind, along with Adam's.

I need to let her own this.

I need to deliver Adam to this facility and leave him to it as well.

Which leaves me with what?

I don't really know who I am when I'm not taking care of someone. I've always been the older brother, the stand-in dad. Even in college, I was the guy giving people rides and making coffee when they were too drunk.

I can't shelter Madison from her problems like that.

It clearly didn't work with Adam.

At some point, I drift off, too, and my eyes don't open again until the plane shakes slightly with the ordinary turbulence of descent.

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