Page 47 of Missing Piece (Neon Scars #2)

Adam pushed himself off the ground, clinging to the wall for leverage as he forced himself up on both feet, placing weight on his ankle to keep the hurt going.

Petrov was holding Caleb around the waist, his feet just off the ground, his face already swollen from having been hit God knows how many times.

He looked terrified, his cheeks bright red and streaked with tears.

Vincent said he’s not sharing me with anything.

I’m not sharing him. It was unlikely that Caleb even understood what was happening, but fear was still knocking at his consciousness and he needed to hold onto anything that could keep him tethered to reality.

He stepped forward, digging his fingers into his ribs again.

“Don’t—” Adam began, the sob caught in his chest bursting out of him.

Vincent turned to him, his eyes still hollow as a smirk played at his lips.

Adam took another excruciating step forward, then another, his whole body aching and burning and his teeth chattering as he did, as though something were trying to hold him back.

He didn’t stop until he reached Vincent, pressing his forehead to the blond’s shoulder. “Vincent, please…d-don’t…”

Adam’s legs buckled again, his ankle giving out, and he threw his arms around Vincent to keep himself upright. Vincent wrapped an arm around Adam’s back, cupping his face with his free hand, his eyes drifting up as his expression softened. “Are you jealous?”

I need to get his attention away from Caleb. “I’ll g-go home,” Adam whimpered through gritted teeth, closing his eyes as he breathed in. “Please, take me home.”

Vincent’s thumb stroked his cheek, soothing his burning skin. God it felt good. That soft touch. He liked that softness that occasionally showed up when they were alone together, even before they had their weird night out on the porch. “Stay,” Vincent said before stepping away from him.

Adam’s eyes popped open as Luka stepped forward, grabbing his arm and slinging it over his shoulder to support his weight. He was thankful not to hit the ground again, but Vincent stepping away made his anger flare. He wanted Vincent to stay next to him.

But that doesn’t make sense, he’s still out of his gourd like you were, you should be scared …

He put some of his weight on his ankle, grimacing as throbbing shot up his leg again and he forced the thought back.

He needed to hold onto it. The pain. The anger.

It was the only thing keeping his mind from going back to that pit Richard threw him down.

He dug his nails into Luka’s shoulder as he watched Vincent grab Caleb by the hair, his own heart pounding so hard it ached in his chest at the sight of how close Vincent was getting to Caleb’s lips.

“It’s a shame to leave such a pretty thing with a beast that likes to break his toys,” Vincent said.

“It seems like Adam doesn’t want a playmate to keep him company, so I suppose I’ll leave you here.

But if you’re smart, you’ll come find me before he decides you’re his.

I can’t say you’ll be comfortable, but I can make you feel good. ”

The fuck you will.

Adam glared at both of them, grinding his molars as he fought with himself against blurting out something he would probably regret.

Luka nudged him with his elbow, mouthing “calm” as he silently mimicked letting out a slow breath.

I can’t. If I do…

“What are you—” Caleb started. Vincent pressed a finger to his lips.

Adam couldn’t help but just glare at him, unable to control the chaos inside himself. Caleb’s teary eyes were still locked on him as Matteo stepped forward, syringe in hand, and jabbed it into his neck.

He should have felt bad as he watched Caleb realize he was being drugged, but there was too much warring inside Adam for him to feel sympathy for the young man. Just the glimpse of him walking past the club a few hours prior had him hugging the toilet, but now…

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Petrov asked Vincent after Caleb hit the ground hard.

The big guy usually looked disinterested in everything, but his face was beet red as he gestured at Adam and the young man on the floor.

He grabbed Vincent by the front of his vest, practically lifting him off the ground.

“What the fuck Vincent? You out of your mind?”

“He’s just a human, it’s fine,” Vincent grinned, unfazed by Petrov’s display of strength. “Right Adam?”

Everything in his head was just pain and pissed off, strangling the words in his throat. What could he say that would bring Vincent’s mind back? “Please—”

His words were cut off by a sickening crack as Matteo grabbed the sides of Vincent’s face and yanked violently to one side.

Vincent went limp, his neck lolling to one side.

Adam clutched his chests as Petrov helped lower Vincent’s limp body to the ground beside Caleb.

He tried to rush forward, but Matteo and Luka were both holding him in place. “Let go!” he barked at them.

Petrov held up his hands. “Calm down, little pet, he will be fine. A nap to calm down, nothing more,” he said gently.

Adam still couldn’t breathe as he stared at Vincent’s body, his eyes still open and a little smirk etched into his face.

He knew, somewhere in the depths of his mind where he had a few logical brain cells left, that Petrov was telling the truth.

He had seen Beth come back from getting her head twisted completely around.

But it was something else to see it happen to Vincent. To someone he knew.

“Sooo, I don’t want to know what the fuck just happened in here, but I’m going to assume it was some bullshit,” came Ophelia’s voice.

She stood just inside the curtain, walkie-talkie in hand, both arms crossed over her chest as though she were admiring a painting in a museum.

She cocked her head at Adam before eyeing Vincent and Caleb on the floor, the sight making her shake her head and roll her eyes.

“I hired that kid for one reason and one reason only. He better still be alive down there,” she said casually.

Luka nodded at her, using one hand to sign something to her.

She sighed, looking down at Vincent with an almost sympathetic look on her face before locking eyes with Petrov.

“I can give you guys a two minute head start to get the fuck out of here before I let Marcus know there has been a, fuck, I dunno, work-related incident? ”

“Much appreciated, mala kukla.” Petrov bent over and heaved Vincent’s limp body over his shoulder. Adam forced himself to avert his eyes. It all looked wrong.

“Call me that again and it will only be a one minute head start, and you,” Ophelia raised an eyebrow at Adam, “normally I wouldn’t do this, but since you had my back recently, I’ll return the favor.

I can’t guarantee you’ll make it very far before he catches up to you, but the offer stands. You want out?”

“No.” Adam pursed his lips before he said anything else, staring down at his feet when he realized what he said.

You fucking idiot, this was your chance.

All you did was plan on escaping. It was the only thing that kept you sane, and you’re saying no?

! Do you have a death wish? He’s going to kill you when he wakes up.

Adam shook his head, forcing the thought away.

It was whatever Richard did to him trying to rear its ugly head back into his mind.

It didn’t matter that he pretty much managed to do everything he planned: get his foot back, earn Vincent’s trust, hell, he even found himself back in town.

He could take Ophelia up on her offer and take off running into the night.

He could keep going and never look back.

It’s not like there was really anything left for him in town anyway.

He could start over. Somewhere new, where no one knew who he was, and just pretend the whole thing was a very long, very vivid detox hallucination.

But he wouldn’t see Vincent again, would he? And he at least needed to make sure Vincent was going to put himself back together. After that, I’ll leave.

“Let’s go home,” Adam told Petrov.