Page 27 of Shadowman

I think she might be the only person left to help me overcome it… After the one who left me high and dry.

“What if she leaves too?”I blink.“You’re damaged, Trevel.”

Ultimately, I know he’s right. So I keep myself hidden, for her sake and mine.

Alice and I get dressed, and despite not getting the drugs I came for, I’m still floating on a dopamine cloud. I’m sure I can overcome the evil inside me… And I don’t need medication or therapy orDr. Loveto do it.

I just need her. A real partner in my corner.

But of course, my joy doesn’t last long. It takes barely a half-hour for the orgasm-high to fully wear off, and the next thing I know, I’m wound the hell up again and back to obsessing over my need for some serious narcotic assistance. I’m happy to be spending time with Alice, surely, I am… But in the back of my mind, I know the longer I hang out here, the more likely her brother will eventually show up. And then I can get my fix.

Fidgeting on the couch, I’m flicking through television channels, so quickly, there’s no way to tell which programs I’m passing. I’m just… doing it. In a trance, pressing the button over and overand over and over and over and—

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Alice’s melodious voice slinks into my ear at my side while I click click click on her remote, staring mindlessly at the screen. “Talk to me.”

Finally, I stop. My face slants slowly in her direction, and I blink at her beautiful, worried face.

She’s worried about me. Shecares… forme.

My lips part.

“Don’t do it,”Leo warns from across the room where he’s smoking a cigarette, watching me.“I’m begging you…”

“I’m in therapy,” I confess, just a sliver of truth. A small piece… It’s all I’m comfortable giving.

I shoot Leo a look. He’s sighing out of relief.Chuffed, are we, mate??

Alice grins, taking my jaw in her hands. “Babe, that’s what you were worried about telling me? I would never judge anyone for seeking help. Shit, I’ve been in therapy since I was, like, fourteen…”

“It’s just… It’s a bit more complicated than that…” I rumble nervously. “Dr. Love—my psychiatrist—was something else. He was… like a breath of fresh air. So very different from all the others. He took pride in his work. In treating me. He actually… cared.” I stop and shake my head. “At least, I thought he did.”

“What happened to him?” Alice’s voice squeaks, full of intrigue. Compassion and wonder. “You’re speaking about him in past tense…”

My jaw tightens, and I scowl while Leo rolls his eyes. “Six weeks ago, he up and decided he was leaving. Pawned me off to some hack, and now he’s gone. The only person who’s ever known the real me…” I blink at Alice, and she back at me. “Until you, I mean.”

Her lashes flutter. Her wide eyes sparkle at me. She looks pleased…

I just wish it wasn’t tainted by the lies, and all of mymanysecrets.

Shifting in my seat, I cover my face with my hands. “I have issues, Alice. Lots of them. If I were you, I would run screaming—”

The words I’m grumbling into my palms are cut short when she takes my hands in hers and pulls them away. I peek at her, sincerely bewildered by the way she’s gazing at me, holding myhands tight. She’s not running away… In fact, she’s leaning in closer.

“My beautiful stranger…” she sighs over my mouth, her forehead dropping to rest on mine. “Thank you for telling me.”

She’s not afraid.

I can’t believe it. She’s notscaredof me…

“She should be…”

I’m about to shoot him a glare when the door flings open. Alice and I pull apart as her brother stomps inside, followed by a guy I think I’ve seen before.

“Look at these two lovebirds,” Andres snorts, an air of hostility about him. He always has it, and I’m unclear if it’s just part of who he is, or if it’s something reserved for me.

Giving me a look I can’t read, he cocks his head to the side. Then he reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small ball of plastic filled with light brown powder. “I’ve got what you want.”

It’s odd how fast my mouth is watering, the tremble in my limbs changing from something pure to something mischievously sinister in seconds flat.