Page 196 of Losing Faith

“You and I both know I can get you sober, Lis. You just don’twantto get sober.”

I watch them carefully, but at the sound of Isabelle’s faint call for me, we all turn to the house. Lisette is quick to climb off of me, but as she steps for the door, Sire grabs her arm.

“Give me five minutes,” he pleads.

She tries to pull away, but I step in her way.

“The deal was you see Isabelle sober,” I remind her. “You broke that deal, so give him five minutes or you need to leave.”

Her eyes drop to the ground as she takes a step back to face her brother. Stepping away, I call into the house to tell Belle to give me a minute.

“Winter is worried about you.” Sire keeps his voice hushed as he leans over, trying to get her to look at him, but she refuses. “Bay is scared too. Why won’t you answer their calls?”

“Is this what you want to waste your five minutes on?”

He’s quiet as he watches her. “Call me when you’re ready, Lisette. It doesn’t matter the time or how drunk or high you are. When you go back in there and take out your anger on that little girl then feel like shit for not coming with me when you had the chance, call me.”

“Daddy?”

Lisette turns on her heels and as I open the door, she scoops Isabelle into her arms, rushing off before she can greet Sire.

I let out a tired breath as I turn back to my best friend.

“She’s lying to you,” he states, his voice monotone and tired.

“What?”

“Lisette.” He nods towards the door. “She didn’t take her last pill. She’s still hiding some in your house somewhere.”

I shake my head in return, refusing to believe that show she gave me was just that. A show. “How do you know?”

“Because I was her, Jackson,” he deadpans. “Did she ever tell you about our fight? The one we had a few years ago and didn’t truly resolve until earlier this year?”

“No…”

He nods as he glances over at the house. “I relapsed right before I signed you as my agent. I wasn’t on vacation that summer, I was in rehab and when Lisette tried to help me, I threw her suicide attempt in her face. I said something that was unforgivable because I didn’t want to be saved. That’s what she’s doing now. Pushing me away, being cruel.”

He looks torn as he continues. “She’s not doing that with you because you’re her escape. She knows I can help so she’s pushing me away. She knows she can get away with murder with you so she’s manipulating you. The same way I used to manipulate August. We’re addicts, Jackson, and we can be your worst nightmare.”

“I’m not going to force her out.”

“And by doing so you’re enabling her.”

I open my mouth to defend myself, but he beats me to it.

“I’m going home because she needs towantto get sober. She needs to see she has nothing before she fights for something and as long as you continue to forgive her, she’s going to continue to fuck up and beg for your forgiveness that she knows she already has. She’s going to tell you it was just one drink. Or her last pill. She’s going to yell at you and then pretend to cry. When you threaten to call me, she’s going to confess one small thing. She’ll sit there, high as a kite, and tell you she only had one drink. She’s going to make you think her small confession counts for something so you can think she’s being honest. She’s going to manipulate you and tell you to keep her secrets because she needs someone in her corner. She’s going to ruin your relationship, Jackson.”

He digs into his pocket before handing me a small nasal spray. “I’m really hoping you won’t have to use that and I’m wrong.” With that, he walks away, leaving me stuck in place.

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Jackson

Walkingbackintothehouse,I find the girls in the living room. Lisette sits on the ground as Isabelle braids her hair.

“Good morning, princess.”

Belle looks up from the couch, a bright smile on her face. “Good morning, Daddy. I’ll have waffles for breakfast with some mango.”

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