I walk in after them, but my steps falter as my eyes land on a half-naked man standing over her, shaking her frantically. He turns to us, fear in his eyes as he steps away from her. “Iswearshe was just fine.” He puts a hand up in surrender before Sire pushes past him and kneels on the bed in front of her.
Vidia and I are close behind him as we examine her limp body.
“Is she breathing?” The guy behind us questions and I nearly pass out when I notice her concerningly shallow breaths and blue lips. I glance around at her nightstand and my eyes land on the powder, spoon, lighter, and a shit ton of amess.
“Vidia, call 911.” Sire sprays what I’m assuming is naloxone in her nose. I know it’s supposed to take a few minutes, but it feels like an hour goes by before she takes a gasp of air.
She quickly sits up, frantically shoving Sire away from her as she tries to make sense of what’s happening.
When I hearhimstart thanking God, I turn on my heels. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Ben.” His scared eyes meet mine and I realize he’s just as high. I let out a scoff as I turn back to Lisette.
I watch her carefully as she takes in her surroundings and slowly calms down.
She looks disoriented as she tries to get out of bed. Sire pushes her back down, but when she pulls the blanket off of herself, my eyes land on her tiny underwear.
Vidia’s eyes land on my heated gaze before looking over at Sire who looks just as pissed. She turns toBenas she pulls the phone away from her ear. “You should go,” she warns him off before turning back to Lisette and checking her pupils for the operator.
“The pills…” Ben voices. “Can I get them before I go? They’re kinda mine.”
We all turn to him slowly and I let out a scoff before punching him in the face.
I’ve never been a violent person and I know that sounds like an oxymoron as I’m beating this guy’s face in, but his words made me see red and I don’t mean the blood on my hands.
“Jackson, enough.” Vidia pulls my shirt, but I hit him one more time before grabbing his face.
“I swear on my daughter’slife, if you come near her again, I am going to break every bone in your body.” I shove him away before he collects his clothes and hurries out in less than ten seconds.
Leaning against the wall in front of the bed, I focus on Lisette and she still looks out of it as she looks around the room. When her eyes meet mine, she squints as if she can’t understand me being here.
Before either of us can say anything, Sire holds her face in his hands. They just stare at each other and I can see Lisette’s regret from across the room as she faces her brother’s teary eyes.
“Don’t,” Sire cuts her off from whatever she’s about to say and hugs her again. “It’s fine. You’re fine.”
She’s not though, and I can’t tell who between the four of us is more scared to admit that.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Lisette
“Wheneveryouwanttoletgo will be great.” I tap Sire’s back, but when he doesn’t laugh, my heart somehow sinks further. All of my limbs are weak like I’m being weighed down by wet cement, but I muster up a smile anyway.
“Will it make you feel better if I say I didn’tmeanto overdose?”
He pulls away and looks at me, clearly trying to decipher if my words are true. “Did you?”
“Will it make you feel better?”
“Did you?”
I look between his eyes and he stares back at me, eyes red with tears, like his life depends on my answer. I shake my head softly and in the corner of my eye, Jackson and Vidia let out a breath of relief.
I don’t bother asking how either of them are here and instead keep my gaze on Sire because I can’t face Jackson. This was the one part of me I didn’t want him to see. A couple of days ago, I so desperately wanted his lips on mine and now I want him to forget I exist.
“I don’t have the energy, so don’t fight me, Lis.”
I look at my brother, my eyes widening as the thought of him admitting me crosses my mind.