Page 114 of Warrior

“You caught the nurse who was giving me heroin,” I start.

“Saint did,” he agrees. “But I was there.”

“Right.” My heartbeat quickens. This is worse than adrenaline—it’s fear. “Saint was gone, and I think you were sleeping? Gabriel came in when I was going through withdrawals. He gave me more—not enough to put me out, you know, but enough to feel it—and then told me I knew where to find him.”

We’re all mad here, Gabriel had said.

I thought I dreamt it, but then I showed up at Madness, and it was a downhill slide from there. What would’ve happened if I resisted that first time? If I didn’t let him show me how to inject it, if I didn’t give in to that delicious rush the first time?

If I didn’t stare him down across the table and let him compress my finger on the plunger?

Maybe I wouldn’t be here.

Or maybe I would.

Maybe Gabriel would’ve kept trying, kept picking at me, until I gave up. He did it tonight, didn’t he? He knew I was fighting the addiction, and he shoved me into the darkest spot he could before offering the one thing to take the pain away.

I hate it.

I hatehim.

And mostly, I hate myself.

“I found him,” I finish lamely. “I wasn’t strong enough to resist. I’m still not.”

“It’s not your fault, Tem,” Reese says carefully. “But we should get you some help. If you’re open to it.”

The truth, this time, is easy to admit: “I don’t want to be like this forever.”

He nods. I reach for him, and he takes my hands. He’s steady where I am weak.

“Yes. I want help.”

He tips his chin toward the truck’s windshield. I follow his gaze, my brows furrowing at the familiar sight.

We’re at the marina.

“Come on.” He gets out of the truck. He circles around and helps me down.

He guides me to a speedboat at the end of a dock. Its navigation lights are on, and a man sits on the deck. It isn’t until we get up next to it that I recognize Bobby, the houseboat owner. He’s wearing a dark-blue windbreaker and white pants instead of his usual eccentric get-up, his long hair caught back in a bun and black cap covering it.

“Hello, wayward travelers,” Bobby greets us. “Are you ready?”

My stomach twists. “Ready for what?”

“Tem.” Reese releases me. “You’re free to stay here. I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you. But…” He runs his fingers through his hair, and it seems to be a sign of distress.

Should I be stressed, too?

I can’t feel anything, but…maybe.

“I hate that Gabriel got to you,” he confesses. He grips the back of his neck tightly, the cords of muscle on his forearms standing out. “Let’s make it better.”

All at once, it clicks into place. There’s only one place I can imagine would get me out of Sterling Falls but keep me safe fromeveryone. Kora spent time there. Kade mentioned checking it out in an effort to cover his bases about Reese.

Which would lead me to believe that Reese knows about it, too.

The island itself is fine—small, unassuming—but the trauma rehabilitation center that takes up almost half of it is the important note.

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