Page 50 of My Addiction
Dad narrows his eyes and then shakes his head. He turns on his computer and starts working.
“You’re amazing,” Colton says to my mom. Mom is one hell of a person. I step over to Colton and grip the back of his neck. His smile returns to me.
“Let’s get started. The others should be here soon.” I pull his chair closer to mine when we take our seats. We gather information and share it in the file. I see one marked travel and open it.
“Fuck,” I breathe. I look over to my Dad and Mom.
“Yes,” Dad replies to my expletive.
“What’s going on?” Colton asks.
“They’re here in Philly, your parents and three others.”
Before I can say any more, Colton jumps to his feet. “Where’s Ollie? We have to go. Ronan, we have to run.” He’s frantic.
I pull him into my arms. “Calm down, Colton. No one will get to Ollie here. If I thought there was even the slightest chance, I would take you away myself.” I’m shocked at my statement when I hear myself say it. But I mean it. I would leave my home if I thought that would keep them safe. But it’s not what we need to do. I take Colton’s face in my hands.
“Look at me, Colton,” I command. He’s still squirming, but he isn’t pulling away. When his bright, too wide eyes meet mine, I continue. “What are we doing? What have we been doing for the past two days?”
He studies my face. “Gathering information.”
“No,” I say. “We are preparing to take them down. To eliminate them.”
Chapter 26
Colton
Eliminate them. That statement should horrify me. I should grab Ollie and run as fast as I can. But as I stare into Ronan’s eyes, I see the truth. I need him. I need his help. I need his protection. I can’t do this alone. But the main decision to stay is because I want to. I want to be with Ronan. He has proved himself to me time and again. The night I walked out of his apartment ready to run, he didn’t stop me. He still provided a safe place for me even though he didn’t want me to go. Everything that he is doing now is for Ollie and me. Not because he has to, but because he wants to.
“Okay,” I breathe out. “We eliminate them.”
Ronan places a kiss on my forehead. “That’s the correct decision.”
“Conor is working on tracking and finding them. Once we have their location, we will pick them up. We plan on it being quick, so they don’t have time to plan anything.” Kieran says. I’m a little surprised by his input. Up until now, he hasn’t been the most talkative.
“What happens to them after you pick them up?” I don’t really want to know, but I also need to.
“We end them and their business.”
The way Kieran says “end them” sends a chill down my spine. We are talking about murder, taking the lives of several people. My mind is trying to reject the idea that I’m willing to be a part of it. But my gut is telling me that it’s the only way to stop them. Ollie will be safe, and if I have my way, he will never know the horrors that our parents were a part of.
Duncan comes in a little while later, followed by Liam and Declan. Everyone seems to know what to do. It’s like watching the gears and movements of an expensive watch. No one is talking over the other. Questions are asked and answered efficiently. It strikes me as amusing that all of the men in the room use as few words as possible when speaking to each other. It’s how Ronan communicates, quick and effective, no unnecessary words.
Ronan stands and comes over to where I’m sitting. Leaning over me, he kisses me. “I’m going to go grab two trackers. One for you and one for Ollie.”
“I thought you said they couldn’t get to us here.”
“I want to be prepared for everything. I should have already done it. I need to rectify that.” He kisses me again and leaves.
“Xavier was kidnapped not too long ago. He wears a bracelet and a ring with trackers. I won’t lose him again. I’m sure Ronan feels the same. Xavier had security with him; their fuck up almost cost him his life.” Declan is already intimidating, but now with him thinking about his fiancé’s kidnapping, he is downright terrifying.
“I have no problem wearing it or having one on Ollie. I’ll take every safety net I can get.” I mean it too. I don’t think we are in danger here, but I don’t want to take any chances.
I go back to my work. So far, I have found seven children who have been sold and the monsters who bought them. I don’t knowthe exact number of children. I asked Ronan to only send me a few files at a time to work on. I don’t know that my heart could take all of it at once. Guilt riddles me because of it. I got Ollie out, but these kids had no one to save them. Time passes, but I’m unaware of it until I feel Ronan’s hand on my neck.
I lean back into his grip. His fingers hold steady, gently pressing into my skin. He constantly says that he is addicted to me, but right now it feels like it’s the other way around. I need his touch and attention. My mind and body would shut down without it.
“Here,” he holds out a small box. Nestled inside is a silver chain, its Figaro links thick but not overly so. Ronan picks it up and clasps it on me. My fingers run across the cool metal. I know it’s for my safety, but I can’t help but think that Ronan is marking me for the world to see. I read a book once where the main character collared his boyfriend. I pretend that is what he is doing. Ronan is claiming me with his collar. He adds the matching bracelet to my wrist.
