A High so Sweet: A Dark Enemies to Lovers Romance (Thornes & Roses Book 2)

by Dani René

  “I have no choice, Cass. They’re convinced this will be good for the family,” she tells me through sobs and hiccups. I picture her face, the tears tracking her cheeks, the way her eyes shimmer with emotion, and my heart thuds against my ribs.

  “I-I…” Fuck, I don’t know what to say to make it better. “You’ll always be a part of this town,” I finally whisper and then punch the mattress at the stupid comment. Seriously, Cass?

  “I don’t want to leave you,” Kalyn tells me on a whimper that only twists my gut with agony at her sadness. “I’ve taken something to calm me down. I’ll come to the party tonight.”

  “What did you take?” I ask, not caring if there’s a party or not. “Kalyn, what the fuck did you take?”

  “I think valium, it’s something my shrink gave me a while ago,” she whispers. “I’m on my way to your house now.” I can hear her door clicking, and then a soft breeze takes hold of the speaker as she walks.

  “I’ll come get you. Don’t walk,” I say.

  “It’s okay; I’m coming.” The line goes dead. I’m rushing out the door, down to my car with my keys out, ready to save her again. It doesn’t take me long to drive down the street that links our homes to find her.

  When she slips into the passenger seat, she smiles. “Thanks. Can we go to the lake?” Kalyn questions, looking at me as if I hung the moon in the sky.

  “Sure.” I turn around and head that way. Anything for her. Right now, the only thing that matters is for me to prove to this woman how much I care for her. When we reach the entrance of the woods, I exit the car and round the front to help her. Hand in hand, we walk through the trees, and when we reach the silver bed of water, we stop and settle on a boulder.

  “It’s one of my favorite places,” Kalyn mumbles, but she doesn’t look at me. “This is where I find…” She tips her head to the side, but she doesn’t complete her sentence.

  Curiosity wins out, and I ask, “What? What do you find?”

  Kaly smiles. Then she pins me with a look that tells me the truth, but she only says, “Happiness.”

  “Oh?” I test, needing to know more. I want her to tell me what she’s feeling. I ache to hear her admit her feelings. Those words that I imagine her whispering to me daily don’t come. But I can’t be too surprised.

  “It’s the place I met you,” she finally whispers after long moments of silence, and my stomach flips. We sit in silence after that because I can’t say anything more.

  How do I tell her I love her when I can’t be the man she deserves?

  So, instead of admitting my emotions, I allow the sounds of the woods to swallow us in the darkness and the silver light of the moon to illuminate us. But with every glance I cast her way, I can’t help but smile because she shines brighter than the sun.

  My star.

  My north star.

  33

  Kalyn

  When I open my eyes, my vision blurs as I attempt to focus on the room that I’m in. My hands tremble as I reach for the pillow beside me, pulling it closer, needing to inhale Cassian’s scent. But even that doesn’t calm me.

  My stomach rolls at the image of Paulo and Cassian fighting. Memories slam into me, my chest tightening as anxiety churns in my gut. It’s cold. So fucking cold. I’m shaking so hard my teeth chatter.

  Tears sting my eyes when I realize this will always be my life. Every inch of my body feels as if I’m in a tub of ice water. I shut my eyes, praying for some form of solace. I need help. I do. It’s been the first time I’ve admitted it, even if only to myself. But right now, the only thing I can think of is a quick fix, which is what I always wanted in the past. When I open my eyes, a thought springs to mind.

  If I can get something. A drink. A painkiller. Anything.

  It will allow me to get out of my head and forget about the mess I’ve made, the drama that has followed me to Thorne Haven. I brought more darkness to this town than I cared to admit. But now, it’s here, and I can’t run anymore.

  Pushing to my feet, I rush for the bathroom and pull open the cabinet to find bottles of everything but pills. Frustration blooms in my stomach, twisting like a serpent ready to strike.

  “What are you doing?” Finn’s voice breaks through the noise in my mind, causing me to snap my gaze toward him. “Kaly?” Concern fills his tone as he steps toward me.

  Surely he’ll see I need it. “I… I need a painkiller,” I tell him while trying to keep my voice level. “I-I… My head hurts.”

  He doesn’t answer me. Instead, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. I want to fight it, but he’s so warm, just like Cassian.

  “W-w-where’s Cass?” I mumble into his shirt, my fingers tangling in the material as I try to pull him impossibly closer. He’s always been like a brother to me, even though we’re pretty much the same age, him only a year older. Someone who was there for me alongside Cass.

  “He’s still out of it. You need to see a doctor,” he informs me before pulling away slightly to meet my watery gaze. He’s blurry when I glance up at his face.

  “I-I need… I just n-need…”

  “A doctor.” His response is no-nonsense, and I realize he isn’t going to cave, no matter how much I beg. “That’s the only thing you’re getting.” He scoops me up before I have time to protest, and soon, we’re heading down the hallway. We pass by Damien, who gives us the once over.

  “Put me down!” My voice is drowned out by Damien’s chuckle. “It’s not funny!” My tiny fists slam down on Finn’s back, but I doubt he even flinches. My stomach rolls and I’m sure I’m about to puke on him.

  “I’ll be back in a few. Stay here with Cass; I’m taking her for a drive,” Finn tells Damien, who offers me a worried look when he notices just how pale I am. I know I am. Usually, when I get like this, it’s obvious in my face.

  “Sure thing,” the eldest Thorne says as we head out of the house. We reach the garage before Finn sets me down. The gate slides open to reveal Finn’s black Tesla. I’m still shaking when I slide into the passenger seat. My energy is slowly diminishing, and I lean back into the soft leather.

  “We’ll be there soon,” Finn assures me as he starts the silent engine, and I only feel a slight jerk as the car is in motion. My lashes flutter as the silent engine purrs under me. It’s so quiet, I allow myself to relax into the soft leather seat.

  “Kaly,” Finn’s voice wakes me from a dreamless sleep.

  I snap my eyes open to find brown eyes peering at me. “Did I fall asleep? How long was I out?”

  “Not long,” he informs me. “We’re here.” I glance out the window to find an enormous house before us.

  “Where is here?”

  “Doctor Ulrich’s house. He usually comes to the manor, but I thought you needed some fresh air.” He exits the car, rounding the front before coming to help me. Finn holds my hand as he leads me up to the door that slowly inches open.

  An older man stands on the threshold, a small smile on his face as he greets Finn. “You got here quickly.”

  “Kalyn needs some help, and if I didn’t do something, my brother would lose his mind.” Finn sounds so grown up, so much more mature than he usually is when he’s joking around. My head spins when the doctor steps back, and the door opens wider.

  Doctor Ulrich nods slowly as he gestures with his hand for us to enter, and then he asks Finn, “Is Cassian still unconscious? Is someone monitoring him?”

  “Yes, Damien is with him at the moment,” Finn informs the doctor before we’re led inside and settle into a beautiful living room. Even sitting on the plush sofa, my legs don’t stop shaking. Finn takes my left hand, sliding his fingers between my shaky ones, and grips it tightly.

  “So, what can I do for you, young lady?”

  I haven’t ever had someone ask me that. No medical professional I’ve ever gone to has ever asked me what they could do for me. Instead, I was always ushered from their offices quickly with a prescription, which of course, only made my need worse.r />
  “I…” I’ve never admitted it out loud. All these years, I have never once uttered the words. “I’m…” Shaking my head, I blink, and the tears I’d been holding onto fall, trickling down my cheeks. I glance at Finn, and he offers me a reassuring nod before I look at Doctor Ulrich and admit, “I have an addiction. Forced on drugs I didn’t want, but I crave them now.”

  The older man stares at me for a short while before he slowly nods. “Thank you for your honesty,” he says. “That’s the first step. I won’t lie to you and tell you this journey will be easy. It won’t. But admitting it is most definitely the right way to go.”

  I nod. My fingers gripping Finn’s so hard, I’m sure I’m stopping his blood flow. “I need help. It’s taken me a long time to admit it. Even though I’m not alone in this, I feel like I need to say it out loud before I can start to heal.”

  “You’re a strong woman to admit you have a problem. Most who come to me struggle with that, but you seem to have come to terms with the fact that you have a problem.”

  He’s right. It’s the first small step. “Will you be able to help me or offer me some advice on where to go to do it?”

  “Actually, Thorne Haven has a facility not far from the university,” the doctor offers. “If you’d like to go there, I can definitely help you. You have a wonderful support system,” he says, glancing at Finn, and I’m sure if Cass were here, he would most certainly be all for it. He’s always wanted me healthy.

  Even though I’m doing this for myself, I’m partly doing it for him as well. I want him to see me in a different light. One he’s never seen me in. Cassian has been the hero all through our friendship, the white knight trying to save me from myself. I want him to finally see the strong woman who no longer needs a high to get through difficult times but can deal with challenges with a clear mind and a strong conviction.

  It’s not going to be easy, but I want this, not only to have him be proud of me but for me to be proud of myself too.

  I make my decision and smile at the doctor. “I’d like that very much.”

  34

  Cassian

  Thump.

  Thump.

  Thump.

  “Jesus fucking Christ,” I croak, rolling over to find softness beside me. Snapping my eyes open, I look into a pretty yet worried gaze that stops my heart for a split second. “What the fuck happened?”

  “Paulo and Manny’s men injected you with something,” she tells me, her hand reaching for my face, gently cupping me as if I were fragile. “Finn and Damien got the doctor here to check on you. He said you were to rest. So, you have to stay in bed for a while. Your system needs to rid itself of the toxins.”

  “My fucking head is throbbing,” I tell her.

  “The doc said you can have a painkiller if you need it,” my girl tells me. Kalyn moves to grab a glass of water with two aspirin and hands them to me. Gratefully, I swallow them down quickly while praying they take effect very fucking soon because this is not my idea of fun.

  “I’ve spent my life hiding from this shit,” I bite out before realizing what I’ve just said. “I didn’t mean—”

  Kalyn nods, then drops her gaze to the bed, focusing on the sheet instead of me. In a soft tone, she admits, “I know. I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If I never came back to Thorne Haven, you wouldn’t be dealing with this.”

  “Don’t you dare fucking apologize,” I grit, pulling Kalyn until she’s nestled in my hold. Her body is so tiny as she curls up on the mattress, her hands tangling in my shirt.

  “There’s something I need to tell you,” she whispers, taking my hand in hers. “While you were out, I woke up; I was struggling.”

  My brows furrow in confusion. “Struggling?”

  “The withdrawals hit me quite hard. Finn took me to see Doctor Ulrich, and he is going to help me. I’m going to go to a facility in town.” Her words are merely a whisper, but there’s a sparkle to her eyes which has my chest filling with pride.

  “I’m so fucking proud of you,” I tell her, cupping her face with my free hand, my thumb swiping along her cheek. “You won’t be alone. I’m going to be here for you every step of the way.”

  Kalyn nods then sighs. “I know, but there’s something else. Before we talk about all of this, I think Genevieve needs your help,” Kalyn confesses quietly, which makes my body tense. “Paulo said something about the redhead before he walked out of the office. She’s the only person I know with red hair who lives in town.” Her confession makes me want to make sure our friend is alive and well, but I can’t move. It feels as if I’m being held down by a boulder, and the pain killers haven’t kicked in yet.

  Reaching for my phone that I spy on the nightstand, I open my messages and tap out a quick one to Harris. We need to get Gen back if it is indeed her that Paulo’s sunk his claws into.

  “I’ll fix things,” I tell Kalyn, but the way she’s curling up smaller and smaller, I have a feeling she’s not going to allow her guilt to ease. “This wasn’t your fault,” I tell her, but my girl won’t allow herself to believe me until we find out what is going on. “He may have been lying. You told him you’d be going with Gen that night you met me. Which means he knows her. He knows about your friendship with her. Also, Gen isn’t into guys from out of town, I think we all know this.”

  “I guess,” Kalyn whispers as she lifts her pretty gaze to meet mine. “It feels as if I’ve brought this all to Thorne Haven.”

  “You’re as much a resident of this town as anyone else,” I remind her. Once you’ve lived here, gone to school here, there’s no walking away from this town. It has a way of burrowing itself inside your bones.

  “I don’t know,” Kaly says. “Sometimes, my mind tells me I’m merely an outsider. Someone who should pack her bags and find a new home.”

  “You have a new home.” My response is quick; there’s no doubt, no argument in my tone. When her brows furrow in confusion, I say, “This is your home.”

  “Cassian, I can’t. You know this thing between us is…” Her words taper off. I’m not sure what she wanted to say, but there’s no way she’s walking away from me, not again.

  “If you think for one second, you’re leaving again, that you’re going to pack your shit and go to LA, you have another thing coming.” I’m not taking no for an answer. “I’ve watched you leave once. I’m not prepared to do it again.”

  “But—”

  “There is no but, because I’m not letting you go.” I don’t smile. I don’t even offer a hint of a grin because it’s not a lie. I’m not joking either. “We’re going to make sure you heal from this addiction Paulo ensured you’re a prisoner to. You will get better.”

  Kalyn has been mine for all the time I’ve known her, and I’m not letting her out of my sight.

  Slowly, she nods. “I need help. I’ve needed help for so long but I never wanted to admit it.” Her words hold strength, and when she glances at me, I see the conviction in those pretty eyes. “But I’m tired of being a slave to the high. To something that could kill me.”

  “You’re not dying under my watch.” My voice is rough with emotion. She’s always brought out my feelings, tugged at the walls I built around my heart and made sure I recognized I was human. Alive and breathing. “If I have to, I’ll lock you in my bedroom. I’ll keep you chained to my bed,” I promise, hoping to lighten the darkness that’s taken hold of the room.

  “So, you’d chain me to your bed, huh?” she quips; a slight hint of a smile curls her lips as she looks up at me, with adoration shimmering in her eyes. She’s always looked at me that way—like I’m her hero.

  “Yes, wrists and ankles, spread open, so when I’m hungry, I can feast; when I need a release, you’ll be the only person who will give that to me.” Her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink at my admission. “And the moment you finally submit to those feelings you have, then I’ll unchain you.”

  “What if I’ve already submitted to them?”

  Her question is inter
rupted by my phone. “Harris?” I answer quickly. How this man is standing, I have no idea.

  “I found the girl; she’s at work. Nothing seems off, but I’m going to take a closer look. Went around her house, and it seems she was there all night. She lives alone, but there were plates in the sink, wine glasses on the countertop. Nothing is amiss.”

  “Perhaps we need to talk to her, just to make sure. I’ll meet you at the shop. Keep an eye on her.” I hang up before he can say anything more. “Gen is at work. I’m meeting Harris to go talk to her.”

  Kalyn nods. “Can I come?”

  “Oh, trust me, you’ll come, but not right now. I need you safe. Stay here with Finn and Damien. They’ll keep you safe until I get back to you.” I press a kiss to her lips, and for a moment, I want nothing more than to deepen it, to claim her mouth properly, but I have to work.

  “Come back soon,” she tells me when I make my way out of my bedroom to find my brothers. When I step into the kitchen, Finn is leaning over the counter, watching the coffee machine drip into a mug. Damien is at the table, his computer out as he taps on the keyboard.

  “How are you two dickheads feeling?”

  “That bastard needs to die,” Finn remarks when he turns to regard me. “Where are you going?”

  “Harris and I are going to talk to Gen. Apparently, when Paulo left, he told Kalyn that he’s found a new plaything, a redhead. I sent Harris to check it out. He went to her house, but it seems Gen was home last night, and she’s at work now.”

  “What is he playing at?”

  “I think he was trying to upset Kaly, but I need to make sure it was bullshit,” I tell my brothers, who nod slowly in unison. I still feel like whatever they injected into my system has a grip on me, but I need to put that aside and focus on getting to Gen. “Keep an eye on Kaly; she’s in my room.”