Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93575 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“Not without proper testing.” He indicated the pills. “With your permission?”
I nodded, and he crushed each pill, testing the dust with something, then with his tongue.
“I don’t know what it is, but I know what it is not. They are not the same pills,” he said, holding up the bottle. “There is no fentanyl, thank goodness, but I believe these are fake. They are very chalky, so that is probably a large part of their makeup.” He looked at me. “Very clever of you to notice the difference.”
“Can they be tested?”
“Yes. I will send them off for you.”
“What can I do?” Nick hissed. “I need more pills. Real ones.” I heard a touch of panic to his voice. “I can’t go without those meds.”
“I know. There is a doctor I know at the clinic down the street. I’ll call him and explain. I’m sure he will help,” he assured us. “I will be right back.”
He left, and I turned to Nick. He was pale, his pain and confusion evident. “How could she?” he asked.
“She’s desperate. You’re getting too strong for her to hold you much longer.”
“What would have…” He stopped talking and swallowed. “Fuck, you would have had to deal with an episode. A full-blown one. It would have stopped production. Your family would have seen. Christ, I can’t even think about it.”
I captured his hand. “And we would have made it through together, Nick. But we caught it. She didn’t win.”
“I need to cut ties.”
“You need to press charges,” I muttered. “She was endangering you.”
He didn’t respond to my comment. He was too busy thinking. “I would have lost you.”
“No,” I said firmly. “I am not going anywhere, Nick. I love you.” I framed his face with my hands so he had to look at me. “I love you,” I repeated. “That is not going to change. And when you have an episode, I will be there. When I faint, you’ll be there. Together.”
He pulled me into his arms. “Thank God.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MILA
We went back to the compound, a new bottle of pills with us. The doctor in the clinic had been helpful and had confirmed Nick couldn’t be without his meds, and he’d agreed to give him a new prescription.
At the house, I was surprised when Nick called Andi. He hung up, telling me she was coming to Port Albany that afternoon.
He paced and raged, his euphoria of the past few days gone. His anger had taken over. He was livid. He stopped pacing at one point, looking at me. “Can you call your dad?”
“My dad?”
“Yes.”
“And ask him…?”
“To come over. I want to talk to him.” Then he shook his head. “No, I’ll go see him.”
Before I could stop him, he left. I wasn’t sure what to do.
Go after him? Stay? Why did he want to talk to my father?
My mom showed up about ten minutes later and came into the kitchen. I was at the table, busy on my laptop, trying to find out as much information as I could on counterfeit pills, how much Nick might have been affected by them, and what to expect over the next while until his meds kicked in again. I liked having as much intel as I could get.
Mom got a coffee and sat down.
“What’s going on with Nick and Dad?”
“He asked to speak to your dad in private. And I heard him ask Van if he could call Halton.” She shook her head. “What’s going on?”
I told her everything. She looked horrified. “Poor Nick,” she murmured. “How dreadful.” She paused. “How much of what we saw was Nick?”
I shook my head. “Most of it. Aside from the talking. He is usually a bit quieter. It was the start of an episode. The running, the energy, the euphoria. It’s hard to see, but I noticed a few things. He is a wonderful man, though, Mom. He was still Nick, just a little more animated.”
She nodded. “I read up on it. That woman needs to be arrested.”
“I agree.”
She stood. “I don’t know how long they’ll be, but we should stay busy. Cookies?”
I nodded. “I’ll get the mixer.”
We had just pulled out the last tray of baked cookies when Dad, Nick, and Halton walked in. I looked between them, anxious and curious. Dad picked up a cookie, munching it and sitting down. “Any chance of coffee?”
Mom grabbed some mugs, and I put a plate of cookies on the table. I looked at Nick, who smiled and took my hand. He looked as exhausted as I felt. He tugged on my hand, pulling me to his lap, wrapping his arm around me. He nuzzled into my neck with a sigh.
“I needed that.”
“What did you talk about?” I asked.
“I told your dad everything. And Halton. Asked their advice.”
“Everything?”
Dad nodded, taking a sip of coffee. “He shared his truth, I gave him mine.”