by Ashley Jade
“I wish you didn't have to go through this, Leah. I wish you would just forgive yourself.” A single tear ran down her cheek. “You're going to become addicted. It's only a matter of time. Your will is fading. You have to hang in there, please,” Jamie whispered before she faded away.
***
Hours later I laid on a bed, itching for my next dose. I haven't started asking for it yet, but I was almost there.
I was also eavesdropping in on the conversation that my father was currently having with Mark.
“It's been five days, Mark. What the fuck is taking him so long? You said he was in love with her. So what the hell is going on? Is he back to fucking his escorts again or something?" my father asked.
“Look, I don't know what's going on with him anymore,” Mark answered. “He's not as forthcoming. Something is off. Almost, like he doesn't trust me. He’s completely different now. I even sent a few of his favorite girls over to his house to see if he was back to his old ways—but he didn't take the bait. He's going postal when it comes to Leah. He's not gonna do shit for us unless he has some kind of contact with her. I know he can't come here in person obviously—but maybe a phone call will help.” He paused and my father mumbled something. “No. Not a phone call with you—he's tired of those. A phone call with her, to make sure she's still alive.”
It seemed like Jacob may have gotten my secret message after all. The thought made me smile, but my thoughts were soon interrupted.
“I'll think about it. I don't want Leah warning him, though. She still hasn't gotten him out of her system yet. I still hear her crying at night for him. She’s still fully functioning and she still wants him more than the drugs. I can't have her talking to him until I'm sure that she won't warn him," my father said, sending a shiver up my spine.
“What do you mean they haven't taken over yet?” Mark huffed. “How much are you giving her? You should have increased her dosage by now. Bump up the frequency. That's how you turn someone into an addict—I told you the protocol.”
He let out a long sigh. “Luke, I'm telling you, if Jacob doesn't talk to her soon, he's going to end up going on a killing spree. He doesn't trust me or anyone else anymore. I need to be able to tell him I've got some kind of lead. You're just going to have to figure out a way to get Leah hooked on the stuff—” He paused. “I mean, I have an idea—something that could push her over the edge, but it's up to you.”
It went silent for a few moments and my nerves reached a peak.
“Yeah. I guess we can try that soon and see what happens. I'll see you in a couple of days,” my father said, before I heard his footsteps coming toward my bed.
He plunged another needle into my vein. “There you go, Princess. Enjoy your treat.”
Everything went hazy. It felt just like those first few rushes I’d had. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the escape.
***
Jamie grabbed my arm and led me through the woods. “Come on, let's go see the stars.” She pointed at the sky. “Look. I see a shooting star, Leah. Make a wish.”
I yanked my arm away. “Leah, why won't you look up? Why won't you make a wish?”
I sat down beside a large oak tree and hung my head. “Because wishes don't come true. I don't believe in wishes anymore. There's no hope, Jamie. You're never coming back and I'll never see Danny or Jacob again. I give up, just let me go numb.”
“Leah, no. Please don't give up. Stay strong,” Jamie pleaded, before she faded away.
***
“What the fuck Mark? What is taking him so long? It's been 10 days now! I'm really starting to doubt your capabilities. Who's side are you really on?" My father asked angrily, causing me to drift out of my haze momentarily.
“Yours, that's a given. I told you. You need to let him speak to her. He won't do shit without talking to her first,” Mark's voice said as I drifted off.
My father lifted me into a sitting position. “Princess. Come on. Up you go. I need you to sit up for me.”
I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of the room spinning around me. “What's the matter?”
He shoved a phone into my face. “Take the phone and say hello.”
I put it up to my ear. “Hello.”
“Leah? Thank fuck. Are you okay?” Jacob shouted, frantically.
God, how I missed his voice. God, how I missed him.
I tried to stop the room from spinning momentarily, so I could concentrate. “Yeah. I'm fine. How's my brother? How are you?”
“He's fine. He doesn't remember anything, though. He misses you, Lillian misses you—I miss you, baby. I'm going to get you out of this. I just needed to make sure you were still with him. I love you, Leah—so fucking much."
That's when the tears started falling down my face.
“Please don't cry, Leah,” Jacob whispered. “I'm getting you out of there. I'm faxing the papers over now for him to review them. Your father will be the new owner of Sand Corp. I love you, just hang in there for me."
Fear shot right through me. Once he did that, they were going to kill him, I couldn’t let that happen.
“Jacob, no! You can't. Please don't sign over the company to him. Please...for me. If you love me—don't do it. Trust me, Mark—” I shouted, before my father took the phone away from me.
Then he punched me so hard across the face, I fell back down on the bed and became dizzy.
“Sorry. Leah's gotta go. I look forward to looking over the paperwork,” my father sneered into the phone before he hung up.
My father’s fist went through the wall. “I fucking told you, Mark. I knew I shouldn't have listened to you. She wasn't fucking ready yet. He's still not out of her system.”
“I'm sorry. I figured she would be ready by now. Did you increase the dosage again? Because I think she's building up a tolerance. She's still not addicted yet—I guess. I'll work on Jacob some more. We can try again in a few more days. I won't blow it again. You know your daughter better than I do. I'm sorry I thought otherwise," Mark said, before leaving the room.
My father held out a tourniquet. “Stick out your arm, Leah. Time for your treat of the day.”
***
Jamie attempted to pick me up. “Come on, let's go see the stars.”
I threw myself on the ground in the woods and sobbed. “No, Jamie. Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you anymore. It hurts too much. Please, stop visiting me.”
“No, please don't give up. Stay with me. Don't go to that place.”
Her bottom lip quivered and she tugged on my arm harder. “There's no coming back from that.”
I shoved her off me. “Leave me alone, Jamie—forever! I can't take it. It hurts. I don't want to see you anymore.”
***
“Twenty days now. We fucking had him, Mark. It was all ready to go—until I listened to you!” my father screamed.
I closed my eyes and enjoyed my haze.
I heard footsteps walking toward me, before the conversation continued.
“I'm sorry. But I don't think Jacob loves Leah anymore. He even went back to fucking anything in a skirt...just like he used to. He said he had a change of heart and that no pussy is worth billions. He said that he got everything he needed out of her already," Mark said loudly.
I started sobbing violently with those words. A part of me was happy because that meant that Jacob was still alive and that's what I wanted—but my heart ripped apart with the rest of Mark's statement.
It hurt to breathe and I clutched my hand to my chest. I was never worth his love in the first place. The pain burned through me and I felt myself collapse. I knew what I needed now.
I knew what I needed to get through this. I knew what would make it go away. I finally needed something more than I needed love.
“Daddy? Can I please have more? I really need it.” I asked, through sobs.
My father looked at Mark and smiled. “Of course. I'll prepare it for you now. I thought you might come around, Princess.”
Chapter 24
“Mark's dead. I thought I should let you know,” my father said, before plunging another needle into my arm.
I laughed and fell on the bed. “Good riddance.”
He handed me a cell phone. “Leah, do you think you can call Jacob for me now?”
I sat up in bed. “I really don't want to talk to him, Daddy. Can I have more?”
He rolled his eyes. “I just gave you some. Don't tell me you don't even feel it?”
I shrugged. I didn't get that rush like I used to anymore. I needed it—I needed more.
He gestured to the phone. “I promise if you just say hello to him, I will give you more. Can you do that for me?”
I pressed the call button.
“What do you want asshole?” Jacob's voice bellowed on the other line.
“I'm supposed to say hi.”
“Leah, is that you?”
“Yup,” I answered, bleakly.
His breathing picked up. “What the hell is going on, baby? Talk to me.”
I handed the phone back to my father.
“You told me all I had to do was say hi. Can I have it now?” I asked, not even trying to hide my anticipation.
My father clicked a button on the cell phone and Jacob's voice boomed throughout the room. ”What the fuck did you do to her? What is she asking for?”
My father held the needle right above my vein and I practically salivated. “Princess, tell Jacob what it is that you are asking for. Tell him—what it is that you need now. Tell him...or you won't get it.”
“Heroin,” I quickly replied, as I felt the needle go into my vein and I closed my eyes.
“You're a fucking dead man,” Jacob growled as I nodded off to sleep.
***
“No, I told you. You cannot see her!” my father screamed before he handed me a needle and a bag.
I finally was able to shoot myself up by this point.
“Then you have no deal. I told you. I will send you over the paperwork. You sign it, and I see Leah. I need to see her. That is the fucking deal. I won't bring anyone else here or in with me. I just need to see her!" Jacob roared, causing me to jump, and miss.
“Daddy, I think I missed. All his shouting made me jump. Can I have another?”
“Sure, here Princess—” My father threw a bag in the air. “Catch.”
“Leah, stop!” Jacob screamed through the speakerphone. “You're better than this. Stop doing this!”
My father laughed. “She can't, you idiot. That's what addiction is. I thought you knew a thing or two about that? Now send me the papers to sign, and I'll think about letting you see her. But I promise you—you'll wish you hadn't."
***
“I already told you. You are the unofficial owner of Sand Corp. However, to make it official. I need to have you sign the papers—in person. A faxed copy isn't good enough for a billion dollar company asshole,” Jacob growled through the speakerphone. “And since you won't let me tell anyone about what you're doing to Leah because you'll kill her— that means, you have to deal with me. I have to see her!"
I shot another drop of euphoria into my vein and let myself float away.
“Well, I’m sorry to tell you but Leah's been auctioned. Two men have just paid a lot of money for her. She won't be here when you are,” my father sneered into the phone.
“You did what! You just acquired over a billion dollars! Why the fuck would you do that to her?” Jacob roared, causing me to open my eyes and grunt.
He was ruining my buzz.
My father threw my another bag of heroin and I eagerly accepted it. “Because, you cannot take her from me. She is my daughter. I will use her as I see fit. Besides, she wants nothing to do with you anyway. I'm protecting her."
“You turned her into a fucking heroin addict in a little over 40 days! That's not protecting her…you piece of shit!” Jacob shouted. “That’s destroying her! Now, tell me when I can meet you, motherfucker. Sand Corp isn't yours until you sign the contract— in person and I see Leah—in person."
My father took him off speakerphone and walked into another room.
***
Hours later my father walked back into my room.
He handed me another bag and needle. “I have some visitors coming to see you. They've paid quite a lot of money to be able to spend some time with you. Now, the two gentlemen will have a special treat for you before and after...only if you cooperate. Do you understand?”
It didn't matter anymore. They had what I needed—and I certainly wasn't referring to the sex I was going to be having.
The fucking irony.
Jacob had wanted to turn me into his whore, and now— I was about to become one of my own free will. Well, sort of.
I finished dealing myself another hit. “Yes. I understand. You're sure they'll have it on them—and they'll give it to me before and after?”
“Yes, Princess. I'm not that cruel. Thank you for your cooperation,” he said, before leaving the room.
“Thank you for making all the pain go away.”
Chapter 25
“Princess, this is Liam—” He gestured to the other man beside him. “And this is Charlie. I believe you know what to do. Close the door behind you.” He looked at the both of them. “Gentlemen, make sure you let her have what I promised her—before and after."
They nodded and I walked them into the bedroom.
“You guys have the stuff?” I asked.
I watched as they both sat down on the bed.
Charlie tossed three bags to me. “Here.”
Liam pointed to his pocket. “I have your stuff for after.”
I quickly set my supplies up. I was plunging the needle into my vein when a familiar voice stopped me in my tracks—in more ways than one.
“This is the same paperwork as before. You've already looked it all over. Just sign here!” Jacob's deep voice boomed.
Only, he didn't sound like he was on speakerphone, this time, that was weird.
Less than a second later, I felt my escape pulsing through my body and I was being carried over to the bed.
Both men stripped my clothes off, and I sighed. This was some really good shit they gave me.
Charlie started kissing my neck and Liam planted kisses along my thighs.
It reminded me of Jacob, though and I started sobbing, the ache was too much.
“I'm sorry. I need more. Please.”
“You just shot up like ten minutes ago. You can't be craving it again already,” Charlie protested.
Liam and Charlie sat up and they both looked concerned.
“He said to do whatever it takes,” Liam mumbled. “Just give her one more, and hope that she doesn't pass out— and he doesn't kill us.”
They finally handed me another bag. I stood up and shot it into my vein, I didn’t even care that I was buck naked, and beyond exposed in so many ways.
I walked to the bed and dropped to my knees before them.
I eyed their erections. “Who wants to go first?”
Before they could answer, the door flew open.
I turned my head. “Leah—” Jacob cried out, despair in his beautiful green eyes.
I stood up, took a step forward, and stumbled in my intoxicated dreamland.
Jacob caught me, grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around me.
“I told you, you weren't allowed to see her,” my father screamed as he barged in the door.
Jacob stood in front of me. “I told you, I needed to see her!”
“Well, do you like what you see?” my father sneered, taking a step closer to him.
“You're a dead man,” Jacob roared.
“Liam, Charlie—shoot him. You know what to do,” my father commanded.
I collapsed on the floor and prayed that I would pass out soon.
Even in my inebriated state, this was too much to handle.
“I said fucking shoot him!” my father repeated. “What are you waiting for?”
They both s
tood up from the bed then and pointed their guns at Jacob.
“Sorry, Jacob, but if you would have just given me the company willingly like I was entitled to, this never would have happened. Now, I have everything I want."
Liam and Charlie took a step toward Jacob. I closed my eyes. I couldn't look.
“You don't have shit, motherfucker,” Jacob roared as not one, but two guns were pointed directly at his head.
My father gave him a chester cat smile and held the contract up. “Yes, I do. It's all right here. I have the contract. I signed right on the dotted line. Sand Corp is now mine. My net worth is exactly 2.5 billion dollars. Now, it's time for you to pay a visit to your dear old dad."
Jacob took another step. “That's what you think, asshole. Like I always tell people. Learn to read the fine print and the entire contract before signing something.”
He pulled a gun out of his pocket. “What you just signed Luke—is a contract made up for L. Adams. Leah is the sole owner of Sand Corp now. Leah is worth 2.5 billion dollars.” He paused. “Correction...Leah is priceless.”
My father looked nervous and he took a step back.
Out of my peripheral vision, I saw both Charlie and Liam shift their guns toward my father as Jacob held the gun up to my father's head.
I heard gunshots go off, my ears rang, and I dry heaved.
Then I felt the blood rush from my head as I passed out cold.
Chapter 26
“Heavens! This is so much worse than I thought, Jacob. Why isn't she in a hospital?” Lillian's voice cried out, as Jacob carried me into his house.
I was still in my euphoric bliss but was starting to come down...hard. I knew, I would need more soon. I needed to figure out a way to get it.
I just needed to sneak out when Jacob would least expect it.
“I can't bring her to a hospital, Lillian. She's a doctor for crying out loud. A doctor—who's now a full blown heroin addict. Everything she worked her ass off for, will be gone." He looked around. “Is Danny still at school?”