He follows at my heels.

“I didn’t say I was finished talking to you.” He turns me around. “Where the fuck is your head, Slade? You’re falling, and don’t think I don’t see it.”

“Falling?” I repeat, laughing. “I’m straighter than ever.”

He crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Spoke to Rob, who told me he gave you some drugs to help you calm down and sleep. Have you tried to score more from anyone else? Harder shit?” His words are spoken dead seriously.

In another life, Vincent was the prince of the underground. He’s fierce in his loyalty and friendship. But cross him or lie, and he’ll cut you off at the knees.

Does he know about Lion and the MC? My fear becomes palpable. Without Vincent and the Milestone, I’ll have nothing.

He swallows before a long, tense silence fills the space between us. I clench my fists.

“Your stone face doesn’t fool me, Slade. I watched you on the boat. See the changes in your demeanor; you’ve become erratic. It started slow, but I worry you’ll become unreliable. You’ve got to get help …” He pauses, the or else hanging in the air.

“No,” I spit out.

“You know I love you like a brother. But I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. And if you refuse? We’re done. I can’t have my head of security be in denial about a drug problem. We have a huge project on our hands, bringing water onto the reservation. How can I do this with a man who lacks discipline and refuses to admit he has an addiction? You have to face this shit head-on. Getting help and facing reality makes you a man, not a pussy.”

“I didn’t see you opening your fucking heart after the shit you went through.”

“That isn’t true.” He shakes his head. “First off, I had my woman by my side. We spoke to therapists separately and together.”

My heart picks up. “That’s fine. But it ain’t me.”

“Well, until you do, get the fuck out of here. I hate to show tough love, but having a dark undercurrent isn’t healthy. We’ve got a billion-dollar operation here. A slipup won’t be acceptable. And I’m not going to wait for it to happen. Get help or go home.”

He stares, waiting for me to cave.

But I can’t.

Instead, I turn away. It’s time to go.

When I open my truck’s door, Lauren’s smell lingers. All I want to do is run back to my place and see her. My life continues to unravel, but at least I’ve got a few more days where she’s near me. My heart beats straight through my chest. What did I take? I’m not even sure. I open the car window before pulling out a cigarette, smoking in a chain until I pull up to my driveway.

I quietly open and close my front door, not wanting to wake her. Pulling off my clothes, I watch her sleeping form in the dark. I enter my bathroom and turn on the sink. Cupping ice-cold water in my hands, I wash my face before scrubbing my hands with soap. Filling my cupped palms with water, I drink some.