Strange Addiction

Chapter 27

Days flew by so fast even though the time I’ve spent here was dragging. Time was longer and slower.

Every night I think about my friends, Nixon too… and Nile. How are their lives without me?

Quinn’s wedding is days away. My mind was filled with that thought last night.

“What’s inside that pretty little mind of yours?”

Jacob puts down the document on the table and shifts his full attention to me. I stopped playing with my breakfast and peered at him when he intervened with my thoughts.

I shrug. “Nothing.” Finally taking a bite of the food on my plate.

“Hmmn.” He crosses his arms and leans back against the chair. “Tell me if you want something. I will give it to you.”

I look at him. We stare at each other for a while before I give in. “Quinn’s wedding… I want to go.”

“That I cannot give.” He then takes the document and proceeds with his work. Obviously trying to ignore my request.

“If I won’t attend, they’ll know something happened to me.” I might sound like I’m trying to convince him but I thought of these things. They’ll obviously question my absence.

The most important day of my best friend and I’m not even there. Quinn would lose her wits looking for me.

“I don’t care what they think. You’re already here without an ounce of their knowledge that you’re with me.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Unless of course you told them something that they could suspect me.”

“They will look for me.” I said with conviction. “Whether I told them about you or not, they will search the whole city for me, Jacob. I know Quinn enough to do that. A simple text would not suffice to let her ass sit down calmly.”

“Then I guess we’ll do something about that.”

I froze.

He then stands tersely, grabbing the papers from the table intending to leave me and his almost untouched breakfast.

“Jacob, wait!” I quickly followed him. I reached for his arm, stopping him. “You won’t do anything to hurt them, right? You won’t… right?” I pleaded.

His hands reached for my face, thumb brushing my cheek. “Be a good girl and wait for me.”

Before turning to leave, I grasped his arm tightly. “Jacob.” I said through gritted teeth. He was looking down at me blankly. “If you hurt them… you will lose me.”

I was trembling with fear and rage. My hand was squeezing his arm tightly. He gently removed my hand and leveled it to his lips. He kissed my wrist then my palm featherly.

“As long as you’re by my side, I won’t touch them. I promise you that.” His eyes suddenly darkened and that caught me off guard. “So you better stay here and forget about that wedding.”

He let go of my hand and walked off.

“Fuck.” What the fuck am I gonna do now?

---

Quinn

Today’s the dress fitting for my bridesmaids and Kura still hasn’t replied. I’ve been anxious about her absence let alone she only sent us a single text.

Nile and Nixon had been bothering us as well. They’ve been incessantly asking about her. We were all the same. We don’t know the answer. We could only tell them not to bother her since she’s on her vacation.

I understand why Nixon was adamant on searching for Kura. Nile, on the other hand, was questionable. They haven’t confirmed their relationship. He never answers whenever I ask but I could see the level of concern in his eyes. He clearly outleveled us. Even me who was an extreme worrier.

Belle, who was done with her fitting, accompanied me on the couch. Her presence relaxes me a bit. 

“I know what that look means.” She said as soon as she sat beside me. “A bride can’t look like that, Quinn. Your wedding is fast approaching.”

“Tell me you’re not worried too. She should be here. She knows that and yet where the hell is she?! We are used to her disappearing a lot but I think this time… something’s not right.”

Belle let out a sigh. “I’m worried too, okay but at least one of us needs to reassure the other.”

“I just couldn’t shake the feeling that something happened to her. She’s not replying to my texts and when I tried to call her, she couldn’t be reached. I call and text her everyday by the way.”

She forced a smile. “I know. If she actually disappears, she reappears three or four days later.”

“Maybe it’s time you two seek for help.” My maid of honor, my closest cousin, Autumn, suddenly appeared in front of us with her arms crossed. She then walked towards my other side and took a seat. “You’ve been worried for her these days that you’re neglecting the fact that you have other bride duties.” She then sighs. “I’m starting to get worried too. Kura might be fond of disappearing acts but she’s always present in important events. She definitely will not miss this.”

Belle and I looked at each other knowingly. A foreboding feeling arose.

---

“Who are you calling?” Belle asked as I pace back and forth in her office. I was biting my thumb’s nail out of habit.

I couldn’t sit still in my office so I invaded hers. Her company at least eases my jumbled thoughts a little.

“Colton.” I answered while waiting for him to answer the call.

“I thought he didn’t know where she went.”

“Maybe she decided to visit him again- Colton, hey!” I cut myself off as soon as I heard his hello.

“Quinn, how’s everything there? You’re not having cold feet, are you?” I ignored his teasing and got straight to the point instead.

“Colton, is Kura with you?”

There was seconds of silence before he replied. “No. Isn’t she with you, guys?”

“She’s still not here. She didn’t go to the dress fitting, Colton, and I’m really starting to worry. It’s unusual for her to do this to us… to me.” I couldn’t conceal the sadness and disappointment that laid in the last few words.

“I’m going to call her.”

“It’s useless to call her. She’s not answering her phone. It’s turned off. I’ve been trying to call her ever since she texted us. After that, she can’t be contacted.”

“Is that so?” He was quiet again and that made me more anxious. “I’ll try to find a way to reach her. I’ll call you back if I find any trace.”

“Thank you, Colton.”

“What did he say?” Belle asked at once.

I shook my head in disappointment. “He’ll call once he finds her.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“I think it’s time we ask for help from the big boss.”

Nile is the most powerful man in this country. He will surely know what to do. And from what I’ve observed, he very much cares about Kura.

He will find her. I’m sure of that.