A High so Sweet (Thornes & Roses 2)

“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.

“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.”