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Chapter Sixteen
“You’re not broken,
only bent to perfection.”
—Oliver Masters
Ollie.
“WHERE THE FUCK is she?” I asked, slamming the red-headed wanker against the cement wall. My patience completely depleted after Mia’s been M.I.A. for the second day in a row. “Last time I laid eyes on her, she left with you. Where did you take her?”
“You’re a lucky bastard. I should drag your arse out of here,” Scott snapped, pushing against my chest. “Now calm the fuck down, yeah?” Scott fixed his shirt as he sca
My stomach churned, threatening to reveal the fact I’d been chucking up my pills since my last visit to Dr. Conway. I closed my hands into fists to bite back the honest tremors.
Something wasn’t right. I’d shown up to the nurse’s station to see Rhonda gone and a new nurse handing me over my cup with a chipper smile on her face, and my love unseen and unheard of in two days.
“I want her out just as bad as you,” Scott admitted, evening out his hushed tone. His fingers flew to his temples.
“Out of where? Where is she? Psych?”
“Confinement.”
“What the hell for?”
“You’re kidding, right? Have you been so fucked in the head,”—he pushed against my temple with his pointer finger— “you have no idea what she’s been through.”
I slapped his hand away and pushed past him. “I have to go to her.”
Scott grabbed my arm, but quickly released it as a student walked past from lunch. “It’s more complicated than that. You can’t just show up in solitary and demand to see her. You want her out? Find out who threw a spa
“Did you happen to start with who opened their mouth on where this said key was? Ace, Scott, I thought you were the fucking cop.”
“Dead end,” he replied dryly.
“Right,” I shook my head. “Give me the name.”
“Fuck off.”
I shoved him against the wall, my nerves ticking, body shaking, this wanker under my last nerve. “This isn’t a contest, she’s no prize to be won.” I wrapped my fingers around his neck and pi
Ethan gasped, surprised by my strength, but it was the adrenaline pumping through my veins, giving me the ability to take a guy the same height, same muscle, but unequally matched with his experience and training. It was the thought of Mia. Her being alone in confinement, a place I visited too many times to know she’d been alone, trapped, in the four walls I previously helped her escape from. Before, I’d let the bloke beat me because I deserved it, this time it was Mia who had been stomped on, and she didn’t deserve any of this.
“Jude,” Ethan fought out. I released him, and his eyes turned red.
“You’re going to take me to her.”
“Like hell I will.”
“You think Lynch would take kindly to his security guard’s slumming it with his patients? I’m not a fool. I know whose bed you sneak into each night, and how frustrated it makes you that it’s all that will ever happen. Tonight, you’re taking me to see her or I’ll be in the dean’s office first thing in the morning.”
“I could ruin you.”
I dusted off the front of his shirt. “I’m already fucking ruined.”
The clock struck midnight, and I’d been in this same position for almost four hours now, sitting at the edge of my mattress waiting on Scott to unlock my door. The single door click meant everything. It meant I had been right all along, and Scott, for the past, I didn’t know how long, had been lying beside Mia while she slept through the night—feeling her touch, smelling her scent, watching her dream.
But it also meant I’d get to see her.
The kiss we’d shared was everything. It had been confirmation Mia still believed in us, a silent promise. It was the one thing I held onto to know for certain she’d never cross that line with anyone else. Though what if I was wrong? If she had, I’d be able to forgive her. Because just as much as she was all-consuming, she was imperfect and honest—the representation of love. Consuming. Imperfect. Honest.
The door clicked, and I sprang to my feet, unsure whether I was pleased or not with the outcome. Scott stood on the other side with a blank stare.
I gave one hard look at the bloke who shared moments with Mia that were meant for me. Moments I’d given him on a silver platter because of my stupidity. I couldn’t blame him. I would have done the same. If anyone understood what falling in love with her was like, it would be me.
Scott stared back, the muscles in his face tightened in the dark. “She loves me, but she’s in love with you.”
I smirked despite the jealousy clouding my heart. “I could’ve told you that.”
“How are you so bloody certain you’re it for her.”
“You’re asking me to explain the impossible, like taste a feeling or hear a touch. When we’re together, I just fucking know.”
“One night. That’s it.”
“Just take me to her.”
With one hand, Scott held the door open to let me pass.
He led the way one step in front of me through the dark hallways. Only one bulb lit the end of each turn. He snuck me past wing three, distracting security detail in the process. Once I reached the stairs, I hung back to wait for him and swiped my hands through my hair.
I’d done this same escape last year, Oscar leading me out and across Dolor grounds to check on Mia in the looney bin. I’d never told him her name, afraid he’d find a way to meddle or use her against me. Oscar had a way with words and a knack for control. Keeping the two hidden from each other had been the best decision. Little did I know, they’d already met in more ways than one.
“We’re clear,” Ethan whispered, appearing from around the corner. I lifted off the wall, adjusted my sweats, and followed him down.
Once we reached the basement, he turned and held up a palm. “Stay here.”
I dropped my chin as he took off behind the steel door. Nerves set in as my body grew closer to hers, every part of me pulling in her direction like it always did, but forcing myself to stand still.
The sound of a door shutting echoed through the chamber, and seconds later, the steel door opened, and Scott ushered me through. “Had to convince the guy to take over my wing tonight. I’ll be out here, but you have to be back in your dorm by sunrise.”
“I understand.”
Scott walked me through the hall until we reached another door, and we stood in front of it. Soft cries came from inside, and I jerked my head in his direction. “Somethings wrong.”
“This is how it always starts. It’s a nightmare.”
“A nightmare?”
Scott paused with a key in the doorknob to meet my eyes. “It gets worse. She’s had them ever since the day you left. Imagine having to listen to it every bloody night.”
“You’ve been helping her?” I asked, surprised.
“Trying.”
The cries turned into screams, and my focus bounced from Ethan to his keys. “Get me in there.”
Ethan snapped his eyes back to the doorknob and jiggled the key to get the door opened. I busted through and ran to her side.
In the dark, cold room, her small frame shook, drenched and hot with her hands into a fist. “Mia,” I whispered, brushing my hand over her hair. I looked back to Scott to see him gone and the door ajar. “Wake up, my love. Open your eyes.”