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“There’s no need, remember? Nothing in my system but saline.” I shake my wrist for good measure. “But thanks for the offer.” I begin to remove the tape holding the catheter in place, refusing to acknowledge the chocolate eyes locked on my profile.
“I really think you should let me—”
“Drew? Drop it,” I bark, snapping my head up. There’s a pang of guilt as his face drops, but I don’t like how pushy he’s being, and I’m far too cranky to pretend otherwise. “Please, just… I think I need to be alone for a while.” A lie. A bald-faced lie when the last thing I want is to be in the company of my thoughts. There’s just something about that smile that has my gut screaming and my survival instincts flaring.
For a second, I’m worried he’s going to fight me. I watch the thought flash in his eyes, but thankfully, he doesn’t voice it.
“If that’s really what you want.”
“It is.” I nod, ignoring the little voice in the back of my mind that wants to please everyone but me. That smile… I have to remember that smile. “Thanks for checking on me, Drew. I really appreciate it. I just…”
“Need a minute to yourself. I get it.” The grin he gives me doesn’t quite reach his eyes, but at least it’s not that horrible predatory one from earlier. He stands from the bed, giving me a sad little wave before exiting the room. The door clicks softly, and I heave a massive sigh.
That was… odd. I’ve never felt unsafe around Drew. In fact, it’s always been the complete opposite. I shake my head, ignoring that silly little screaming in the back of my mind. I’m paranoid from lack of sleep, that’s all. It’s like Dr. Slater said. I just need some sleep, and all will be fine.
As I rise from the bed and collect my phone from the bench, I have to fight the urge to look at the message from my stalker. Because if I’m honest, I’m not scared of him or even disgusted.
And that’s the most terrifying truth of them all.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KAIN
My gaze trails Lillith as she swirls around her apartment, scrubbing the place spotless. She’s been doing it for hours, from the minute she got home from work. There’s a tugging in my chest as I watch her frenzied movements, and the memory of her fainting replays in my mind like a fucked-up motion picture.
The fact she could have been hurt and that I wasn’t there to catch her when I was the one who caused it… I’ve done a lot of fucked-up things in my life, but something tells me that will be one of the only things I never forgive myself for.
Lillith stands, wiping the back of her hand over her brow as she inspects the spotless flooring. I swear, the only thing she hasn’t scrubbed is the walls…
I spoke too soon.
I sigh, rubbing a hand over my masked face as she furiously rubs at the paint-chipped walls of her bedroom. Her movements remind me of another, and though I was nearly too young to form memories, I can still recall the way my mother would scrub the house whenever my father would come back from a job. It was like she was trying to wash away the stains he left on her mind, and the shining floorboards were just a byproduct.
It kills me to watch my flower go through such similar motions. I want to know what she’s actively not thinking about—selfishly, I hope it’s about me.
As the last sliver of the sun disappears behind the skyscrapers, I turn from the window and yank my phone from my pocket. I need something to ease the tightness in my chest. I need to do something, even if that means destruction. Swiping angrily over to my call log, I press Ghost’s contact and bring the phone to my ear. Like always, it rings once before he picks up.
“How was last night? Did her date put up much of a fight?” The disembodied voice chuckles like it already knows the answer.
Fucking prick.
When I don’t answer right away, he snickers. “It’s good to know you’re still as impulsive as you’ve always been, friend.”
“We’re not friends,” I growl.
“Oh, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
My jaw spasms. I didn’t call to chitchat. “What did you find out about her co-workers?”
A pause. “Your last payment bounced, Hellfyre.”
And this coming from the guy talking about friendship not two seconds ago. I roll my eye so hard I see stars. “I thought we were friends.”
“I was testing you.” He laughs, and I want nothing more than to squeeze the life from his neck. “You failed, naturally.”
Motherfucker. Everything’s about his bottom line. My knuckles are bleached from their grip on the steering wheel. “I’ll get you your money. Just tell me what you found out.”
“How much do you want to know?”
