Page 98 of Her Wicked Plan

“Why don’t you grab some clean clothes and head to the showers,” he suggests, his voice sounding more chipper than before my sentence in the blackness. “Get freshened up, then find Edith. She will escort you to Dr. Madden's office for your session.”

My heart flutters at the mention of his name. With that, my feet free themselves from their hold on the floor, and I step into my room, gather some clothes, and make my way to the showers.

CHAPTER 28

Leo

Today is the day Veronica comes back.

Dr. Bennett went to retrieve her, but not before stopping by my office to announce she and I will have a session. Relief flooded my body, knowing she was no longer down there.

He had informed me that the last time she was sent down there, she hadn’t wanted to talk to her doctor about her time, which drove her even madder. He assumed with how I’d gotten past the first layer of her toughened skin. I might get her to talk about it.

Straightening the notepad on my desk, I place the recorder neatly next to it and inhale a deep breath as I wait for her arrival. I sit back in my chair, an elbow resting on the arm with my fingers covering my lips.

My leg is bouncing because of the nerves of seeing her again, but before I spiral into a full-blown anxiety attack, there is a quiet knock at my door.

“Come in!” I call out in a calm tone.

The door opens, revealing Edith, who smiles sadly at me. Next to her is Veronica.

She has on a gray crewneck with matching sweats. Her hair is freshly wet, and the curls are perfect ringlets. Her eyes stay trained on the floor as she walks into the room, Edith shutting the door behind her. Veronica flinches at the sound at first but then finds a seat in her chair.

She is messing with her thumbs and keeping her eyes down as if she doesn’t want to look at me.

“Veronica.” Her name leaves me hushed, afraid that loud noise might startle her and cause her to freak out. The sound of her name came out so quietly that I don’t think she heard it. Although, the brief pause in her fidgeting hands tells me she did.

She stays silent, not answering me. With my heart racing, I gently approach her from my chair. Crouching down, I tilt my head to the side to get a good look at her face.

“Veronica?”

Those brown eyes snap up, and she turns to face me. Dark circles are painted under her eyes, but they aren’t from lack of sleep—they’re from not eating. Her entire face appears thinner. While her eyes hold my gaze, she offers a soft smile as if to say she is fine.

“How are you, Leo?”

“I’m... I’m alright,” I answer. “I should be asking you that.”

“I’m good.” She nods, finally sinking back into the chair.

“Veronica, you just went through a lot. You’ve lost weight,” I point out. “Didn’t you eat down there?”

“I said I’m good, Leo.” She snaps nastily.

“And I don’t believe you.” I bite back, then place my hand on her knee. “In this office, behind closed doors, you don’t have to pretend. Not with me, Veronica. You can be real with me.”

She sucks in a harsh breath at my touch and words. The brim of her eyes lined with tears. One escapes, and she doesn’t wipe it away. Her eyes fall to her lap before she rolls her shoulders back to compose herself.

“What are we going to talk about in this session?” She finally focuses on me.

“I was thinking we could discuss what broke out between you and Ruby.”

“Ruby? That’s her fucking name?” She scoffs. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“Then we don’t have to talk about it. We will, though, at some point.” I lick my lips. “Why don’t we talk about your time in solitary.”

“No,” she answers flatly.

“It would be good for you to talk about it.”