Page 131 of Until Joy

“No.” The word came out sharp and final.

“Glenda, I can't bake tied to a chair. I need to move around, to measure ingredients, to check the oven.”

“I said no.”

“How am I supposed to help you if I can't use my hands properly?”

“You can tell me what to do. I'll be your hands, sweetie.” She smiled cheerfully.

Anger flared in my chest. This was insane. All of it. The kidnapping, the delusions, the casual way she'd admitted to murder.

“You hurt Graham.” The words burst out of me before I could stop them. “You tried to kill him, and he never did anything to you.”

Glenda's expression darkened. “He was in the way. He was keeping you from seeing what we could have together.”

“He loves me. I love him. We're going to build a life together.”

“No.” Glenda stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor. “You think you love him because you haven't given us a chance. Once you see how good we can be together, you'll forget all about him.”

“I'll never forget about him. I'll never stop loving him.”

“You will.” Glenda moved to the counter and opened a drawer. She pulled out another syringe, already filled with clear liquid. “You just need more time to adjust.”

Terror shot through me. “What’s that?”

“Something to help you sleep. When you wake up, maybe you'll be more reasonable.”

“Please don't. Please. I'm sorry I got upset. I want to help you with the cake.”

But Glenda was already moving toward me, the syringe held like a weapon. I thrashed against the ropes, and swung around with my one free hand. She gripped it and wrenched it behind my back, making me cry out in pain.

The needle pricked my neck, and I felt the familiar burn of whatever drug she'd used before flooding my system.

“Sweet dreams, my love.” Glenda's voice sounded like it was coming from underwater. “When you wake up, we'll start our new life together.”

Darkness swallowed me whole.

Chapter 33

“Graham, the nurses are going to try to stop you,” July warned.

“And your point is?”

I pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway. Sure enough, the charge nurse who'd been monitoring my condition rushed over with alarm written all over her face.

“Mr. Wallace, you can't leave. You haven't been discharged.”

“Watch me.”

“Sir, you have a severe concussion. You could have complications.”

I kept walking toward the elevator, July and Kayan flanking me like bodyguards. The nurse followed, her voice growing more urgent.

“I'm calling security.”

“Call whoever you want.” I punched the elevator button. “My woman's been kidnapped. I'm leaving.”

The elevator arrived with a soft ding. July pressed the button for the parking garage while the nurse continued her protests from the hallway.