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“What does that mean?”
He closes his eyes and I try not to shoot him. “This is what I know. He used the bed of nails to keep her on edge, added the electricity to create a conditioned response of pain and fear but he also used water boarding and starvation. This would deprive her brain of oxygen while flooded with adrenaline which can cause memory loss. She won’t be able to give us information she might have gained because of this. It will also likely take her stomach a while to adjust back to a normal diet.”
On the outside I am the picture perfect poise of calm, but on the inside I am fuming. I imagine what it would be like to smash the marble paperweight into the glass. How good it would feel for my fist to connect with my desk as the pain brings me any feeling other than overwhelming helplessness and brokenness over how my girl was hurt.
On the inside, my heart breaks for her more than it has for any other human on this wretched earth.
Doc clears his throat, and the images of me smashing this room to bits dissipate.
“I don’t want to say that there’s no hope, but I want to be clear that this is not an over and done situation. Having seen what she has endured in the past, she will get through this. However, I believe the only reason she can is because Cil never gave her those drugs.”
I make a mental note to find that man and ask him more questions, but that can wait. “How long?”
“I would say to give it at least a week before re-evaluating the situation.”
I swear I can feel the hair on my skin and all I want to do is itch until the sensation goes away. Before I let the hyper awareness of the irritating sensations spiral me out of control, I clench my fists and breathe through my nose. Instead of losing it, I shoot a text to Damien.
Alexi: Gym, 15 minutes.
Damien: I’m already here with Lev.
I pocket my phone as I stand, and Doc follows me out of the room. He knows better than to ask questions when I’m being quiet, so the elevator ride down is peaceful. However, when we step off, he threatens my level of control.
“I would think long and hard before you insert another tracker in her.”
Luckily for him, he moves away quickly. As I walk to my car and driver, the only thing keeping my sanity in checkis pulling up the camera feed in Evie’s room. Dr. K has told her it is there, and she agreed that it was okay.
She knows me and my need to be in control. And she also knows my cameras have saved her life. I hope she finds comfort in it, knowing I’m watching over her. She told me I was her avenging angel, the one who walked with her in the dark to keep her safe. I now take that title literally.
When I get into the vehicle, I turn on the sound. She’s sitting up in her bed with Havoc nearby, looking tired but content with a man I have come to trust as much as my brothers. I zoom in, approving of the amount of food she has eaten and the fact that she was able to drink her entire shake.
As I watch her, my breathing begins to regulate, all the muscles in my body seeming to relax. Havoc making her laugh is like music to my ears. If we cannot be there for her right now, then I am sure as fuck glad he can.
Minutes later, my driver pulls up to the house and I walk around the pool to the gym. Damien and Lev are sparring, but the moment I enter and Lev locks eyes with me, he drops his hands and steps off the mats.
I remove my suit jacket, folding it nicely before placing it on the bench. I start with the buttons on my shirt next. Just the thought of rolling up the sleeves has me wanting to itch at my skin, so I figure it is best to remove it. The medication has notfully taken hold yet, so I have to keep my other urges in check until it does, which feels extremely exhausting.
My dress shoes are next, followed by my pants. Lev tosses a pair of gym shorts at me. Putting them on swiftly, I crawl up onto the mats.
“Evie called me,” Damien states, and I freeze mid step.
“You talked to her?” I ask. Damien texted our group saying Dr. K thought it would be good for Evie to talk to us, but he did not mention anything about this.
“I wanted to talk to you about it in person.” He sits down in the center of the ring, leaning back on one elbow. I drop down beside him, my arms stretched over my knees.
“How is she?” It is a dumb as fuck question, but I need to know.
“Her sick fuck uncle made her believe that we were all dead. Dr. K said she would give me more details later, but apparently it was pretty bad. Evie didn’t believe it was me at first.”
My mind swims, thinking about the head games these people have been playing with her.
“How did you make her believe it was you?”
A Damien grin crosses his features and I roll my eyes.
“I just told her something that only the two of us knew about.”
“Why did she think Rostya was showing her pictures of us then?” Damien flinches at the sound of his father’s name but pushes past it.
