Page 52 of Sin Like the Devil

And why it’s so fucking hot.

CHAPTER 10

RIPLEY

THNKS FR TH MMRS – FALL OUT BOY

“So? How was it?”

Munching on a carrot stick, I consider Holly’s question. “What’s there to discuss? It’s therapy. Same shit, different doctor.”

Her eyes twinkle with amusement. “I’m not sure that’s the best attitude.”

“You’re telling me you seriously buy into their crap?”

Stabbing a limp French fry on her plastic tray, Holly sticks it in her mouth and chews as she thinks. I’m so glad she took a shine to me and hasn’t let go in the months since I arrived. I was dreading lonely mealtimes in here like the new kid on the block.

“You’re not getting out of here unless you get better,” she explains with a shrug. “Not gonna do it on your own, are you?”

“Some of the world’s greatest minds had bipolar.” I gesture with my fork. “Van Gogh. Churchill. Hemingway. Maybe I don’t need to be fixed. It’s the rest of you norms who are the problem.”

“Would your traumatised pizza delivery guy say the same thing?”

Wincing, I fight off a memory of screaming at the poor, terrified teenager. It made perfect sense in the moment—that he was a Martian attempting to invade my apartment. Like I hadn’t ordered the pizza half an hour before and forgotten in my manic state.

He barely fled with his life after I attacked him with the baseball bat that any young woman living alone hides behind her front door. I’m not saying I would’ve cracked his skull open with it, but the broken bones he received got me arrested nonetheless.

The news story quickly broke when the kid started posting online about his ordeal. Uncle Jonathan’s name, along with the company he works for, were splashed all over the press.

“Sure, he’d agree.” I wave dismissively.

“Uh-huh. Nothing to do with the buttload of money your uncle paid him off with to shut up, right?”

“Bringing me that pizza was the luckiest day of his life. He can pay off the motorcycle he was riding and brag to all his friends about surviving the crazy chick with the baseball bat. I did him a favour.”

“Is a broken collarbone a favour?”

“It is in my books.”

Glancing up, we lock eyes then both burst out laughing. I’ve never told anyone about my complicated relationship with my uncle before, but I trust Holly not to judge me. She doesn’t react like other people do when they hear my story.

Most people assume that money equals happiness, but for the orphaned girl in need of love, cash doesn’t excuse the absence of a real parent. I would’ve taken a warm, loving uncle who took his role seriously over the shining gold credit card he offered up instead.

The sound of our laughter draws the attention of patients scattered around us. Like circling sharks, two rise from their seats and prowl over. I watch Holly’s hand tense around the plastic cutlery she’s holding.

“What exactly have you two got to laugh about?” Lennox slides into the seat next to Holly.

“Nox,” Holly warns.

“You’re running a sinking ship, Hol. We’ve heard all about your supply issues recently.”

“Back off.”

Running a hand over his messy chocolate locks, Lennox wears his signature, cruel smirk. “Why? Afraid that your new little friend will see you for what you really are?”

The bite of cold daggers piercing my skin forces me to look beyond Holly’s tormenter. Standing behind Lennox, I find the source of my discomfort. Xander is staring right at me, those bottomless pits of blue harshness burrowing into my flesh.

I stare back, transfixed by his attention. It’s not the first time I’ve caught him watching me like I’m some fascinating scientific experiment. A curiosity to be dissected and documented. If I couldn’t see his chest rising, I’d think he’s a statue carved from ice.

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