Page 51 of Stolen Love

Rogue rubs at his forehead. “No, we can’t put off going to Sunny. The sooner we know the truth about this Dr. West the better.”

I bite my thumbnail as we leave the media circus and my brother behind. He wants to kill me. He said he was coming for me, and I believe him. He’s already tried to murder me twice. Once when I almost drowned in the bathtub. The second time in Narnia when he must have taken a blade to my wrists. “Third time’s the charm.”

“What, baby girl?”

“That’s the saying, isn’t it? The third time is the charm. And Alec has tried and failed to kill me twice.”

Rogue releases my seatbelt and lifts me onto his lap. He tips my chin up when I try to avoid his gaze. “You can’t think like that. You can’t let him play on your thoughts like that.”

“No, that’s not… why is my brother so hell-bent on ending my life?” I don’t understand. "My mom wants to marry me off and he wants to kill me. They’re not playing on the same team. It doesn’t make sense for him to threaten my life now, if they are. He’d have easier access to me once I did what Nicole wanted.”

“He’s obsessed.” Rogue’s brow creases. His eyes darken with thought. “He could have realized that you’re no longer under her control. But it might not matter that much. Whatever his reason, he must feel the need to finish what he started.”

“Perhaps.” But I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something we’re missing as we pull into the parking lot at Sunny and pile out of the vehicle.

“West or Mom first?” Rebel asks as we cross the concrete.

“West,” Rogue says. “You know how Mom is.”

“Chances are she won’t actually be able to answer our questions.” Rebel’s expression grows darker.

“Better check in with reception first,” Rogue says. “We can ask there what kind of day she’s having.”

I tug on Rogue’s arm until his steps slow and a small distance grows between us and the others. “Can we go visit Nathaniel after this?”

“What do you want with that creep?” Rogue spreads his palm over the small of my back, leaning in protectively as we walk into the building.

“He cares about me in his own twisted way.” I might not like it, but talking to him could be helpful.

“He wants to fuck you, Ivy. He wants to own you under the guise of love.” Rogue’s voice grows dark. “The man groomed you for years. You realize that, don’t you? If you think I trust him anywhere near you…”

“I don’t trust him either.” I turn to him while Rebel leans over the desk and asks the receptionist where their mom is. “I don’t want to be anywhere near him. But he wants this marriage. He wants me. I’d like to try using that to our advantage.”

Rebel joins us. His brow is creased, but the darkness in his expression has faded. “It sounds like mom’s doing better lately. They said she’s in her favorite spot.”

“The bench under the trees,” I say.

At the same time Rogue says, “There’s a bench outside.”

“She loves it there.”

“You remember that?” Rogue asks.

“Yeah.” I glance around at the open foyer of the care facility. At the tinted glass windows overlooking the rolling lawn. I remember Sunny. Those memories didn’t disappear, but Rogue did. Now, I see him… spending time with his mom. Flirting with the receptionist. Carrying daisies. Standing right in front of me with only a pane of glass between us. “Yeah, I remember that.”

“Let’s go,” Rebel says. “Where’s this doctor’s office?”

“Ivy? Is he—”

“He’s taken over Dr. Keller’s office until she comes back,” I say.

“This way.” Rogue takes my hand and leads the way.

The receptionist stands in the doorway of one of the offices when we enter. She scratches her head before she notices us. When she sees the twins she does a double take. Her gaze swings back into the office. “Huh. I did not see that coming.”

“Dr. West?” Rebel asks.

“Uh…” The woman turns her back on the room. She wipes her hands on her charcoal pencil skirt. “I’m sorry. I don’t know where he is.”

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