Page 44 of Beautiful Prey

The look he gave made my face and neck warm. “Sweetheart…” he whispered.

“If you don’t start trying to take it…” I swallowed hard, treading carefully. “They won’t let you stay here. You’ll be transferred to a place that won’t try to help you. Even your life could be at stake. I’m sorry, Emery, but they will do this if you don’t take the medicine.”

I could see him working it out in his head. “And you’ll be gone. I won’t see you.”

A knot twisted in my stomach. He didn’t care about the rest, just that. “That’s right. You won’t see me.”

He was silent for a long time, and I thought maybe he would never respond. I let him remain that way for as long as he needed, the whole session if need be, until he said in the softest voice, “As you wish.”

“You will try?”

He bent his head. “I will.”

My heart swelling, I went to him and, without thinking, I put an arm around him and my head on his shoulder. “Thank you for trying, Emery.”

He sighed, his shoulders rising and falling. He didn’t say a word, but I could imagine what he was thinking and feeling.

When I lifted my head and slipped my arm from him, I caught Ethan by the doorway, his eyes on me, shaking his head.

Even though he said he would, it took time for Emery to be comfortable with me bringing the medication to him. I set it out with a cup of water as usual and I could see it working its usual response in him. I didn’t pressure him to take it. We played a few games and I didn’t mention it at all. I fully expected him to not take it, that he wouldn’t be brave enough just yet. But, as I put away the game, the session nearing its end, I noticed him staring at the little pink pill.

“Okay,” he said.

I watched him for a moment to be sure. He nodded. Without a word, I took the pill and the cup and went to him. I lifted his mask only a little above his mouth, noticing scars, but not daring to comment. Carefully, I put the pill to his lips and he took it, his tongue brushing against my fingers. I had to stop myself from shivering as he swallowed. I brought the cup of water to his lips and he drank it down.

I stood by him, waiting, ready for him to spit the pill out.

He didn’t. He sat quietly for a moment and I thought he might actually be okay.

“See.” I set my hand on his shoulder gently, smiling at him. “You’re okay, Emery, you did—”

He shot forward, making me yelp. His head was between his knees and he threw up violently, chunks spewing across the ground, some hitting my foot.

Shit.

I watched in horror as he lost his dinner. The pill with it. I gripped his shoulder and looked toward the doorway and saw Ethan there with the other guards, a baton in his hand.

“I need a nurse!” I called.

“Nothing they can do for that.” Ethan laughed. He took up his walkie and turned it on. “I need maintenance down to level B for clean up,” he said into the speaker.

Five minutes later, Emery stopped throwing up but was still bent forward, dry heaving. A thick-browed, pot-bellied, and heavily tattooed man rolled in a bucket and mop as he gave me a nasty glare.

“Pull him out of the way,” he said to the guards. Ethan and the others came around and, not so gently, slid Emery’s chair back.

“What did you do, kiss him?” Ethan asked me as he stood beside Emery, blocking him from me. “Just joking.” He grinned when he saw my expression. “You can go; we’ll get him to his room.”

“I want to talk to him for a second before you do.”

“Haven’t you done enough for the guy?”

There was a clanging of chains behind him. “Let her,” Emery said in a low growl that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Ethan turned to him. “Now, man, you aren’t looking so good. You should lay down. Here, let's put your mask on right, huh? Or would you prefer it off?”

I grabbed Ethan’s arm as he moved to reach for Emery. “Touch him and you’ll regret it.” It was only meant to be a warning, not a threat, but Ethan eyed me with a cold stare.

“Eve, I’m just trying to do my job. You need to step back, okay? We got this. Please let go of my arm.”

---