Page 33 of Cruel Hearts

Iona notices me eyeing it and says, “We offer all our patients the highest level of security. For Miss Maddox, it’s a must. You wouldn’t believe the reporters and paparazzi who want a picture of her. It’s horrible.”

“Does she get any visitors?” I ask.

The director narrows her eyes at me, and behind her back, Denton makes a slicing motion through the air.

I’m being too nosy.

“Her brother, Zane Maddox, will visit on occasion, but it’s her fiancé, Mr. Ashton Black, who visits the most. Mr. Maddox went through his own tragedy around the time his sisterwas admitted. So distraught by those events and his sister’s breakdown, he gave Miss Maddox’s fiancé power of attorney.” She glances at Denton out of the corner of her eye. “Tragically romantic.”

Swallowing hard, I grab my throat. Holy shit.

Ash has complete control over Zarah.

We’re screwed. The only person who can fix this is Zane, and he’s far from listening to me or Denton. Ash will never let Zarah leave—she knows too much.

“Is she allowed visitors who aren’t family?” Denton asks, and I quirk a corner of my mouth. Now who’s nosy?

Iona realizes we’re too interested in Zarah and doesn’t answer. Instead, she turns on her heel and leads us back to her office. We sit in the comfortable chairs, the woman’s enormous mahogany desk between us. I feel like we’re running out of time to do something, and I say the only thing that will give me privacy. “I’m so sorry, but I need to use the restroom.”

“They’re down the hallway and around the corner to your right,” she says, focused on Denton who’s resting his forearms on the top of her desk, their hands inches apart.

I have maybe ten minutes, fifteen tops if I claim a feminine hygiene emergency. As quickly as I can, but trying to appear as if I belong and know where I’m going, I backtrack to the VIP wing. I’m worried about the keypad. I don’t know how I can get past it.

I peer around the corner, and luck is on my side. Doctors are doing their rounds, and a group of four is stopped in front of her door. A tall man dressed in a suit and white lab coat stands behind another man who’s about to enter the code.

This is my only chance, and I slowly walk by, trying to see without attracting attention.

It doesn’t work, not in this ultra-private section of the sanatorium.

They all stop and stare at me.

“Can I help you, miss?” An older doctor who has dark hair and thin, black-framed glasses can’t take his eyes off me or my cleavage that’s on full display in my white tank top. A woman wearing a sleek sage green suit and silver-framed glasses, her platinum hair pinned into a French twist, frowns at him and pokes his shoulder.

Sometimes I forget men find me attractive. I smile cheerily. “I’m searching for my mom’s room. I must have gotten turned around. She hasn’t been here long.”

“You need to go back and turn left,” the woman snaps.

I try not to bristle. How dare she assume I can’t afford the VIP wing for my mom? Though, to be fair, not many can. “Thanks.”

Instead of listening to the not-so-subtle hint to move along, I start digging through my purse, muttering, “I need a piece of gum.” The doctors ignore me. The keypad is just in my line of sight, and I lean a little to my right and watch them through the hair falling in front of my face.One. One. One.The woman shifts and crosses her arms over her chest, blocking my view of the keypad.

Crap.

Well, three out of four, assuming there are four, and not six or ten, isn’t bad, but I’m out of time.

Denton’s sweating bullets when I slip into my seat.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize, rubbing my damp palms against my pants. “It’s my time of the month.”

The director hums in sympathy. “I had a hysterectomy last year. It changed my life.”

Smiling politely, I say, “I’ll keep that in mind, though I’m a bit young for it. I don’t even have kids yet! Did you get everything you needed, Dad?” We need to leave. This place creeps me out, and I swear the one doctor who couldn’t stop gawking at my boobs recognized me from the gossip sites.

“Sure, honey. I think your grandma will be very happy here.”

Iona stands and offers him a stack of brochures. “We look forward to having her in our care.”

She walks us out, and near the front doors, we exchange handshakes.

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