Page 81 of Provoke You

“How much is he paying you? I can pay you more.”

Her gaze snapped up at me. “Your dad is trying to help you. You’ve made a mess of your life. Be grateful he still cares enough about you to get you the treatment you need.”

“You know that’s all bullshit. I don’t need anything.”

“You didn’t see yourself when you came in yesterday. Even your boyfriend couldn’t stand it. I’m not surprised he hasn’t come by.” She rose to her feet.

I hugged myself, hating that Matt had to see me in this condition. I was also pissed at him for not believing my words. “Fuck off.”

She slapped me across my cheek. Blood rushed from the sting on my face through the rest of me. When I met her gaze, her mouth was set in a thin line. “You will not use that kind of language when Mr. Benoit arrives.”

As if she’d summoned Dad, he knocked on the door once and entered the room. The small, windowless room felt smaller. It wasn’t meant to hold so many people in it.

“She’s awake.” Dad glared at Nurse Lydia.

“Not for long,” she reassured him, then stepped aside so he could take her spot by the bed.

“If you behave and don’t try anything again, I’ll see about moving you to a room with a better view.” He dragged the chair to his left until it hit the corner.

I glared at him. How was he okay with this? “How long do you plan to keep me here?”

“Until you’re better.”

“I’m better right now.” I threw the covers away from me and slid off the bed. “But something tells me you don’t give a shit about that.” His eyes went wide, and he pursed his lips.

“Ela, get back in the bed.” Nurse Lydia practically hissed the words out.

“I’ve known the woman for all of forty-eight hours. Why does she think she can order me around?” I asked Dad.

“She’s in charge of making sure you recover from your alcohol and drug problems. For however long that takes.” He glanced at the nurse, and she nodded.

“Neither one of you has the authority to keep me here, and you know that.” I fought the urge to plead with him when he wrapped his fingers around the doorknob.

“I hope you get better soon,” he said over his shoulder before he left.

Lydia gripped my arm, digging her fingers into my skin. “Next time your dad comes by, you will stay in the bed and watch your language.”

“He’s not coming back.” It didn’t hurt to know that anymore. Dad had gone too far this time in trying to keep me out of his life. He had another thing coming if he thought I’d stay here with this disgusting woman. “You made a mistake.”

“I don’t think so, dear. In you go.”

“Assume your opponent wants to hurt you,”Matt had said the day he showed me how to throw a punch.

That had been my mistake at the lake when I was assaulted. Assuming that people were good. Assuming that whatever dad did to me was because I deserved it, because I’d brought shame to the family or done some other random thing he didn’t approve of. Nurse Lydia had made two mistakes. She assumed I wouldn’t hurt her, and she gave me socks.

I shuffled my right leg back. The lines across her forehead got deeper, but apart from that, she was too slow to react. I punched her in the throat and then on the spot just below the ribcage, where Matt had shown me.

She fell to the floor in a heap, gasping for air. I bolted for the door, but she gripped my leg and yanked it from under me. For an older woman, she was stronger than I’d thought. A kick to the head made her roll on her side. The woman had a very twisted work ethic. For whatever reason, she thought it was her mission to make me better. Even though we were at a point where it was her or me, I still couldn’t bring myself to inflict more damage.

I dug through her pocket and found the next dose she had ready for me. The syringe was in the smaller compartment of her scrubs. My hands shook as I inserted the needle into the glass container and pulled the plunger. “You suck as a nurse.” I stabbed her leg and squeezed.

Her yelp was barely audible. Probably from the damage of my punch to her larynx. I scooted back toward the wall until I hit the only chair in the room. My heart pumped so hard I couldn’t move or hear anything. If the male nurse walked in right now, he would restrain me. What kind of punishment would they have for me if I tried to escape again? Shit. I brought my legs in and stuffed my hands in my wet hair.

After several calming breaths, I used the seat next to me to prop myself up. The shakiness in my body would probably not go away until I had left the hospital. I opened the door and peeked out into the hallway. The lights had already been dimmed for the night, and there was no one in sight. I glanced up at the ceiling and swallowed my tears. This wasn’t the time to feel sorry for myself. I had to get out.

Behind me, Nurse Lydia mumbled something I didn’t understand. I didn’t stay to find out. I slipped out of the room and bolted toward the stairwell. I rushed down the steps, glancing over my shoulder every time I ran past a door. My leg muscles ached the harder I pushed them to move faster.

When I reached the basement level, I shoved the door open and gasped at the fumes in the air. The parking lot had sat in the heat all day with cars coming and going. Throw in some rain on top of that, and this place was near toxic. Who knew how late it was? But a dark sky and downpour greeted me. I took a path that led out onto the street until I found a sign showing the way to Canal Street. I wasn’t far from the Quarter, two miles maybe.

Even at a brisk walk, it would take me forty minutes to an hour to get back to the safe house, assuming there was still a safe house. Plenty of time for someone to find nurse Lydia lying on the floor and send a security guard to fetch me. In this garb, any passerby might spot me on the street too. Would they believe me if I told them I had good reasons to escape? Or just assume I wasn’t all there?

The wristband on my arm had all my information. If someone were trying to help me, no doubt they’d bring me back to the hospital instead of home. Home? Where the hell was home? I couldn’t go to Dad. He was the one keeping me here. Matt was also gone. I traced my steps down the path and back to the safety of the garage. I roamed the parking lot, peeking into every car window, until I found an old Chevy that was unlocked and had no alarm system.

Thank you, I mouthed at the jacket laying on the driver’s side. It was dirty, and it reeked of smoke. I blew out a breath and threw it over my shoulders. In the middle of a storm, a stinky coat was better than a translucent hospital gown.

I left the parking lot and headed away from Canal Street. Smaller and darker streets were a better option. Right? I had no clue. I’d never ventured out of the Quarter in the middle of the night and alone. The rain pelted down on my coat as I made my way to the safe house. With any luck, Matt hadn’t left New Orleans yet. With any luck, he didn’t feel like Dad and was willing to give me a second chance. A part of me didn’t want to see Matt. Would he turn me in? Or would he listen to me this time?

An ambulance siren blared behind me, casting red shadows on the street and the buildings around me. A cold shiver ran down my spine. How long had I been gone? They could be looking for me right now. I slowed my pace and hid under the canopy of a small restaurant, pressing my body against the dark corner of the entrance. I stayed there until the vehicle rushed past me.

Please don’t let anyone find Lydia just yet. I need more time.

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