Page 73 of Provoke You

The implication that Andre and I were the same was like a kick to the stomach. “Cut the bullshit. You’re the reason she spirals like this. She asked you not to sell her hotel, and you went and did it anyway.”

“Ela is a spoiled child who doesn’t know what she wants. She randomly picks things to want and then pitches a fit when she doesn’t get them. If it hadn’t been the Baroness, it would’ve been something else. Junkies like her, they always find a reason to end up like this. As I’m sure you know.”

A junkie? “Excuse me?”

“Look at her. Did she promise she’d never drink again?” He glared at me.

I hated that he was right. “You need to leave. She doesn’t want to see you.”

“I’m just here to make sure she gets the treatment she needs.”

“You don’t decide for her.”

His face turned a deep red. Andre Benoit didn’t like being told what to do. “Nurse, make sure my daughter is transferred to the substance abuse ward this afternoon. It’s obvious drugs and alcohol are now her thing. It was only a matter of time.”

“Of course, sir. We’ll take good care of her.” The nurse who’d talked to me earlier made more notes on a clipboard and walked out.

“Don’t worry.” Andre stepped toward me. “I’ll make sure she’s comfortable in her usual room.” He glanced down at her with a disdain that no parent would ever have toward their child, no matter what said child had done. “I think it would be best for you if you stayed away from Ela. I’ve been there before. You stand too close to her, you’ll get burned. Leave town and forget you ever met her.” He left the room. Outside, he stopped to talk to the nurse again. She said nothing to him other than nod repeatedly to everything he said to her.

I touched Ela’s foot, which was wrapped in layers and layers of blankets. I wanted to climb into bed with her and be the one to keep her warm. She seemed so small in the bed, so alone. Didn’t she know she wasn’t alone anymore? Andre’s words echoed in my head.

Junkies like her.

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