Page 25 of Unholy

“Just glad you’re okay. Doc said we can’t stay we could only drop in,” Andy tells me.

“Fuck that doctor.”

“You look like shit, so that’s good news,” Rod tells me with a laugh. They both turn to leave when Andy steps back.

“Your stepsister has been pacing all night. You want her in here?”

“No.”

“Okay. Get some rest. We’ll check on you tomorrow.” I nod and salute the two of them when they walk out. Seconds later, she was in my room after I said no.

“I don’t want you here,” I tell her.

“Are you insane? No. Don’t answer that. You are insane, Tristan! What were you thinking? Why would you do that?”

“You don’t know what I did,” I tell her. Seeing her still wearing the bloody dress does something to me. I want her. More than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life, but I’ll bring her even more hurt than I see on her face right now, and maybe that’s the sick part of me. Maybe that’s what the darkest part of me wants. Her hurt. Her pain.

“You slammed into a pole!”

“Get out.”

“No. A pole, Tristan,” she snaps at me.

“I said get out.”

“I’m not leaving you like this.”

“You said you didn’t want me, Ash. Get the fuck out!” I roar this time. She crosses her arms over her chest and stomps over, sitting in the chair next to the bed. If I could get up, I would probably snap her pretty little neck right now or sink my teeth into her soft flesh.

“They think you did this on purpose.”

“And if I did?”

“Why would you? Did you want to die? Is that it?”

“What difference does it make to you?”

“Tristan, come on. Don’t be like that.”

“Like what? Telling you the truth? You want the truth? Yeah, I slammed that car into the pole on purpose. Now get out!” Just as the words come out of my mouth, the fucking doc walks in.

“Suicide attempt, Tristan?” Fuck me.

“Doc, you came.”

“They called and told me what happened. You know what that means?” he says.

“What does it mean?” Ash asks before I can respond.

“It means, fuck you, Ash.”

“It means he stays on a seventy-two hour hold until we know he isn’t a danger to himself anymore.”

“What?” Ash asks.

“What happened to patient-doctor confidentiality?” I ask him.

“This her?” Doc asks me, and I nod.

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