Page 19 of Twisted Legacy

“LaReaux’s scar is fine. Is her doctor here yet? If he is, show him to the backyard. Maybe the fresh air will make her more talkative.”

“I don’t need a shrink. If he is, shove him into the fountain on the back patio. Maybe the water will convince him not to come back again.”

LJ shakes her head and scurries back down the steps, calling out, “I’ll go ask if he wants something to drink.”

She’s been around for enough of our arguments that she’s learned to stay away until they’re over. They usually end with Wolfe walking away. But instead of him yelling at me in his trainer's voice, he says, “Thea, I want you to work just as hard on your mind as you do everything else.”

“I’m good.”

“You were attacked and got some disturbing news within days of each other. You’re strong, but you’re not invincible.”

“I said, I’mfine.”

“If that’s true, then why are you suddenly throwing yourself at me?”

He’s got me there. But I play it off, like what I said to him was a joke. “Don’t get a big head. It’s not you, specifically. I’m in the mood to fuck. If you let me out of the house, I’ll go throw myself at someone else.”

I smile up at him and purr, “Wouldn’t that give the shrink something else to jot down notes about?”

“You’re not taking that eighteen-year-old pussy out of this house to give to anyone. You’re gonna march your ass downstairs and talk to the man your people are paying to get you well.”

“I said-”

“I don’t give a fuck what you said. I’m telling you this is happening. Someone hurt you, and you don’t remember the details. You’re blocking them when you’re awake and reliving them in your dreams. LJ and I would like to survive this without you crawling out of bed and murdering us in your sleep.”

Rolling my eyes, I scoff, “You’re being overdramatic.”

“I’m being reasonable and considering all sides of this. I’m training you, just like I agreed to. Just because it’s not physical work doesn’t mean it’s not important. The first thing I told you in the gym was you had to be strong of mind. Remember?”

He reaches around and tugs my ponytail, forcing my head back to look at him. “I wanna find out who did this to you, sweetness. Don’t you wanna know? Don’t you want to tell me which punk I should make miserable for the rest of their lives?”

“I don’t need you fighting my battles.”

“I know you don’t. I’m actually thinking of letting you fight each and everyone one of them. In the ring, of course. Don’t you want me to give you permission to fight?”

My eyes flutter closed thinking about that. “Yes.”

“I need you to do the work, and that starts with the guy downstairs. Prove to me you don’t need his help, and he’ll never come back here again.”

My nipples pebble. It’s so unfair when he talks to me like this. I don’t need to be handled. I have my own mind. I know what I want, but when Wolfe does this shit, all I want to do is make him happy. Please don’t say it, please don’t say it. I need to stay strong on this.

“C’mon, sweetness. Tell him one real thing about how you’re feeling today.”

“I feel like I want to go out and get hammered and fuck some stranger in a bar. Oh wait, I’ve already done that. Maybe we should talk about that.”

He steps back, his gaze shuttered. He’s back in full coach mode, and I have no way of knowing how he feels about what I just said.

“If that’s what you choose to discuss, that’s your business. Eventually your body will heal, but until you can talk about what happened -and deal with it- our training is on hold.”

“What? You can’t do that.”

“I can do what I want, and I’m not putting you up against any of my other clients, or students with that bomb ticking in your head. You’re one flashback away from hurting someone. Maybe even yourself. You don’t wanna talk to a professional? Fine, then talk to LJ, or anyone else you feel safe enough to confide in.”

He retreats into his bedroom, leaving me standing alone in the hall. I can either go into my room or downstairs, where I hear LJ making small talk with the doctor. I make a choice. The right choicefor me, and go to my room.

Chapter13

Deacon

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