He sighs. "And where will that get you, Grey? Locked away from Avery and Damon for the rest of your life."
I slam my hands on the desk, finally losing my shit. "Don't you dare fucking use them against me. You lost the right to any opinion when you fucked us over."
Theo grabs my shoulder, jerking me backward into the chair. "Start with Elsher," he says to Christopher. "Psychiatrists canprescribe drugs. He could easily access whatever they gave her without it raising a red flag. She was in session with him when it happened."
It's right at this very moment that I'm thankful for dragging Theo here with me. Oddly enough, he's quite a calming presence for a psychopath.
Or maybe it's because I'm a psychopath too.
"I'll do my best," Christopher answers, turning to me. "My best. You'll have to just accept that, Grey. If you want my help, you'll take what you're given."
"If you don't want my fist in your face again, you'll be sure to obtain answers," I send back sweetly.
Theo laughs, surprising both of us. I send him a look of betrayal for breaking character, watching him shake his head at the two of us.
"Make no mistake," he says, eyes focusing on Christopher. "If you hurt Avery again, it won't be Grey you'll be answering to. It will be me—and I promise whatever he does will look like amateur hour compared to whatever I dish out."
"Don't threaten me, Theo," Christopher sighs. "You might have this little bromance, bad cop-bad cop thing happening here, but I don't respond well to threats. I'm trying to help out of the goodness of my heart. I care about Avery's wellbeing, as I do with all my patients. But despite whatever you might feel aboutpowerandcontrol," he pauses, glancing at me. "I still have more freedom than you ever will. You need me—face it."
Cracking my knuckles, I lean back casually in my chair, holding his gaze. "We don'tneedyou, Christopher. But one day, we're going to burn this madhouse to the ground. The question will be whether or not we'll leave you inside when it turns to ash."
Chapter 14
Avery
After finishing the schedule with Damon, which involves the three of them taking turns standing guard of my room at night, we find Grey and Theo in the hallway.
"No blood stains? I'm a little surprised," I laugh, taking note of their clean attires.
"It's still early in the day," Grey teases. "Figured I'd wait until after lunch before I make a mess."
He seems to be in a better mood, though his gaze does linger over to Damon occasionally—as if he's checking for evidence. I'm just not sure if that evidence is swollen kissed lips or slap marks.
"Did you sort out yourass?" he asks, lips twitching as he sneaks an obvious look at my rear-end.
I slap his arm playfully, nodding. "Damon can fill you in. He has all the details."
The four of us start to make our way to the Westwood wing, but before we can reach the door, we're stopped by a guard stepping in front of us. Dark green eyes focus on me, narrowing as he takes in my surrounding company.
"You've been summoned," Damon says matter-of-factly to me. "Who?" he directs the last part to the guard.
The guard looks a little surprised, turning his attention away from me to stare at Damon.
"Dr. Elsher, sir."
Immediately, Theo and Grey step closer to me, practically smothering me with their frames. Our hands entwine as I give them a little squeeze of reassurance.
"I'll go," I answer, startling them, before the guard ends up as a pile of bloodied flesh.
"Absolutely not," Theo snaps.
"Over my dead body—or rather,hisdead body," Grey interjects angrily.
Damon swings a glance over his shoulder at me, trying to read the expression on my face. Holding his gaze, I give a little nod.
"I'll be fine."
They clearly aren't convinced, shooting deadly stares at the guard as if daring him to forcefully try to take me.