Page 60 of Wait For It

Oh no—I’d mentally exhausted all the ways in which a woman could be claimed. It was best just to get it all out of my system. No more waking up to damp sheets and the lingering image of us in the shower, Ari’s green eyes trained on mine as she lowered herself to the tiles before taking me in her mouth.

Why hadn’t I just asked her where she’d gotten her old-fashioned advice, or why she’d used it on me? While I was at it, why hadn’t I gone for the kiss?

I balled my hands into fists and counted to ten until my heart slowed its galloping into a more respectable trot. Only a masochist would look for ways to turn the fantasy into reality—which I clearly wasn’t.

Nope. I had my eyes on the prize.

Maybe after lunch, I’d take ol’ Joe’s advice and reach out to Theo, see where we stood on things.

I ignored the first dramatic sigh, hoping my unwanted visitor would take the hint and leave. My teeth came together at the second, and by the third, my patience was shot all to hell.

I jerked my head up with a gruff, “What?”

“Oh, Killian. I didn’t see you there,” Helen said, dabbing at her dry face with a tissue. “Might I have a word with you?”

I shrugged and gestured toward an empty chair across the table. She shuffled over before fixing me with a pointed stare, clearly expecting me to jump up and pull it back for her.

She had the wrong guy.

Bailey was the gentleman. I was—well, right now, I was the brooding asshole. A role I surprisingly found quite enjoyable.

With a small grumble of disapproval, she scraped the chair along the floor while muttering something about ‘young people today.’

This was her fault.

If she’d left Ari alone yesterday, then—then what—I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to protect her?

The old woman made a show of settling into her seat, radiating with excitement despite the grave look on her face. The sudden change was either the result of a new medication, or Helen had finally found a way to sueTrue Northfor not living up to her high expectations.

With the way she was leaning across the table, I wouldn’t have to wait to find out. “I’m sure, by now, you’ve seen my face and have some questions.”

I narrowed my eyes, seeing the exact same wrinkles and fine lines as the last time I’d been forced to interact with her. “Do you mean now, or was it off wandering the building alone?”

Helen slapped her palm against the table and cackled before becoming solemn again. “Yes, well, you’re very kind not to draw attention to it. If you must know—” She paused dramatically. “I was attacked this morning by another patient. It seemed only fitting you should be told.”

“What happened?” Despite my every attempt to remain indifferent, the old bat had piqued my curiosity. I took another glance, still seeing no visible evidence that she’d been injured or maimed in any way.

She paused to sniffle into her tissue before palpating her cheek with a sharp wince. “Well, I was sitting in the gardens, just enjoying the sun when she came out of nowhere—”

“Who came out of nowhere?”

“That girl, of course,” Helen snapped as if there could be no other culprit.

“Ari?”

It didn’t make sense.

She lifted her shoulder before spearing a piece of chicken. “Is that what people call her? I swear, she’s more hellhound than human. I told the staff that she is a danger to everyone here, but it seems they’re not making my injury their top priority. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to warn as many people as possible. If enough of us speak out, they’ll be forced to transfer the little demon to another facility.”

I scratched at my jaw, watching Helen shovel food into her mouth, and growing more confused by the second. Ari might have been a little different, but she wasn’t a violent person.

Not even remotely.

Violent people didn’t brush their lips against your jaw or smile up at you in admiration. They didn’t look at you like maybe you deserved a life without caveats.

Christ, what was I doing?

The old woman startled at my sudden grunt before going back to her chicken.

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