Page 101 of Mind Maze

And now Kaitlyn is here.

History is repeating itself.

I have to stop this. I have to help her.

I’m grateful that enough time has passed that I have full control of my body. When the vehicle stops, I don’t wait to be told to get out. I fling off my seat belt and climb out, eager to get a better look as to where she might be.

I’m met with a familiar face standing near the front door, hands shoved in his coat pockets. My own coat was left behind in the hotel. I curl my arms around me, shivering against the cold.

Theo.

“You,” I bark out, storming over to him. “You drugged me!”

His normally expressive face remains impassive, reminding me of Caius. That won’t earn him any favors in my book, though. I hate when Caius acts like he has no emotions or feelings. I know Theo has them.

“Explain yourself,” I hiss, fighting hysteria. “How could you do that to me?”

He darts his gaze to Doc Junior, who comes to stand beside me. “Theo was asked to deliver Kaitlyn,” Doc Junior says from beside me. “He obeyed. Don’t shoot the messenger.”

I ignore Doc Junior, keeping all my anger fixated on Theo. “What do you plan on doing with her? She needs love, not brainwashing.”

I want to smack the dead expression off Theo’s face. Before I can, Doc Junior grabs me by the shoulder. At first, I think he’s just trying to stop me. Then I feel the sharp prick in my neck.

Whirling around, I find him stepping away and recapping a syringe. Heat from the injection site burns through across my flesh toward my heart.

What did he give me?

Am I going to die?

“We have new methods since you were a patient here, Romy,” Doc Junior says jovially. “Kaitlyn is a good recipient of those new therapies.”

I wobble and my knees begin to buckle. Theo jumps from his frozen stance, capturing me before I hit the ground.

“And so are you,” Doc Junior says. “Perhaps we’ll be able to fix that mind of yours this time. Dad was clearly a failure. I assure you, though, I do not fail.”

Everything turns black in another second.

Caius

Istare at the crumpled picture I’d found on my way up the elevator in Gideon’s building. My brain wants to make sense of it, but it’s like there’s a black hole where understanding should be.

The elevator dings, alerting me to my destination. Carefully, I tuck the photo into jacket pocket before exiting and walking to Gideon’s door.

I knock my knuckles on the door and wince at the immediate pain. Last night, I busted them up good when I’d lost my shit on Bastian. I hope his face hurts a lot worse.

The door opens and Eva greets me. Today, she’s not put together like usual. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. Without a stitch of makeup on her face, she appears much older than usual. Not in a bad way. The more natural look suits her. I wonder what her husband thinks.

“Caius,” Eva says coolly. “Come in. You’re expected.”

She wasn’t exactly my super fan when I accosted Romy after their bakery date. In my defense, I was saving Romy from that uncontrollable CUP Star soldier.

“They’re in the living room,” she tells me, closing the door behind me. “Go on. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need something.”

We part ways. I stride toward the sound of low, male voices. When I reach the living room, I’m not shocked to find Gideon and Dad. What surprises me, though, is to see Bastian.

Satisfaction burns hot through me. Seeing his swollen, heavily bruised face that’s covered with lacerations and a bandage over his nose is the highlight of this shit-tastic day.

I smirk at him. It gives me the confidence to deal with our fathers. At the end of the day, money and power mean nothing. Who can punch harder is always the factor in who wins a battle between two men.

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