Page 98 of Mind Maze

Iwake with a jerk and then cringe when I hear a chuckle. Because of whatever Theo gave me that’s still running through my veins, I fell asleep in Doc Junior’s car. He sits beside me, watching me with amusement.

My head is throbbing, which I take to be as a good sign. Maybe this stuff is finally leaving my system.

I’ve been in perilous situations before where I feared for my safety. Right now, with Doc Junior as my new captor, I don’t feel afraid. He doesn’t appear to want to hurt me.

If anything, he seems extremely interested in me.

Not like he’s attracted to me. His friend, Dr. Portman, clearly was, but not Doc Junior. I wonder why that is. Could he be gay or married or both? I glance at his hand but don’t see a ring.

“So last night was wild, am I right?”

I shrug. “I guess.”

“Your man kicked your brother’s ass. I’d say that constitutes as wild.”

We’re no longer in the city. It makes me wonder how long I was asleep for. Based on where the sun is, I’d say it’s close to two in the afternoon.

“Were you wearing earplugs too?”

He playfully smacks my thigh, which earns a nasty glare from me. “Did you forget who my father is? Of course I wore them.” His head cocks to the side as he studies me. There’s something familiar about his eyes. The intensity of them. It’s like I know them well.

“Where are we going?” I ask, turning away from him to look for any clue as to which way we’re headed.

“I already told you,” he says with faux impatience. “To see Kaitlyn.”

Since I’m okay with that answer, I relax despite the way he watches me as though he’s the cat and I’m the tiny little mouse he wants to toy with before eating alive. A shudder ripples through me.

“Everyone loves Dad,” he says randomly. “Last night, they were forced to.”

“What was the purpose of that anyway?” I ask, turning my head to look at him. “All because he wants to be loved by his people?”

“Oh, it’s much more complicated than that. My father is devious.”

Since this seems to be a road trip where we have plenty of time, I decide to play along with this guy and gather information. If that means showing interest, so be it.

“How is he devious?”

He sighs. “Let me count the ways, dear Romy.”

My stomach growls, which makes him chuckle.Just get on with it, dude.

“He was cruel when I was growing up,” Doc Junior states, the humor fading. “Nothing, and I mean nothing, I could do was ever good enough. Always wrong.”

“No wonder he has to make people like him through subliminal messaging,” I mutter. “And now he represents the entire country. Yay, USA.”

“You’re snarky, kid. I like you.”

I’m not a kid. I am snarky, though.

“He’s a different man behind closed doors,” he reveals. “Some would say a real Jekyll and Hyde situation.”

Since his father is a doctor, that’s a terrifying thought.

“‘You won’t amount to anything,’” Doc Junior says, imitating his father’s deep voice. “But look at me now. Not only did I amount to something, I’m a better doctor than he ever was. He knows it too. It’s a good thing he has the whole presidency thing to fall back on because he’d probably croak if he had to share the psychology space with his son, who outperforms him at every turn.”

I lift my eyebrows. Doc Junior has daddy issues. Noted.

“Are we going to see him?” I ask, gesturing out the window. “Are we going to the White House?”

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