Page 8 of The Devil's Embrace

Sister Grace, the head of the orphanage where Calix had spent most of his adolescence, had prayed for him when he’d been taken away. He’d never forget the look on her face, the pity in her eyes as she’d reached out for him. He’d explained the whole thing before the cops had arrived. Of course she’d believed him. She’d practically raised him, after all.

That was probably why it’d been too hard for her to bear. Why she hadn’t been able to show up at the courtroom, not even once.

Why she hadn’t even seen him off when he’d left for the Academy.

The thing was, Calix didn’t blame her. Even if it had been a mistake, because of him, some guy was never going to walk again.

He deserved to be punished.

Foolishly, he’d believed all this time that’s what giving up on his dreams had been. The punishment. But now he realized that wasn’t the case.

Not only was he not going to allow himself to be thrust into the center of a brutal case again, he also wouldn’t stoop so low as to take even more from the one person he’d hurt.

Because there was only one person who would send someone like Heathe to do something likethatto Calix.

Honestly, he should just be grateful that was all that was done, and they hadn’t also taken his life or a limb.

He should be, so he would be.

Simple as that.

Calix cleared his throat. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do here, Doctor, but it won’t be necessary. I won’t be pressing charges because a crime hasn’t been committed.”

The doctor with the pretty eyes went still. “Excuse me?”

He steepled his fingers and set them in his lap. “It was consensual.”

“Consensual?” his tone was dumbfounded.

He was probably changing his mind about Calix now. Probably considered him vile, like everyone else on this hell hole of a planet.

But that was fine, too.

After today, the two of them would never see each other again.

What did his opinion of him matter?

“You’re trying to claim that was sex between two consenting adults?” He motioned wildly at him. “You can’t see yourself right now, Detective, but if you could, you wouldn’t be spouting nonsense. You’re suffering from blood loss, and—”

“It was consensual,” he insisted firmly. “Things just got out of hand. We were drunk. That’s all.”

The doctor’s eyes narrowed. “Who is we? Who were you with?”

“Doesn’t matter.” He wasn’t going to be played that easily. “What happens now?”

The doctor pinched the bridge of his nose. “Well, if you insist on this narrative—”

“I do.”

“—then I suppose, now I take a look at your injuries and patch you up as best I can. I’m meant to be using a rape kit, but—”

“No.”

He let out an annoyed breath. “You really must stop interrupting me, Detective.”

“So that you can convince me to change my mind?” Not a chance.

“No,” he surprised him by stating. “Because it’s rude and I don’t like it.”

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