Page 36 of What's Left of Me

CHAPTER TWENTY

Noel

The next fewdays were a clusterfuck of trying to get the recordings from Rose and hacking into databases to get autopsy reports—which I was sure Agent Rose was purposely making difficult for me.

Seriously, if he spent half the time on this investigation as he did trying to stop me and my brothers from finding this psycho, I swore he’d be found.

Aziza wanted to try hypnosis on Phoenix before the recordings, thinking that she could perhaps soften anything he might hear should Hank’s father or brother be the definite match on the voice.

We were all invested in Phoenix’s safety and if that meant finding Adonis ourselves, we were fine with that at this point.

I was just finishing up lunch when Phoenix entered the kitchen and sidled up next to me.

“Hey.” I smiled, loving when his cheeks blushed. We hadn’t kissed or anything since the other night, but I was letting himtake the reins on this for sure. I was open to it, and I tried to be transparent with that openness.

“Hi, um, so Aziza is here and wanted to do some hypnosis on me, more in-depth stuff…do you think you can sit in?”

“Of course.”

He breathed in relief. “I don’t know what she’s going to ask me to do.”

“Nothing crazy. You’ll likely be in a dreamlike state. She’s careful, I promise, and won’t leave you a mess. It’s not her way.”

“I’d just feel better if you were there.”

My chest felt warm. He was so sweet, beautiful, and every day he was pulling himself out of the hell that maniac had put him through, and it was an honor to be part of it, but more so him wanting me to be part of it too.

“Where are we doing this?”

“Right, so there’s another bedroom she said would be best. Comfortable, but won’t be associated to the one I sleep in or a room I go into often.” He shrugged. “She’s the doc, she knows.”

I nodded. “Lead the way.”

Aziza was waiting for us with a smile. She sat on a chair beside the bed and motioned to the mattress.

“So, Phoenix, you’ll lie here, and Noel, there’s a chair on the other side. I wasn’t sure how Phoenix would like you to be present.”

“Oh.” Phoenix’s eyes widened. “However he’s comfortable.”

I chuckled. “I’m here for you, Phoenix, so where do you think will be best? And honestly, what won’t hinder this session?”

“This is about comfort and safety for Phoenix, so it doesn’t matter in this instance. Whatever you two decide, it will work for me.”

I glanced at Phoenix. He knew exactly where he wanted me but was afraid to say it. We were feeling each other out—this was a hard time for him, so I’d just offer.

“We liked cuddling, remember?”

His head shot up. “Yeah…”

“How about I lie on the bed, and you rest on me like the other night?”

He bit his lip, the corner of his mouth curling. “You’d be okay with that?”

“I’d be very okay with that.”

I hopped on the bed, my body bouncing, and tucked my hands behind my head. Thankfully, he laughed and slowly, and far less dramatically, came to lie beside me.

“Now.” Aziza folded her hands on her lap. “Phoenix, I’m going to put you into a calming state. You’ll hear my voice, and I will make sure you remain safe. Oftentimes you’ll hear me ask you to tell me what you feel around you that is real. This anchors you, and it’s what Noel is there for.”

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