Page 99 of Doubts & Fears

“I’m also going to insist you go lie down. You look like hell. Doctor’s orders.” Marcel smiled. “I’ll bet you didn’t sleep at all, did you?”

“Do you think we should move her back to her old room?” I hated asking; the idea felt wrong on so many levels, but I knew Marcel appreciated me asking his opinion.

“I’d like to talk to her first. It’s important that it be her decision, unless you feel strongly about it,” he said. When none of us put up a fight, he relented,sensing for the first time that we did actually care about her mind set. “I think as long as it is just holding her, and no other sexual intimacies are happening, it’s probably safe. Again, this is given she wants to continue on with the way things are, gentlemen.”

“Understood. I’m heading to the club for a quick meeting with Allison. Then I promise it’s to bed, Counselor,” Alek said, which caused Marcel to smile.

Chapter 32

Marcel

Opening Up

I’d spent the night struggling with the guilt over letting them down. That was what hurt the most, and though they’d tried to hide it, their faces told me everything. At least I could console myself that Alek’s attitude today was more even-tempered.

The damn fool was so distraught that the migraine I knew he was sporting had to be bad. He and the guys had work-related business to attend to last night, so it was an all-around fucked-up day for him.

I thought once more about Kinsley saying that she tried to save Mischa but couldn’t. The burden of her nightmare rested with me. Telling her I wanted to know how she died probably triggered it.

However, it was Nik’s last question that I focused on as I sat and contemplated setting up a time to call her. The last thing I wanted was for her to shut down on me for fear that I’d cut her access off to the guys.

I needed to reassure her that she could trust me. I quickly sent her a message and asked to speak to her after I worked out with Bash. It would give her time to prepare, as well as give me an opportunity to clear my head.

LATER THAT DAY

“Hi, Dr. Marcel,” Kinsley said with a shy smile.

The girl staring back was breathtakingly gorgeous. I shouldn’t have been so surprised, but I was. Though she was unlike anything I’d ever known the guys to be attracted to. She sat in a window seat in what I presumed was her bedroom. Her legs were off to the side, and her back was ramrod straight.

I could tell she was petite, and she had her hair unbound. It fell around her shoulders in rich brown waves. She was all eyes, and within the depths of them was every emotion I’d expect her to be feeling at that moment. The sheer fact that it was so plainly seen relaxed me. If she lied, her eyes would betray her.

“Ms. Taylor, thank you for calling. I understand you had a tough night.”

She took a deep breath and nodded.

“I’d like to help you process it. If you are willing to tell me about it.”

“I don’t want to talk about it. It’s best left in the past, you know.” She flicked her eyes up to meet mine. The guys must have set her up with an iPad on a tripod. The camera was so smooth.

“It can help to talk, though. Tell me, do you often have nightmares?” I wanted to ask her if that was why she took sleeping pills, but letting her know I knew about them would require I then disclose that Alek had broken into her house.

“Sometimes. I used to take pills. Not all the time. Most times, I could cope with my bears. But I don’t have either of those anymore.”

I sighed at the look of sadness on her pretty face. Her enormous eyes filled with tears, and I made a mental note to talk to her about her prescription at the end of our session.

“Why don’t you tell me about your bears, then? They sound like they were a powerful tool in helping you cope.”

“They were, and I miss them so much,” she sobbed, breaking my heart.

I waited for her to get her emotions under control and thought maybe she wouldn’t share. Then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I got them at a time when I was feeling really low. I was homeschooled after my parents died. I was pretty lonely without…” Her voice trailed off, but then she cleared her throat. “I’m good. I know the guys were worried about me last night. Actually, I’ve never had that nightmare. Sometimes I have repeat ones, and those are easier for me to manage.”

“Okay, that’s good to know. Is it safe for me to assume it had something to do with me asking about Mischa Natalya’s death?”

“Yes, Sir. I don’t like to think about Mischa. I don't really like to talk about her. All of you have questions, I know. I wish I had the courage to share, but I don’t.”

“I can respect that. I believe that with time, you might be able to share more. I’m willing to wait as long as you need. And it’s okay for you to take your time. Can I ask one question about her?”

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