Page 32 of Tainted Serenity

I’m about to walk out the door anyway when I feel his fingers wrap around my wrist in a way that is too tight. I stare up at him through my eyelashes, fear coating my tongue at being alone inside this room with a crazed doctor.

“Sit the fuck down, Naya. I have to check you again.”

I gulp, my heart pounding inside my chest as if a drummer is beating on it. “I’m fine, really.”

Suddenly, he pulls me toward the middle of the room with such force that I almost fall forward, sending another wave of pain from my back and tail.

“What happened?”

“Why the fuck do you care?” I seethe through my teeth, annoyance building inside me at his audacity.

I watch as his ocean-blue eyes darken when he stares at me, giving an allure of mystery and reminiscent of a vibrant sea. The darkened gaze reveals a simmering rage consuming his form, but I am not scared of him. Not really.

“You will get the both of us killed if you don’t listen to what the fuck I’m saying.”

That shuts me up, a whirlwind of emotions racing in my mind as I think about the meaning of his words. They sit like a heavy weight on me, pushing me down as I realize they might as well be true because Irene and Arthur are fucked like that. It doesn’t seem fair to risk both of our lives because of my noncompliance. I cannot decipher why I even care about him, though.

He carefully inspects my back; his breath the only thing audible inside the room except the rushing of blood in my ears. I feel his cold hands grazing against my bare skin, pressing down on the spot right above my tailbone that I am sure is all purple and green now. A hiss escapes me at the pressure, tears brimming my eyes that I refuse to shed.

“What happened? You’re all bruised here.”

I swallow molten lava before turning to face him, relief washing over me as Daxton lets go of my shirt and allows me to back away. I don’t want any other man to touch me other than Grey.

My eyes flicker back and forth, not sure if I can tell him the truth or not. Can I trust this unknown, mysterious, yet alluring man? Believe that he wants to help me and not ruin me like everyone else?

As if noticing my uncertainty, his eyes soften, which causes his eyelids to release their tension. “You can tell me.”

And I decide that, at this moment, I do believe him. Something feels so familiar about him, as if I have met him before in another life far behind this corrupted one. It leaves a weird sensation trickling through me, confusion striking me that I soon think away.

“A bitch pushed me down the stairs when we played hide-and-seek.”

Silence occurs for seconds after my sentence until his eyes at last widen, causing the smooth skin to wrinkle around them while disbelief courses through his facial expression, as if he cannot believe me.

“They’re still playing those deadly games?” His voice becomes an octave lower, reminiscent of a growl and threat, and I’m not sure if I should back away or not.

I nod my reply, unable to find the words to speak as I pick at the skin around my nails again, letting the sharp pain ground me. Wonders cascade inside my head, unsure why he even cares or seems worried about them playing deadly games.

“Don’t you work here? That means you’re okay with the tortures.” My voice is challenging, leaving no room for argument as I level him a glare.

He stares back at me, nostrils flaring while his jaw clenches, making his pointed chin tighten in an unnatural way that almost seems supernatural.

“I’m not fucking okay with torturing innocent people, but I don’t have any other choice than to work here for the time being,” spit flies out of his mouth as he speaks at a fast pace, not pausing to breathe. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“And it wasn’t your business to fucking touch me.”

At my words, he laughs. Fucking laughs at me as if I’m amusing, a mocking sound that slices against my skin like jagged shards of ice. It leaves me crossing my arms over my chest, annoyance taking hold of me.

That infuriating motherfucker.

“I’m a doctor. It’s my job,” he simply states, as if he has no better explanation. As he reaches for the desk full of tools that made my heart race the last time, he searches for something in the drawer before returning, looking equally annoyed as I, but also amused.

He reaches for something for me. “Now, take these painkillers before you annoy the death out of me. Hide them so Irene won’t see them. They will ease the pain.”

I grab the pills with uncertain hands, staring at him for a second too long, as I’m shocked that he would give me something as precious as painkillers. It reminds me of the time Grey came to my room at Dankworth Institute, offering me his painkillers, and the thought of that has my heart clenching. I shake away the thought, manage to give him a small yet grateful smile, and stumble out of his examination room before he changes his mind.

Chapter 13

Grey

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