Page 62 of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

18.

Livvy

“What are you two doing here?” As happy as I am to see the women—one chopping vegetables at the counter and the other stirring a pot on the stove—I frown to see Elise and oddly enough, Dr. Brennan. It’s odd to think of someone as surly as Duke ending up with the likes of her. Their friendly faces and warm smiles are a welcoming yet disquieting presence, considering Houdini wants Elise and baby Gun. “You didn’t bring Gun, did you?”

The kitchen makes me think I’d been right with my initial assumption of the property. We we’re either in an old prison or school. Large, white cement tiles. White walls. The counters are made up of stainless steel tables. Same with the stove. There’s a walk-in fridge the likes of which I’ve only seen in restaurant kitchens. Ultra-bright overhead lights wash the space in white and until my eyes adjust, it feels like looking directly into the sun.

“No. And I know what you’re thinking…” Elise pauses for a long moment. “But I had to come, Liv. When I saw… I mean, shit, the things he was doing to you, I couldn’t stay at the compound.”

Guilt suffuses my entire being. She’d been safe at the compound. “You were safe there. This isn’t a joke. He’s not going to bother with the elaborate tricks this time. God, Elise, you shouldn’t have come.”

Elise turns back to slicing up rounds of carrot, bottom lip pulled into her mouth. I’ve hurt her feelings and that’s the last thing I meant to do. But Houdini is capable of hurting so much more than that.

Well, she’s here now, nothing to be done about it. So I do the only thing left in my power. I walk to her and wrap my friend in a tight, tight hug. Her arms so constricted to her sides that she couldn’t even put down the knife. “Thank you,” I say, full of earnest sincerity. “I’ve missed you.”

“Missed you too, you dumb bitch.” She’s laughing and has tears in her eyes.

“Whoa, seems motherhood turned you soft,” I tease. Elise had never been a crier. A whiner, yes. A complainer, sure. But not a crier.

“That’ll do it,” Dr. Brennan says. “Hi, Livvy.”

“Hi, Dr. Brennan. It’s good to see you again.”

“It’s ‘Caitlin’ or ‘Caity.’ I’m an old lady now you know.”

“Yes, I’ve heard. Congratulations. Duke’s a lucky man.” I pick up a slice of mushroom and pop it in my mouth, chewing slowly.

“He is, isn’t he?” she replies, but as soon as she does, her smile and light demeanor drop for business Dr. Brennan to show through. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve brought my bag and despite what that troglodyte who owns this place thinks, I’m a good doctor and I’d like to check you over. Blood would like me to check you over.”

“Yeah, sure. That’s no problem.” I don’t really want her to see the marks Michael and Houdini have left on me. It’s humiliating, even with the understanding that he’d videoed the whole thing. I’d brought it all on myself by leaving and that’s exactly what she’ll be thinking when she examines me. I’m that stupid woman who went and got herself kidnapped not once, but three times. Twice by the same sick mind.

Rather than let me wallow in said humiliation, Elise throws a piece of carrot at me. “Troglodyte is right. I half expected him to sit me in the corner until I was spoken to.”

Dr. Bren—er—Caitlin rolls her eyes. “He told me women aren’t smart enough to be doctors. I need to know my place.”

“Ha,” I bark out. “He wouldn’t even talk to me. He told Gage my hips are too narrow to give him lots of babies, but if I die, there’s plenty of other bitches around for him to pick from.”

“Okay,” Elise starts. “Change of plans. Defeat Houdini once and for all, then destroy the troglodyte.”

The women sound like Wilma Flintstone and Betty Rubble giggling. Although I’d love to join them, I’m still sore from the whipping and laughing hurts. They give me sad eyes. If it’s one thing I hate, it’s pity. But I don’t think that’s what their sad eyes are about.

Elise clears her throat. “Right. I got this. Cait, go ahead, get her checked.” Then she turns to me. “We’ll get through this.”

Caitlin sets the spatula down after giving the sautéing veg one last flip, then turns to leave, tugging on my shirtsleeve as she passes for me to follow, which I do. I’d been so excited to find Chaos, escape the potential rapist and meet up with my brother and the other Lords, I forgot that I’ve been doing it all without a bra or panties on.

In a long man’s T-shirt and oversized combat boots, that’s how I let Raif hug me, spinning me around. How I greeted the brothers. How I was introduced to the troglodyte. The tips of my ears heat with what I’m sure is embarrassment. I’m a mess and she’s going to check me.

Through the doorway of the kitchen we enter into a wide hallway. Same ultra-bright lights as the last room. No windows. Well, there probably are windows, but they’ve been blacked out. That doesn’t seem safe, although troglodyte probably uses cameras to monitor every square inch of this place. So I freeze.

Caitlin stops with me. “What’s wrong?” she asks.

“Is the whole place monitored? I mean, will they see you check me?”

“No. There are no-camera zones. The bedrooms and baths. I’ll take you to the room you and Chaos will share.” She leads me to a closed-off stairwell, which we climb to the second floor. On the opposite end of where we enter, she steers me into a modest-sized room. Windows blacked out, but there are standing lamps that give off a yellow light when flicked on.

The space is very hospital. I can’t complain. Gage and I will have a bed to sleep in, not on the floor or stained with giant brown spots. This’ll work for the time being.

But… “I’m naked under the shirt,” I tell Caitlin. I know she’s another woman and a doctor, but I don’t want to be completely naked.

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