“Are you also throwing your hat into this so-called ring?” he asks.
“Yeah. It’s complicated while also not,” I state, knowing I’m not doing myself any favors.
“Rachel must be pretty special,” Martin says, raising his hands with a small smile. “We’ll get her out of this mess and if you allow me to, I’ll also ensure the man who put her here can never practice again.”
“Ah, I’m pretty sure this is under one of those things you don’t want to know,” I murmur, shrugging.
Mr. Reyes is going to hunt her doctor down and kill him. Sometimes, the amount of things that I keep secret make my head hurt.
“I probably don’t,” he says with a chuckle, turning his back to me as he walks the rest of the way to his car. “Stay in touch!”
Smirking, I open the door to my vehicle and slide in.
“We have work to do, boys,” I murmur. “Only her husband can go see her. They denied her right to counsel as well.”
“That’s not legal,” Elijah grumbles as I shut the door behind me to pull the gear shift into drive. I’m glad I parked backwards so I can simply pull out.
“Nope,” I mutter as I drive. “All this means is that we don’t have to play well with others either.”
RACHELLE
My mind feels like sludge, and everything is confusing. I can’t even pull words together. I vaguely remember the police officers and being injected with something that felt as if it was burning through my veins.
But now, my lips won’t stay closed, and there are people who walk around me in uniforms as they force me to move. Even my limbs are slow to respond, and the staff members in this cold place are quick to laugh at me. I’m embarrassed they have to wipe my face because I’m drooling, and any sounds I make come out garbled.
Turning my head, my eyes dart around as I try to focus on my surroundings. There are others like me that seem to be patients here, though some stare curiously back at me in what seems to be an open activity room. There’s not much happening, though, as some people mumble to themselves, while others bang and cry.
This place is depressing. I have worked so hard not to end up here, and a tear slides down my face as I think about the deep betrayal I’m experiencing. My therapist knew of my deep fears of being committed, yet he did this anyway because I fired him.
“This one is so easy,” someone murmurs as I feel something flick the back of my head. While I can feel the pain, I don’t even flinch. “She’s so doped up, she has no idea what’s happening.”
“Shh, Cameron,” a girl says with a giggle. “There’s Patrick. I think he can handle all of this. Want to go fuck in the supply closet?”
Listening to them leave, my eyelids begin to feel heavy and I can feel them sliding closed. I can’t fight it from happening, just like I can’t get my body to do what I want it to.
I’ve fought so hard for so long, it would be so easy simply to let it all go…
Thoughts of Ignacio and Liliana slide through my mind, and I cling to it as I drift off.
CHAPTER 21
LILIANA
“No offense, sir, but how the fuck is this possible?” I growl.
I’m on an encrypted video call with the Kings, Mr. Emil, and Ignacio (though he’s sitting next to me). It’d been eight hours since I was arrested, and I’m finally home after the Kings’ lawyer managed to get me out of jail.
I can only imagine what I’ll owe them for this, but I’ll deal with it later.
“Dr. Gerald Michaels is currently contemplating the error of his ways in your father’s basement,” Mr. Emil says calmly.
On the outside he seems calm, but his hazel eyes glitter with a righteous fury. I suddenly have zero doubts that Rachelle’s piece of shit therapist will be suffering for hours and hours.
“Are you okay?” Mr. Emil asks, making me blink owlishly in surprise at him. “You were tased, weren’t you?”
“Oh yeah,” I admit. “Yes, I’m fine. I showered before getting on the call, and while it’s slightly bruised where the prongs entered my skin, I’m fine. I’m more worried about Rachelle.”
“So am I,” Jared interjects. “I’m glad you’re fine, Lili, but that place…”