Page 22 of Exile
It did cross my mind to warn Avery of the plan. The three of us discussed it in great detail. Ultimately, we all agreed that we needed things to be as authentic as possible with as few people involved. A dick move for sure from Avery's point of view, but we couldn't risk someone hurting her. We needed to move fast, and Avery likes to weigh up all the pros and cons.
I believed her when she said she would have agreed. There was never any doubt in my mind. But she would have dwelled on the details and guilt, sending her mind into a spiral, and time was of the essence.
When she asked how we felt about it, I was completely honest with my answer. A piece of paper means nothing to me. I'd already given thought about polyamorous marital situations with Madison—long landing on the point that love doesn't always need to go by the societal book andnormalstandards.
Avery is mine, in every way, shape and form that's important. Her being legally wed to someone else doesn't take away from what we have. What we have is unique, consensual, and customized to suit our individual relationships with her. She wears my ink and marks on her skin, I wear her on my dick. And she has my little black bleeding heart in her hands. That's all that matters.
I keep my arm tucked around her waist as she ponders my question.
"I'm okay," she answers honestly. "Just worried about everything."
"And about Damon," I point out.
She nods. "I know Alexander won't stop. He made that clear when he cornered me at the hospital."
After she filled us in, detailing all the events from her departure from Lilydale to her return, I can't say I'm surprised. Alexander Dale is a sly bastard, completely self-absorbedand obsessed. He's dangerous, and I won't hesitate to subject him to the same fate that led me here if he comes near Avery again.
"We won't let him," I promise her, meaning every fucking word. "Or that pathetic excuse for a shit stain that sticks to him."
"Whitface will already be planning something. He's spiraling. Did you see his face at lunch?"
I nod, watching as Grey finishes his conversation and heads in our direction. He comes up behind her, Avery shooting him a smile as she kisses his cheek.
"I think I know a way for us to find out," Grey says, clearly having heard the last part of our exchange.
"Oh?" Avery perks up. "How?"
Grey gestures toward Byrone and the tech girl. "Jillian still has access to the cameras we placed around, including the one in his office. As long as the servers and connection stay online, we can monitor his conversations."
"I asked Dr. Smith to purchase some new cells for us as well," Avery responds. "That way we can communicate with each other. Whittingham hopefully won't take notice since he confiscated the other ones and likely won't be expecting us to have new ones so soon."
He grins at her proudly, planting a kiss on her forehead before taking a huge bite out of the sandwich still in her hand. Whether he knows my mouth was on it before or not, he doesn't seem to care.
Fucking brothers-in-law.
Madison would have liked him. She would havelectured meto like him. The two of them would have fed off each other's energy. He's almost the male version of her—if Madison was a homicidal maniac with a weird kink for blood.
Swallowing the food, I notice his change in demeanor immediately. He gives me a tight smile, before spinning Avery around to face him.
"Alright, little killer. I have some news."
Avery stiffens, nodding for him to continue as she braces herself for whatever's coming.
Grey cups her cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "Leighton was killed in the fight. One of the guards injured him."
She doesn't react, the only telling sign she's affected by the news are her eyes which become a little glassy. Still, she holds herself together, lowering her head.
"Shit," she mutters. "But that's not all, is it?"
Grey shakes his head slowly, grimacing. "We've completed a headcount on all the patients, checking to make sure no one else was injured."
"And?" I ask when Avery stays silent, her face suddenly full of dread.
His eyes dart over to me, gaze reflecting the severity of his next words.
"Four patients are missing. They weren't involved in the hallway incident. But they did sign Elsher's bullshit consent form for voluntarytreatment."
Chapter 9
