Page 12 of Mad Love

As in, at this moment… but not necessarily in the future.

Dr. Browne watched me closely, like she knew exactly what she’d implied and was waiting for me to crack. To break apart or scream or fight. But all that would mean was another syringe of something that would send me spiraling into a dark abyss.

I forced my expression to be as placid as possible. “Does my father think he’ll be able to undo the marriage?”

Her eyes narrowed just a bit.

I let my gaze drop, like I was embarrassed. “Ryan… He won’t let me go.” I shrugged helplessly, like I was a victim. “He said he’ll always come after me. Always find me.”

And he damn well better, or I’d find him, and kick his ass for taking so long.

Dr. Browne reached over and settled her hand atop mine. “You’re safe here, Maddie.”

My lips twisted into a sad smile. “I just want my life back.”

She squeezed my hand. “And I’m going to help you get there.”

I nodded eagerly.

Yes, she would help me get there.

Because I knew how to play this game now.

And Gary—and Dr. Browne—weren’t going to win.

CHAPTER 6

RYAN

I jerked awake and hissed when pain lanced down my side. My head hurt like a motherfucker, and I squeezed my eyes shut as my stomach rolled. I took slow breaths, trying to figure out where the hell I was and what the fuck had happened.

“Ry?” a familiar voice asked.

I cracked an eye open to see Ash standing against the rail of my bed. I glanced around at the machines and white everything—walls, floors, bedding.

“Hospital?” I croaked, feeling like death and shit had a baby.

He nodded grimly. “How ya feeling?”

Panic flared through me, lighting up every nerve ending. “How long have I been here? Where’s Mad—”

“Easy, Ry,” Ash said. “You’ve been here for a little over a day.”

Oh, fuck no. I’d been out an entire day? “Ash—”

He held up a hand. “Ry, they had to sedate you when you kept trying to get up.”

I vaguely remembered trying to get up and maybe shoving someone when they told me to lay down.

I scowled at him. “Then why the fuck are you here, Florence Nightingale?”

He rolled his green eyes. “Because Grandpa was worried. Linc is with Bex, and Court and Linus are raising hell.” He held up his cell phone. “I’m monitoring the facial recognition software while running it through every program I have access to, trying to find Gary or Maddie. And if you’d kept from getting stabbed, I’d still be at my computer.”

“Fuck you,” I mumbled.

“Love you, too.” He scoffed and stepped back.

I glanced down. Sheets had been tugged up to my chest, and aside from when I’d jolted awake, the pain in my side had receded. “How bad?”

---