Page 15 of Mad Love

“Linus will handle everything here,” I assured him, straightening my shoulders. “If you need anything else, including that plane, he’ll give you my number. I hope you use it.”

“We’ll see.” Grinder glanced away, done with this conversation, but not before I noted the way his frame relaxed ever so slightly.

I hid a smile and stepped back, knowing I’d see him soon enough. Nodding to Linus, I stalked out of the courtroom and left the lawyer to handle Ben and his Ripper friends.

Right now I had more important shit to deal with. I had a wife to find, a sister to protect, two companies to run…and a father-in-law to kill.

CHAPTER 8

MADDIE

Highwater was bigger than I’d anticipated. After a week in the same small room, and multiple sessions with Dr. Browne, I was finally being moved to the floor for more permanent residents.

I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but I didn’t have much time to focus on it since almost immediately after Dr. Browne left today’s meeting, an orderly had come to escort me to my new room. He led me down a long hallway with harsh lighting, white walls, and white tile floors lined with doors that looked like the one leading to my own cell.

I wondered how many other patients were here against their will.

How many had been taken? Manipulated? Torn from their lives and hurled into this place?

I gritted my teeth as I walked, trying to keep my head down so the orderly—a guy named Grant, based on the white nametag clipped to his beige scrubs—wouldn’t see the fire in my eyes.

We stopped in front of the elevator, and he swiped his keycard to open the doors. Once inside, he used the keycard again to select the fifth floor.

I tried not to let on that I was watching his every move, but clearly this wasn’t Grant’s first day.

“We get a new keycard every four hours,” he said, staring at the closed doors as the elevator started to rise. “There’s a chip in them that keeps them active for half a shift. That way, if one is… lost—” he eyed me coolly “—it can’t be used by a confused patient who gets turned around.”

Okay, so stealing a keycard to escape tonight was out of the question.

“Floors are in mandatory lockdown at all hours,” he added. “At night, all rooms are locked from nine p.m. to six a.m. Breakfast is promptly at seven. Classes begin at eight. Your schedule will be in your room.”

“With a clock?” I couldn’t keep the sarcasm from my tone.

He turned and met my eyes. “I’d keep that attitude in check, if I were you.”

When I saw the genuine look in his gaze, I resisted the urge to snap back. He was truly trying to give me solid advice.

Seemingly satisfied that I’d gotten the message, he turned away as the elevator doors revealed yet another hallway. This one had the same white walls and tile flooring, but the room doors were open, and I could hear people moving around. A giggle from one room, whispered conversations in another.

At least this floor wasn’t utterly silent.

I followed Grant down the hall, passing four doors before he stopped at the fifth. It was half open, and I could see inside to a twin bed with a metal frame and a simple white nightstand.

“This is your room,” he replied, gesturing for me to walk inside.

I stepped into the space and froze when I realized I had a roommate.

The other side of the room was identical to the side I would use—another twin bed with neutral bedding and a white nightstand. But perched on this bed was a sweet looking teenager with green eyes and shockingly red hair. The smattering of freckles on her nose scrunched as she looked at me. With her porcelain skin and soft edges, she would fit perfectly on a shelf of antique dolls.

“Guess what, Khloe?” Grant drawled, glancing at the girl. “You get your own roomie.”

She scrambled off the bed into a standing position, head bowed and hands clasped in front of her, like this was a military drill.

Grant smirked a little before turning to me. “I’m sure Khloe will help you get settled, sweetheart.”

“Thanks,” I managed through clenched teeth, stepping aside as Grant left us, whistling on his way. The shrill sound echoed off the walls.

My gaze flicked to Khloe. “Uh, hey. I’m Maddie.”

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