Page 24 of Asylum (The Wellard Asylum #9)

P oor, little doll.

When I gave her the news three days ago, I thought I’d see a glimmer of hope in her eyes, but there was nothing.

She doesn’t trust me.

While I’ve given her multiple reasons to hate me, she refuses to see I’m doing all of this for us. Our future. Together.

She’s sitting on the couch, her hands in her lap, staring out of the window. She’s showing no signs of distress or anger. It’s odd to see her like this. My head tilts to the side as I watch her closely.

She’s disassociated.

Damnit. We can’t have that.

Striding over to the sofa, I take the seat next to her, and I’m surprised she doesn’t flinch away from my touch as I take her hand in mine. “Olivia, talk to me.”

She continues gazing outside. “I’m fine. Just going over everything in my head.” She pulls her hand from mine.

Irritation flares in my chest, but I push it down. She has no idea what’s about to happen, and the part that brings me the most joy is the fact she won’t remember a thing.

“Thank you for seeing us, Dr. Halstead,” I say as we step into his office, sitting in the two seats in front of his desk.

He glances up from his paperwork, dropping his pen onto the wooden desktop. “Let’s hear it, Stone.”

I strongly dislike this old bastard, and while I’d like to pierce his jugular with his own pen, he has a part to play today.

“As I informed you the last time we met, Miss Sterling has made wonderful progress in controlling her disorders. I feel she’s ready to be released back into society with continued outpatient care, which I will provide. ”

Olivia sits beside me, stoic as a statue. I wish she would show some enthusiasm, or hopefulness, if only for my benefit. It really doesn’t matter how she acts, or if she fucks up the speech we rehearsed. How this meeting ends is my only concern.

Dr. Halstead turns his head, meeting Olivia’s gaze.

Something feral rises up inside me at the way he assesses her.

My hands clench into fists in my lap as I try to suppress the urge to leap over the desk and rip his fucking head off.

Or I could tackle him to the floor, my expensive dress shoe caving his face in until he’s unrecognizable.

I could take the prize scalpel he keeps on his desk like a trophy, and slice open his-

“Do you have anything you’d like to say while you have my time, Miss Sterling?” Dr. Halstead’s words interrupt my murderous thoughts.

Olivia meets his eyes. “Thank you for your time, Dr. Halstead. My mental illnesses have caused me to take a path I never imagined traveling down. I killed my father, stepmother, and stepbrother. While their deaths were brought on by physical and sexual abuse, I wish the outcome could’ve been different.

I’ve also killed an orderly and attacked Dr. Stone while suffering from rage episodes.

” She pauses, and pride swells in my chest as she speaks with a steady voice.

“Dr. Stone has performed shock therapy, as well as other methods to help in suppressing these episodes, so I can re-enter society as a wholly functional member.”

Dr. Halstead leans back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap. “Thank you for your obviously scripted explanation, Miss Sterling. While I do appreciate your effort, I don’t have the time nor the interest for a pathetic plea to leave Wellard Asylum. You’re here for a reason. You’re a murderer.”

Olivia flinches away from his words like he slapped her across the face. I sit back in my chair, waiting for the show to begin. Lifting my hand to cover my mouth, I attempt to hide the grin tugging at my lips.

“After this little stunt, I’ll instruct Dr. Stone to proceed with more frequent electroconvulsive therapy sessions.

You’re sick, and it’s obvious our efforts up to this point have not rehabilitated you at all.

No worries, Miss Sterling. We’ll cast these demons from you one way or another.

” He picks up his pen, returning to his paperwork as if he didn’t just shatter her world.

We’re dismissed.

My eyes dart to Olivia, and excitement thrums through my veins as I watch the anger cover her pale skin with a heated flush.

I don’t know what she’s been doing to suppress it these past few weeks, but how she looks now, it’s come back with a fucking vengeance.

My cock strains against my slacks, the anticipation of what’s to come almost too much contain.

“You’re not releasing me?” She asks, her voice low and controlled, and my heart rate picks up, preparing for her wrath.

He glances up with disdain. “No, Miss Sterling. You will not leave Wellard Asylum.” His lips pull up in a sneer as he swings his gaze to me. “You may need to assess her learning comprehension skills as well, Dr. Stone. She seems a little slow.”

And here we go.

Olivia shoots up from the chair, snatching the heavy name plate from Halstead’s desk.

She lunges forward, bashing him in the side of the head with it.

His entire body snaps to the side, the chair flipping over, dumping him onto the floor.

She launches herself over his desk, pouncing on top of him while he cradles his bleeding head.

I have a front row view of Olivia’s beautiful rage, her unnatural strength, and her perfect ability to commit violence in a way that leaves you speechless. While I’d love to sit back, and watch her do this all afternoon, there’s a plan that needs to be set in motion.

I have a part to play as well.

Rounding the desk, I feign concern for Halstead, attempting to stop Olivia from further attacking him. “Olivia, stop!” I shout, adding a terrified tremble to my voice.

I grip her biceps, pulling her from his body, wrapping my arms around her middle. Her back is to my chest as she flails so violently, I can barely keep her in my grip. She’s screaming, clawing at my arms, but I hold on tightly as Halstead stands on shaky legs.

“You little bitch!” He roars.

I’m tempted to let her go so she can finish him off, but that outcome is not favorable for us.

“Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!” She chants in a shrill voice, and I see what he’s about to do before he does it.

Dr. Halstead is a no-nonsense kind of man.

While he enjoys torturing patients, he’ll dispose of them rather than deal with any minor inconveniences they may cause.

He’s gotten away with it for years because no one ever comes looking for them.

They’re abandoned, forgotten, never to be thought about again.

He grabs the scalpel from his desk, and in a move so fast I would’ve missed it if I blinked, he sinks the blade into Olivia’s stomach.

For some reason, her wound causes my chest to tighten, and when her knees buckle, I fall to the floor with her.

Placing my hand on the side of her head, I protect it from hitting the floor.

Immediately, I reach into my pocket, pulling out the syringe while Halstead is fuming, pacing back and forth like a rabid animal.

Popping off the cap, I plunge the needle into her skin, and within moments, her breathing slows to a rate so shallow, it looks as if she’s not breathing at all.

The wound in her stomach is bleeding, but I’m certain he didn’t hit any major organs.

The old bastard is blind as a bat, and lucky for Olivia, it doesn’t appear he hit anything vital.

Slowly, I stand, ready to begin the second act.

“She’s dying,” I say, keeping my voice indifferent.

“No, she’s not. I didn’t hit any organs.” He argues.

“Her breathing is labored. Her pulse is too slow. She’s fading fast. You hit an organ, but I can’t tell which one with all the blood.” I lie, knowing I need to get her out of here. “What do you want me to do? Save her or get rid of her?”

He stands frozen, watching her chest before responding. “Damnit. She’s an issue, Stone. Get rid of her.”

I nod. “Consider it done.”

“Not a trace,” he snarls, running his hands down his face.

I ignore him as I bend down, scooping Olivia into my arms. He opens the door as I carry her from the office, and once I hear it close behind me, I grin.

Checkmate.

Only one thing left to do.