Page 35 of Exile (Dance with My Demons #4)

Grey

There's never been a better time to be me.

During the meeting last night, we agreed to split the patients and created a list of which people we were responsible for explaining the clusterfuck that is Lilydale.

Little killer had voiced some concerns about patients' willingness to hear us out, but I wasn't worried about that. Especially since I've already completed my list.

When you tell people you need to speak to them, most will agree—either out of the incessant need to know information, or fear of repercussions if they refuse.

I kept it short and sweet, merely providing the bare minimum that we agreed was necessary.

We were correct about the former missing patients though.

People were much easier to convince now that missing patients were back and looking in bad shape.

It made our story believable. Arthur hasn't helped his cause either.

Turns out he's not well liked among the facility, even to most of the staff.

No surprise, really. When you're a walking dickhead with a chip on your shoulder, you're bound to rub people the wrong way .

I'm using my free time to update our beloved ASS Schedule . It's fairly simple—an orderly rotation, but naturally, I'm first up.

Avery spent last night in Damon's room. Both are in good moods today despite everything, so no doubt they are also a little tired.

And speak of the Devil and he shall appear.

"Finished already?" Damon asks, strolling into the library.

I nod, grinning. "Piece of cake. And the few that looked as though they were about to enter into a panic attack, I provided stale cigarettes. See—told you they'd come in handy."

"Yes, but I believe it was for bribery."

"I bribed them not to lose their shit. It's a win-win if you ask me."

Damon sits down next to me, running a hand through his hair. "Avery is with Theo, I assume?"

"I think she was worried that he might frighten the patients, so they are tackling their lists together."

"A likely excuse."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "What's got you… smiling?"

By smiling, I mean he looks less murderous than usual. I could chalk it up to his bedtime extracurriculars, but this seems different. He actually seems a touch relaxed.

"Christopher came and spoke to me," he states. "The board is officially under investigation. Which means—"

"They can't touch the funds even if they wanted to," I finish, surprised. "Well, this is great news. "

Damon nods slowly. "It is," he agrees. "Although, I'm expecting backlash. There's no telling how this investigation will go. If they are good at hiding their paper trial then nothing might come of it. But if they decide there has been wrongdoing…"

Leaning back in my chair, I process the unfinished sentence. We didn't quite plan for this. To be fair, anything is probably better than the current situation. But that leaves the question…

What will happen to Lilydale and us patients?

"I guess we just wait and see," I finally reply.

It's a little unnerving wondering about the possibilities.

There's no precedent for the situation. What would happen to us all?

It's not as if they can just release one hundred patients into the community.

As for an alternate setting, facilities are at capacity.

That's how Alexander was able to even instigate this whole scheme.

He was ' doing a favor to the community '.

"At the moment, I've instructed the society members to keep a close watch on patients assigned to Elsher.

While there's no immediate risk to them being subjected to experimentation, I don't trust him not to act out because of the situation.

Christopher provided the list so we're just telling them all to be on guard during sessions. "

The information makes me realize that somehow I ended up with a list entirely created with Christopher's patients.

I can't help but feel it was deliberate—same with Theo's.

The last thing we need is to scare the patients into blurting out information to Elsher.

Deadman really does think of everything.

As I start to think back to the lists, it dawns on me that Avery does have some of Elsher's patients on hers.

Smart move. The best way to gain allies is to share a common enemy.

I actually think Avery may hate Elsher more than the rest of us.

He seems hellbent on damaging her psyche, always telling her she's to blame for her behavior and personality.

She's perfect, just the way she is.

I can't wait to splatter his blood all over his office floor.

"Avery is with me tonight," I advise, tapping my fingers on the desk over my invisible schedule. "Theo tomorrow night. Then you'll have your turn again."

"No surprise there," he replies unbothered. "Try not to break her. We need to stay focused."

"You don't give me enough credit."

Damon laughs. "Don't I?"

Before I can respond, the library door opens and I glance over as Avery and Theo enter hand in hand. She gives me a warm smile, tucking a piece of paper into her pocket.

"My list is nearly done," she exclaims. "Theo's too."

"Good girl," I wink, beaming when she blushes.

Theo rounds the table behind me, using the opportunity to smack me up the back of the head.

"Ow, what was that for asswipe? "

"No reason. I just felt like it," he says calmly. "Damon," he greets.

"Theo. Always a displeasure."

Avery groans into her hands. "Stop beating each other up."

"I'm innocent," I gasp. "Control your boyfriend, Little Killer."

"Yeah, Aves. Control me," Theo responds.

She rubs her temple, turning her attention to Damon. "Want to take a trip to the morgue?"

"Well now, that's just mean," I grumble. "You know how I feel about morgue sex."

"You're only saying that because it's apparently Avery's favorite place to fuck," Damon says coolly.

"I didn't see you complaining," she shoots back playfully. "Besides I'm not the one who likes to chase through the dark hallways."

Damon smirks. "Fond memories."

Laughing, Avery relaxes, glancing between the three of us. "So, what now?"

"Now that you are both here, I do have an update," Damon tells us. "I did some digging into the board to see what we could find in the hopes that the investigation does the same."

"Oh?" I ask, interested. "Tell me you found something juicy."

Damon raises an eyebrow at me. "If by juicy you mean Rian Thatcher having connections to a board member, then yes. "

"What?" Avery gasps. "Who?"

"Henry Thatcher. One of father's old friends.

Rian's parental information was excluded from his transfer file.

It didn't raise any red flags because it's not uncommon for patients to have missing details or have been through the foster system.

But it's now apparent that he was planted here after Hallman's death to spy on us. "

"We suspected this," Theo says. "I'm not surprised."

Damon nods. "Neither am I. Hopefully, the agency connects the dots and looks into why a board member's son was placed into Lilydale."

"Besides you," Avery points out. "Surely, two instances are grounds for review."

"My father has documentation to support my admission, even if they are forged bullshit," Damon comments. "But I'm willing to bet that Rian's documentation was also fabricated. I doubt he had the same volatile history with his father though."

Avery pauses. "What did you say his name was again?"

"Henry Thatcher."

I watch as her face pulls into a deep look of concentration before it's as if a light bulb goes off.

"I remember him," she answers quietly. "He was at the board meeting. I thought he looked familiar."

"What else can you recall?" I ask .

She thinks back. "He knew about the marriage. He mentioned it was restricting their access to financial resources. The asshole also witnessed my Will."

"Makes sense," Damon says annoyed. "He handles the board's financials."

Theo shakes his head. "What kind of parental figure would let their kid into a place like this?"

"Mine," Damon answers without missing a beat. "All the board members would do it."

Avery frowns. "Should we be checking their backgrounds? Make sure there's no other family members lurking around Lilydale?"

"It wouldn't hurt to check," I chime in. "Though, Rian was the only new patient in some time. It's likely if someone else had infiltrated the patients we would have already picked up on it."

"We'll look into it anyway," Damon states. "Just to err on the side of caution. My father knows no limits when it comes to these matters."

Strumming her fingers along the table, Avery turns to Damon. "Is Dr. Smith here today?"

"Yes," he confirms. "Why?"

"I have an idea," she murmurs, standing. "Grey, will you come with me?"

Grinning, I stand. "Of course. You're mine today, anyway."

She rolls her eyes with a laugh. "Yes, yes. The ASS Schedule . How convenient. "

"Are you going to fill me in on this idea?" Damon asks, irritated.

"Nope," she replies coolly. "Better you don't know yet."

I can practically see steam billowing from his ears at the lack of information provided, so I quickly grab her hand, winking at Deadman. "Relax," I tell him. "Curiosity killed the cat. You'll find out soon no doubt."

Laughing, I let Avery drag me out of the library as Damon stares daggers at me. I give him a little wave and flip Theo the middle finger before we disappear into the corridor.

"Oh, you're playing with fire," I smirk.

Avery smiles, linking our fingers. "He'll survive. It will do him some good to be kept in the dark for a while. Learn some patience or something."

"Patience isn't his virtue."

"Don't I know it…"

When we arrive at Christopher's door, Avery knocks once before opening it. He glances up from his desk, smiling politely.

"And what do I owe for this visit?"

Pulling me inside, Avery closes the door behind us. I lead her over to the seats, motioning for her to sit on my lap. I half expect her to refuse in the presence of Christopher, but she takes a seat on me.

"I need you to help with a favor," she says casually. "I'm just not sure how to go about it. "

Christopher closes his laptop screen, giving her his full attention. "Go on."

Avery clears her throat, concentrating. "Alexander made me sign a Will that he had drafted. He also made me sign the awful document advising I was in agreement with him so our shares can be combined to overrule Damon's majority percentage."

"Right," Christopher remarks, following along.

She glances at me over her shoulder. "We have two choices here. Either we have Dr. Smith sign off and say that I'm not lucid to make decisions, thus invalidating my signature on both of Alexander's documents."

"That could jeopardize the marriage certificate," I point out. "They will argue that if you aren't lucid now, then you weren't lucid enough to enter into a marital contract."

"Not to mention," Dr. Smith cuts in. "Considering I was the one to officially marry you, they will question my licenses."

Avery nods, turning back to Christopher. "Then our second option," she starts. "Is to prepare a new Will that overrides the one I signed for Alexander."

Interesting.

Christopher frowns at her. "If he gets wind of it…"

"He won't," Avery answers. "You will keep it somewhere secure. But it's a backup plan, just in case something happens to me. Lily was good at protecting Damon. I want to do the same."

"No one is going to touch you," I growl.

She twists her body, placing her arm behind my head and strokes the nape of my neck. "I know," she says softly. "But it's a safeguarding plan. At the moment, it's something we can do to override Alexander's motives. This is bigger than just me. We need to make sure we protect our legacy."

Our legacy… she really is one of us now.

I had no doubts. I knew she'd become this person.

I saw the potential behind those sad eyes that first day in Charmaine's class.

There was something about her that stood out, something different than the other patients that walked through those doors.

I knew she'd be mine—knew she'd become one of the strongest people I'd ever met.

"I can type it up," Christopher offers. "I have some spare time."

"Good," Avery answers sharply without breaking eye contact with me. "Grey can be my second witness. Or Dr. Markel. I just have one condition."

"Yes?"

She smiles at me. "We find a way to incorporate Grey and Theo into it. All three of them are my life. It's only fair they are mine in death too."