Page 21 of Lethal (Wellard Asylum #1)

“Stop, save your lies, I know the truth already, little toy.” Bash’s hand taps against the armrest of the chair, thud, thud, thud, two fingers beckoning me closer.

The movement steals the air right from my lungs, and a small gasping sound fills the room.

I’m safe here, they can’t hurt me. I can call out to the guards and have them taken away.

I hold the power in this situation, not them.

“I have something for you,” Bash whispers.

“A piece of her file, something Halstead never logged. Something only I know about, but it’s expensive, and it will cost you. ”

I stare at him, with hatred blaring in my eyes.

I should get up and walk out the door, calling his bluff, but I know I won’t.

I can’t. I tore apart every inch of that file last night, and while there were minor ghastlinesses described in the pages, I’m sure there were worse atrocities committed against my cousin, that are missing from the file. “What do you want?”

“You.” The word hits me like a slap. It’s not declared with lust, it’s uttered like a possession. No, it’s demanded , as if there is no doubt at all that he’ll get what he wants. Fuck.

“I don’t play games,” I lie, refusing to show him how all of this is affecting me. I straighten my doctor’s coat, using it as a reminder of who I am in this scenario. I’m wearing it like a shield against them, but so far, it’s doing very little to protect me.

Bash smiles a toothy grin, winking his eye at me. “Everyone plays, Doctor. You’re just very, very good at pretending you’re not, aren’t you, my little toy ?”

Maybe that’s why you want him, because he sees it, sees you.

The part you bury beneath paper, rules, and guilt.

All the darkness that you crave, and force down deep, because you know that unleashing it would be the end of everything you currently are.

The liar, the faker, the monster who wears Caterina Vaughan’s skin.

You’re just as guilty as they are, and you know it. Who are you really? Do you even know?

Wren suddenly bursts into laughter, clapping his hands like a wayward child.

“Oh, she’s squirming, brother, she’s squirming good!

Look at how pretty her face is when she blushes.

I’d bet she would be even prettier, if I left my fingerprints marked on all that creamy flesh.

Is that why she’s wearing that ugly shirt?

Did you leave some pretty marks that she’s trying to hide, Bash? ”

“Enough!” I snap. “Both of you... This is highly inappropriate... this is...” I can’t even finish my sentence. It feels like my system is being overwhelmed by their proximity, and my brain is misfiring.

“Dangerous?” Bash questions.

“Stupid,” I breathe through my nose, endeavoring to get enough air into my constricted lungs.

“Addictive,” he corrects, his tongue peeking out and running across his bottom lip.

Everything within me clenches, and craves that I was his lip at the moment, and he was caressing me instead.

I can’t escape because he’s right, and I hate that.

There is something about the two of them, the orbit they create.

A gravity that pulls at the worst parts of me.

The secrets that I’ve kept buried deep inside of myself ache to be released into their waiting hands.

Let go, let yourself fall; what’s the worst that can happen?

You’ve been good for so long, and it’s time to stop hiding, and pretending to be something that you’re not.

You long for pain and others’ miseries, and you like the sound of screams. You can finally be free, Cat.

Just take that step and plunge right in.

Bash’s voice drops to a murmur, one I have to strain to hear, forcing me to lean closer, until his scent fills my lungs.

“She died afraid, Doctor. Cecelia. They tested her for weeks. Kept her under sedation for some of them. I can tell you where, I can help you find the answers you seek, little toy. ”

Wren’s laughter dies, like a blade pulled from flesh. “I ask no questions, take no bribes, I house the screams and hide the knives. Enter once, and none may flee... I keep the secrets... wait and see.”

“And what’s the price this time?” I whisper, knowing full well that no matter what he requests, I will give in to him, give in to them .

Bash leans closer, his arms straining against the restraints, his breath warm on my cheek, as I lean in my seat to meet him.

He inhales deeply and closes his eyes for a moment, and I’m mesmerized, lost in watching him savor this moment, savor me, and the knowledge that he’s already won.

“ Tonight. Come to room one-twenty in the basement, without anything underneath your coat. No notes. No questions. Just the truth. Give yourself completely to us, and we will give you all the answers that you seek.”

Wren leans over the arm of his chair, and grins as wide as a Cheshire cat. “And this time, I get to touch too, pretty porcelain dolly.”

Fuck, I am going to die.