Page 40 of Ravaged Soul

Great. No getting away easily.

I’ve been dreading the thought of this follow-up since I scheduled the appointment. While I haven’t had another attack yet, the other symptoms are persistent, and living with the constant threat is proving to be exhausting.

“I’m going to remove the electrodes now, Miss Lawson. You may want to wash any residual paste from your hairline.”

With the examination over, I wait for Alex to finish his work then bustle from the room with a sheath of printed graphs. The hospital bay falls silent, emphasising the roar of my heartbeat in my ears.

This feels so pointless. My health isn’t important right now. Not while we’re still looking for Tom—AKA, beating the hell out of Blaine’s captured honeypots until they give us their intel. Each hour is passing sluggishly.

When the door to the room rattles behind me, I plaster a neutral mask on in preparation to face Doctor Fawn. I’m surprised to find a set of olive eyes and a reticent smile entering in his place.

“Hey,” Hyland greets.

“What are you doing here? Is there an update from Ax?”

“Not yet. He’s still in questioning with Warner and Madden.”

My heart sinks. “What’s taking so long?”

“Those bastards are professional criminals. It isn’t so easy to break their loyalty. But they will break, red. They always do.”

“So why didn’t you stay to watch?”

His green orbs soften, brimming with concern. “I’m here for you. This doesn’t feel like the kind of thing you should be doing alone.”

Gawping at him, I try to fathom his behaviour. One moment he’s lecturing me about leaving the investigation, the next he’s offering moral support. The whiplash is acute.

“I’m fine alone. Always am.”

“You don’t have to be.” His canine digs into his lower lip.

“I’m aware of that fact.”

“Then why ban everyone from coming with you?”

“I didn’t fancy getting lectured by both my doctor and you in one day. That’s why you’re really here, right?”

Releasing a sigh, Hyland halts at the foot of the reclined chair. “No.”

“Then what is it?”

“Believe it or not, I’m here for you.”

“I do find that hard to believe,” I scoff. “You’ve made it clear how you feel about me being on the team.”

Something that looks a whole lot like regret twists his stubbled face, making the earthy hue in his eyes gleam brighter.

“If you’d just given me a chance to explain instead of avoiding me?—”

“Explain what? You want me off the team.”

“I was trying to protect you.” Frowning, his head slowly sways from side to side. “Though I can see now that I went about it in the wrong way.”

“You think?” I chortle.

“Look, Em.” His huge, scar-laden hands lift in a universal plea for mercy. “It was dumb and stupid. I was lashing out.”

“Great, thanks for acknowledging that. Now leave.”