Page 178 of Shadowman

Despite him being the most evil master of manipulation ever invented, I have to give Manuel Blanco credit where it’s due.He’s pretty damn wise, and extremely good at reading people.It’s what he chooses to do with what he reads that worries me.

Like right now, for example… Allowing me to walk down to The East to meet Trevel after his session with Dr. Love.

I still don’t understand how orwhyTrevel and I have been allowed to wander around alone on occasion—and sneak off into rooms for spectacular, if alarming, secret fuck sessions. And being the inherently skeptical, control-freakish lone wolf that I am, an inability to decipher someone’s intentions makes me itch.

I don’t know what to think about it all… Moreover, I don’t know what to think about the man whose sudden, overwhelming presence in my life has brought all of these questions to light.

Trevel Fenwick. My newshadow accomplice, apparently.

Maybe it’s just because we spend almost every waking minute together, but lately, I’m struggling to stick to our agreed-upon label of friendly fuckbuddies with a shared disdain for Felix Darcey.

Something about him has gottenwayunder my skin. It’s unsettling, to say the least. But Trevel Fenwick makes breaking the rules feelso damn good.

Once in the East Wing, it occurs to me that I don’t actually know where Dr. Love’s office is. I’ve never been there before, and fortunately for me, I haven’t spent all that much time in the East. So I find myself wandering the halls slowly, like a child in a department store who’s lost his parents.

Coming up to a door, I peer through the small window at the top. On the other side is a row, sort of like the ones up in Gen-pop, though I’m sure these cells are of thepaddedvariety. I press on the door, but it won’t open.

Peering up at the camera, I find it aimed right at me.No surprise there.

I try the door again, and it still won’t budge.Okay…

Whoever is watching me doesn’t want me going in there… Which naturally has me kitten curious.

Guards or no guards, cuffed or not… On this island,freedomis a farce.

“What the hell??” a deep voice booms behind me, and I jump.

Velle is stomping in from another door, glaring at me, with Rook by his side.

“Oh, shit,” I breathe out of relief for a second, until I register how pissed he looks. “Hey…”

“Hey?” He cocks a dark, studded eyebrow. “Really? That’s all you have to say??”

“What are you doing down here by yourself?” Rook asks, as usual, far less hot-tempered than his menacing counterpart.

“I’m, uh… Going to Dr. Love’s office,” I tell them, choosing not to mention Trevel, since he has a tendency to set people off.

It’s bizarre, this wave of comfort at being in their presence again. I never thought seeing Velle’s surly resting bitch face would bring me any type of reassurance for anything. But I can’t help it. I associate them with simpler times. And after being stuck with the Warden’s new army of robot zombies for weeks, the lesser of two evils is a sight for sore eyes.

Although, the way they’re oozing hostility in my direction right now, I don’t think the feeling is mutual.

“Is that right…?” Velle stares suspiciously. “Just strolling down to the East for some therapy?”

I shrug, because I don’t know what he wants me to say. He seems… tense. Looks more exhausted than I’ve seen him before, severity practically oozing from his pores.

I can’t say I don’t get it. The few times I have seen them since the new guards showed up, it’s been nerve-racking as fuck. A nonstop pissing party between the OG rabid animals and the quiet, arrogant newcomers.

I’d be fucking fuming too.

Velle scoffs, deep blue eyes boring into mine. “I thoughtloyaltywas important to you…”

My brows knit. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Velle…” Rook places a hand on his back.

But Velle shakes it off, stepping in closer to serve me more of his piping hot glower. “You know damn well what it means. This place is in shambles and you’re strutting around here without a care in the world.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I grumble, resisting the urge to recoil under his glare. “So they let me walk down here myself, big fucking deal. What do you want from me?? I’ve been locked up forthree years, being dragged around in chains by you motherfuckers. If you think I’m gonna turn down any opportunity to get away from the bullshit, even for a few minutes, then you’re dumber than you look.”