Page 2 of Wonderland Asylum (Wonderland Killers #1)

ONE

It's Always Tea Time At Wonderland

Although my stepbrother's try to shield me from the evils of the real world, I've learned a few things since I started working at Wonderland. Some of which are that murder, violence, and insanity are frequently found in Pixie Hollow.

-Presley

Two years later...

Coming to Pixie Hollow was the best and worst decision of my life. It's the best for multiple reasons. The most obvious is the top-notch education I'm receiving. This place also forced me to live outside of my comfort zone. It forced me to trust people. It feels good to have friends now.

This island is amongst the prettiest in the world. The scenery alone should be enough to keep me happy.

The pros far outweigh the cons. There's really only two reasons why it's the absolute worst. Kai and Gunner Donovan, those beautiful blue eyed devils. My beloved stepbrother's.

When I got here, two years ago, the first thing the Donovan brothers did was threaten the life of any guy who so much as looked at me. Case in point, my inbox is drier than a piece of toast that's been left out for a week.

It would be nice to find a real man here, but all these chicken shits at PHU are unfortunately scared of them.

Everybody knows you better not piss off a Donovan brother, well unless your name is Presley Kate James that is. If I had a dollar for every time I made them mad then I would be a thousandaire by now.

Although Gunner has already graduated with his doctorate, his legendary presence still remains. He's not only one of the lead psychiatrists at Wonderland Asylum now, he's also my professor. He strong-armed me into taking his class, which is Behavioral Psychology 1101.

Sometimes, I swear that sexy beast thinks he's my daddy. I wonder what he would do, if I called him Daddy? Throwing me over his knee for a spanking would be nice.

He's controlling, and I love it, which makes me part of the problem. He convinced my mom that instead of working at the grocery store for my part-time job, I could do some of my clinicals for nursing at the Asylum. Which makes him my boss now, too.

No matter how hard I try there is no escaping the Donovan brothers. Believe me, I've tried, and they always find me.

It's not easy being in love with two men that you can't have. They're forbidden, and that makes them even more appetizing. I've tried so hard not to turn into who my mother was before Doug, but it seems I've inherited her genes.

My stepbrothers have become a vital part of my world, it's like I'm drowning even though I know how to swim.

I'm encased in testosterone, even when they aren't around, they still are. It's as if they've cloaked me in their essence or something.

My brain can't function, I'm frustrated, sexually, and mentally. When they're near, I forget that I'm supposed to be mad at them in the first place, and that they've caused this drought in my life. What right do they have to keep me all to themselves? It's not fair.

The only time I can breathe is when I'm away from them. All I want is to live while I'm young, to be wild, and carefree for as long as I can. I also would like to have sex sometime before I'm ninety.

Parking in my reserved spot at the Asylum, which is one of the perks of having your step dad be one of the higher ups, I make my way to the front of the building for my shift. For the most part I love my job at Wonderland but the location is not my favorite.

The one hundred and eighty one bed gothic mansion is situated in the middle of a long ago forgotten carnival, and to be honest, it freaks me the hell out!

The theme park was popular in the 1920's, but after several murders they had to close down the park for good. I'm obsessed with true crime podcasts, but this one hit a little too close to home. It doesn't help that the murders are still unsolved.

The sun is high in the cloudless sky, but that doesn't stop the crows from circling around overhead. I'm convinced that the ground is cursed, because nothing grows in this area, not even grass.

I smile when my phone vibrates in the pocket of my scrubs. I know it's my step brother Kai, he's working the same shift as me today.

Kai's Got A Big Dick:Get your sweet ass in here, Pres. It's almost tea time .

I laugh at what he changed his name in my phone to. He's an idiot, but a sexy one. Sadly, I'll never get to see just how big his dick is.

Me:You know guys that brag about how big their dicks are usually have to use tweezers to jack off, right?

Kai's Got A Big Dick: Care to test out that theory? I can sneak off to the bathroom for a few minutes.

I throw my phone back in my pocket, then slide my hands over my face. If anyone were to see me right now they'd know I was turned on! Why is he such a tease?

Think of the devil and he shall appear. I hear his laugh before I feel the heat of his body drawing closer to me. Kai Donovan wraps me up in a bear hug and spins me around with my hands still covering my face.

I scream for him to put me down but it comes out all muffled. He laughs before setting me down on my feet. "Did I embarrass you, Pres?"

Rolling my eyes, I try to walk past him like my heart isn't beating out of my chest, but he stops me.

Our gazes lock, and I shudder. He's the epitome of sex, and I want him more than anything. It's hard not to blush again when he smirks at me like that. "You're beautiful, you know?"

This isn't the first time he's told me that, but it is the first time he's been so close when he's said it. "Stepbrothers aren't supposed to say things like that to their stepsisters."

Kai licks his lips, and I mimic the motion. If only I was brazen enough to place my lips on his. It would be a dream come true, and a nightmare waiting to happen. Why does he have to be my stepbrother ?

"If you two are done fucking around I'd like to start this therapy session." I jump at the sound of Gunner's rough voice.

Turning toward the doorway, I don't miss the annoyance that's written on his face towards his brother. "Sorry Gunner, we're coming."

"You have nothing to be sorry about, the asshole is just jealous he wasn't the one spinning you around." Kai counters.

Gunner removes Kai's hand off of me, and places his on the small of my back. "My brother's right, but he's actually the one that's really the asshole."

I laugh. "That does sound like him."

He rewards me with a grin, and leads me toward the tea room. A smile from Gunner is the equivalent to how happy you feel on Christmas morning. "Today we have most of our key players."

"Even the Madd Hatter?" I ask quietly.

He nods. "Well, Lukas is actually the one in control today."

As a medical professional that's one year away from becoming a fully licensed RN, I try, and fail to hide my disappointment. I've only been present once when the Madd Hatter was in charge, and it's something I'll never forget.

Patient Lukas Harlow has Dissociative Identity Disorder, which used to be known as Multiple Personality Disorder.

His host personality is a sweet shy guy with a high IQ.

Although it's not known how many personalities he had, Dr. Jekyll has merged all of them together except for his loudest most dangerous one, The Madd Hatter.

Gunner has said on more than one occasion that he doesn't think Lukas will truly ever be fully cured. He's come so far, but he's made his peace with his disease.

Even though the Madd Hatter is a stone-cold killer, he protects Lukas and will do the things that his counterpart won't, and together they are an unstoppable force.

I hear the sound of the kitchen staff serving tea to the patients as we round the corner. At Wonderland, every group therapy session involves tea and snacks.

Above the entrance to the therapy room are the words: We're all mad here.

And it's true, I've felt for years that there's something that isn't quite right inside of me. I don't know what it is, but I've had dreams since I was a little girl where my hands are covered in blood and I'm the one holding the knife.

As we enter the room, Knave Hartman looks up from his phone and gives me a big smile. "Ms. PK, how are you doing?"

Knave has only been here for a year, and he's already charmed half the staff into sleeping with him. "I'm doing well. How's therapy been this week?"

He rolls his eyes at my stepbrothers. "Very boring. They aren't as easy on the eyes as you are."

Bullshit. Because of obvious reasons, I don't say that out loud. "I've been telling them that for years, Knave."

Gunner sneers while Kai polishes the bread knife on the table. Their jealousy causes Knave to chuckle.

I haven't gotten to listen to any of his sessions, so this should be an interesting one today. He seems fun, and definitely not boring.

Moving toward the other patients I say hello before sitting in between Kai, and Lukas. "Hello, Lukas. How are you feeling today?"

He blushes. "I'm good, PK. Excited for the new semester?"

I nod. "One step closer to my freedom."

Kai bristles at my answer. He doesn't know that I plan on leaving the island after graduation. I want to stay in Georgia so I've thought about working at a hospital in Savannah or maybe even Atlanta.

Gunner takes out his pocket watch and calls the session into order before I can ask Lukas anything else. "Jack, last week you briefly touched on a reoccurring nightmare you've been having recently. Care to elaborate?"

Jack Skellington, has been a patient here since he was found wandering around a neighboring pumpkin patch last Halloween. He's not mentally incapacitated, but does have amnesia so Dr. Jekyll has allowed him to stay and participate in all things Wonderland.

He smiles at Gunner, his tall masculine frame bows a bit in his seat.

"In the dream, I'm dancing in the rain with a woman.

She has silken red hair, and jagged scars line her pale face.

Those slight imperfections take nothing away from her appearance, I still find her beautiful.

She's familiar to me, but I can't remember how.

Twirling her around, her laughter makes me feel lighter, and it's the last thing I hear before a flash of light blinds me in an instant.

She's ripped from my arms by an unknown enemy, I reach for her but she's vanished.

All that's left is my desperation to find her. "

Gunner nods, writing notes down on his notepad.

"This could be significant for recovering your identity.

With amnesia patients, the memory often returns in the form of a dream especially if they're having a hard time dealing with the trauma that caused their condition.

As you know, my father Doug Donovan is a trained hypnotherapist, if you're ready, I can put him in touch with you. "

Jack nods, but doesn't utter a word, alluding to the fact that he feels it's not time.

Moving down the line, Kai asks Sierra Rose, the self proclaimed Queen of Wonderland the next question. "Sierra, I haven't seen you around lately. How are things since the last time we spoke? "

Kai's work persona is vastly different from his real life fuck boy one. So professional, and just as hot.

"Queen" Sierra shifts her gaze from me to Kai. A smile plays across her thin lips as she leans forward. "Do you want to know a secret PK?"

Furrowing my brow, I lean toward her. "You have an admirer, but it's not the good doctor or his brother."

I chuckle. "I'm intrigued, is it someone at Wonderland?"

Her dark curls bounce softly as she shakes her head. "No, he's not kept inside these walls, but he should be. He wants your heart, Presley Kate, and he'll get it one way or the other."

A shiver moves its way through my body, I probably shouldn't take too much stock into what she's saying, but she was dead ass serious. It's like she's harboring this big bad secret, and loving the fact that we won’t believe her because she’s crazy.

Kai, ever my protector, pulls his chair closer to mine. "Well, tell him she's taken."