Page 87 of No Asylum Here

“Good morning, Dr. Beckett.” He wore a smile far too pleasant for my comfort. “May I come in?”

Chapter Forty

Mal

I squeezed my eyes shut as Tuesday slipped outside, tremors of rage making my entire body shake and my chest heave with every barreling breath.

My heavy chains clinked with the movement. The only other sound was that of my own thundering pulse and the muffled voices from outside.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck!

Whatever the reason for Rook’s sudden appearance, I knew it couldn’t be good. He’d promised to leave her alone for a week. I’d paid a high price to buy that time. So why was that bastard here now?

The door slammed open and in charged Dr. Malcolm Rook II, radiating with the aroma of his morning coffee and foul intentions.

“Ah, Patient Seventeen. Your skin is looking particularly fresh this morning.”

“Oh yeah, I got a chemical peel at the facility spa yesterday. You should try it sometime.” Every syllable oozed acid. “It’s to die for.”

Tuesday was doing everything she could to hold herself together and act like she was still in her bubble of ignorance. She wrapped her arms around her torso and made a nervous chuckle. “Doctor, as you see, I’m in the middle of a session. So maybe I can come to your office later. After I’m finished with the patient.”

My jaw tightened, and my muscles seized at the side-long smirk Rook sent me from across the room. A foreboding pang in my chest made every furious breath I took burn like fire. The primal part of me lurked just beneath my skin, though even if it took hold, the chains would likely stop it.

Making me completely helpless to do fuck-all if Rook decided to hurt Tuesday.

It was as if the evil bastard could read my mind because, just as the thought looped around my brain like bramble, he snapped, and a small fleet of orderlies filtered in from the hallway.

“Hold her down.”

A scream erupted from Tuesday as two large men grabbed her by the arms and hauled her to her desk. She thrashed, her blonde hair flying as she fought to escape their hold. “Get off of me!”

My stomach flipped at the loud thunk her head made when they shoved her roughly against the desk. Rook crossed over, picking up a bundle of fabric next to her and examining it with an intrigued expression.

Oh, Christ.

Her panties. How had we forgotten those?

Her eyes rounded with terror as he balled them up in his fist and held them before her, giving them a shake while tutting. “Finished with the patient, you say? It would appear you already have. Now, because you are a valued member of my staff, Dr. Beckett, I’m going to allow you to choose what’s about to happen next. You have two options.”

He popped open his doctor’s bag on the desk beside her and pulled out a pair of latex gloves. “Option one, you take my cock while your lover here watches⁠—”

A roar erupted from me like an explosion as my lava-hot blood bubbled through my veins. “You touch her, and the next time I get loose, I’m going to skin you alive, stick you in Grandfather’s display case and chain you both in so you can never fucking leave.”

Rook’s lips puckered with thought. “Hmm. Now there’s an idea.”

“We had a deal!”

He shrugged as he tugged on his gloves, the loud snap of latex on flesh making my eye twitch. “I had every intention of keeping my side of the bargain. But what can I say, you two got awfully chummy quick. How can you expect me not to have my fun with this?”

My teeth gnashed the air behind my mask, shooting him a scathing glower that would shrivel the balls on a sane man. “I’ll guzzle your blood like fucking Kool-Aid if you touch her, you sopping fuck rag of an excuse for a father⁠—”

“Option two.” Ignoring me, he pivoted, turning his back on me as he shifted his focus to Tuesday. “I give you your second and final dose of the Treatment. Right here. While your lover watches, of course. That part is non-negotiable.”

Rotten hatred burst over my taste buds as he continued his twisted spiel.