Page 73 of Bleed with Me

I’ll go home…

The words stabbed like a knife. They didn't belong in a child's mouth. No kid should ever be afraid to go home. It was so fucking wrong that I called Malin immediately, telling him to run a background check on Aryna's family.

He had enough on his plate right now, yet it was a simple task. It would take him five minutes, tops, to give me a starting point for my own investigation. I also texted Zyon to ask him if Zara could keep Aryna company. No other kid was around to help me keep her occupied.

While I stitched and bandaged Aryna’s forearm, she watched me as if I were some kind of hero. I explained every step of the procedure, warning her that another intervention on the wound could leave a nasty scar. She listened to my every word, asking questions typical of a curious six-year-old who didn’t feel pain thanks to meds but found it fascinating to see blood dripping from the wound.

“And we’re done,” I announced proudly, securing the bandage.

“Thank you.” She smiled, her grin growing wider when I drew a flower on it.

“Just don’t destroy it, okay?” I removed my gloves and threw them in the bin. “I have other patients who need stitches, too.”

Her mouth formed an adorable pout, and she blinked in surprise.

“More kids like me?”

“Adults who stick their fingers where they shouldn’t.” I shrugged, sitting on the chair beside her bed. “So, do we have a deal? You leave the bandages untouched, and I’ll come to read you a story.”

Aryna nodded eagerly, clutching my hand tightly as if afraid I would let go. But I wouldn’t. I didn’t let go of people I cared about.

Listening to her speak about some princess, my heart swelled with happiness at the change in her in just over half an hour. She was a completely different girl from the one I found under the table.

My phone buzzing interrupted our conversation about the story she wanted me to read, and I briefly checked the message. It was Zyon, sending me a curt “okay” to my previous text.

“I believe you’ll have a visitor later,” I said, adjusting the blanket to cover Aryna’s feet. “My brother has a daughter at your age, and she wants to stop by to play.”

“Really?” Aryna beeped with incredulity, like what I said was completely impossible.

“Really,” I confirmed. “You need to rest to be ready later.”

The meds I gave her would put her to sleep, and her eyes had already closed a few times, but she forcefully kept them open.

“Will she… like me?” she whispered, pulling the blanket under her chin.

“Why wouldn’t she?”

“Kids…” She paused as if ashamed, avoiding eye contact. “Kids don’t like to play with me.”

That was another slash on my already wounded heart.

“Don’t worry, angel.” I moved her hair away from her forehead, smiling softly. “Zara isn’t like other kids.”

She truly wasn’t, and it seemed to calm Aryna’s worries. A few moments later, she fell asleep, and I quietly left her room.

Lost in my own thoughts, I walked through the hall to the elevator. I got in and pushed the button to the ground floor, almost having a heart attack when Malin spoke.

“Hey,” he grumbled, raising a brow at my surprised reaction. I literally jumped back because I’d been so absorbed in my own mind that I assumed he was my reflection in a mirror.

“What the fuck,” I mumbled, bending down to catch my breath. Seriously, what the hell was wrong with me?

“Are you okay?” He crouched before me, scanning me like I was an intriguing puzzle.

“My brain didn’t acknowledge you,” I said, straightening to my full height. My back pressed into the metal elevator door, my chest heaving.

“I’m so sorry, sunshine.” Malin grinned, mirroring my face. His eyes lit up, sparkling with excitement, which was creepy as hell considering I knew who was hidden behind the mask. “You should enjoy reality instead of hiding in your dark mind.”

The fucker was perfect at imitating me, and of course he picked my favorite line to flip the roles on me. It was the first time our resemblance had ever caught me completely off guard.