“I have yet to hurt you, princess. I won’t start now.” He paused, unzipping his bag. “I’m just going to check your cut and make sure the infection is out of your body. But to do that, I’ll need to take a vial of blood.”
When I didn’t open my eyes, he continued on to his task, explaining step by step what he was doing. I still jumped and jerked away from his touch, keeping my eyes as tightly shut as I could.
He wrapped a band around my upper arm before sticking a needle in and drawing out a vial of blood. It took less than two minutes before he stuck a small band-aid over the mark. He checked the cut on my hip and the marks on my back. He didn’t touch me more than was absolutely necessary, which I was grateful for.
“I think you’re healing well enough that I won’t need to check again. There’s no fever and some color is coming back slowly,” he said, putting away everything in his bag. “Does anything hurt?”
I ignored him, pressing my face into the mattress. Maybe I could smother myself.
“Food will be up soon,” he went on after a moment. “Ace wants someone to sit with you to make sure you eat something, or at least try. Do you have a preference on who it is?”
What did he think?
“Okay then,” he said. “I’ll be back shortly with your meal.” When he got to the door, he addressed Zevon. “Keep her company.”
“Why?” he asked. “Not like she’ll be going anywhere.”
“Because there’s something I have to do. You’re on lunch duty.”
“Great, thanks,” Zevon huffed.
Didn’t they know that having the one person I hated the most in this house would not be the way to get me to eat? Because now I wouldn’t be moving an inch.
Zevon slowly made his way into the room, grumbling. He walked to the window, pulling the curtains all the way open.
He ignored me, and I ignored him. My body slowly uncurled and I opened my eyes. I blinked out towards the hallway. I wished I had enough strength to run out there. I wondered how far I’d make it before someone caught me…or would they just let me go?
It’s always been a constant thing. One thing after another. It never ended. The pain would forever be there, caging me in. It didn’t matter if it was emotional or physical. It wouldn’t ever leave, no matter where I was or who would be around. I no longer had any tears. Only so much sadness it seeped from my pores.
Lunch was brought in, and it smelled amazing. Buttered toast and a bowl of steaming oatmeal and honey. When I caught a whiff of it, I couldn’t help but glance towards the doorway, and then I instantly wished I hadn’t.
The boy—no, I guess he was more like a man—stood in the doorway. His eyes swam like the river, filled with so much emotion and so many things he wanted to say, but wasn’t able to. He didn’t step one foot into the room, staying just on that side of the doorjamb, holding a silver tray.
“Zevon,” he said, not taking his eyes from mine.
“You shouldn’t be up here,” Zevon muttered, taking the tray from the man. “If Ace finds out…”
“Yes, he’ll have my head,” he said, not seeming to care one bit. “But it was either I brought it up here or Dom, and you know how well he handles things.”
“Yeah,” Zevon said. “But that would be an interesting encounter.”
The man glared at Zevon, not impressed.
“You know it’s true,” he said. “Make sure she eats.” With one last look at me, he left.
“That guy just won’t give up,” Zevon said more to himself than to me. “Let’s get you sat up, Scarlett. Can you do it on your own?”
With a glare, I pushed myself to sit up, my back against the wooden headboard. I pulled my knees up tightly against my chest, ready to kick out at him if he had any ideas, although I knew I didn’t stand a chance against him if he did want anything from me. I held my breath as he sat the tray down on the bed beside me and didn’t let it go until he took a step back.
“Eat.”
I didn’t want to. My stomach already twisted and rolled just from him being in the room.
“Now, Scarlett,” he huffed, taking a small step forward.
Gulping, I picked up the toast, my movements slow. I took a very small bite and fought against the wave of nausea.
“Don’t make me have to force you to eat,” Zevon said, crossing his arms.
