“Well, I didn’t take it! I have no idea how it got in my room!”
“A freshman is in the hospital. I have to find someone to replace Rhonda’s job. What I want to know is, why? Why do you feel the need to take others down with you to prove a point?”
“You can’t seriously believe I had something to do with this,” my head spun, “Ethan, tell him I didn’t do this!”
Ethan opened his mouth, but Lynch quickly interjected, “I’ve done all I can to keep you here in this program, but this is out of my control.”
“Someone’s messing with me! You know someone’s been out to get me. I didn’t do it!” My nails dug into the palms of my hands, trying to wake myself up because there was no other explanation as to why this could be happening. “Ethan, tell him!”
“Where were you yesterday during dinner?” Ethan asked, taking a step forward.
“Bria pulled me aside, and we went to Jude’s. They were pissed and confronted me, but that was it! I swear to God, I wouldn’t have fucked with people’s medication.”
“Not even to try and switch Oliver’s?” Ethan questioned, but it came out more like an accusation. “You know, to get him off his medication? Switching it with something else?”
I fell back in the chair and dropped my head in my hands. “This can’t be happening.” I lifted my head with tears in my eyes to face Lynch who waved Ethan forward. “You’re going to kick me to the curb now? Just like Bruce!” I stood back up and put my hands behind my back. “Innocent until proven guilty. Something we respect back in the states. You should fucking try it,” I spat out, waiting for Ethan to put me into cuffs.
“Relax, Mia. You’re being sent to solitary until we can do more investigating. I’m not giving up on you just yet,” Lynch said with a tap over his desk.
Ethan’s eyes filled with relief, but his mouth set into a hard line. “This isn’t going to take well with authorities,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Mia is under my supervision. They’d have to force my hand before I let her walk out of here until a thorough investigation is completed.”
“Your call boss.” Ethan dropped his chin and released a held breath.
“I don’t get it. You were so quick to point the finger at me.”
“You’re right. You deserve to be heard. Let’s hope your story sticks.” Lynch tossed his head to the side. “Solitary, Scott. No visitors.”
Ethan’s hand landed on my shoulder to guide me out.
“Scott,” Lynch called out.
Ethan and I turned back at the same time.
“I know,” Ethan stated, answering an unasked question. Ethan pushed me forward, opened the door, and led me to confinement.
For how long? I had no idea.
Chapter Sixteen
“You’re not broken,
only bent to perfection.”
—Oliver Masters
Ollie.
“WHERE THE FUCK is she?” I asked, slamming the red-headed wanker against the cement wall. My patience completely depleted after Mia’s been M.I.A. for the second day in a row. “Last time I laid eyes on her, she left with you. Where did you take her?”
“You’re a lucky bastard. I should drag your arse out of here,” Scott snapped, pushing against my chest. “Now calm the fuck down, yeah?” Scott fixed his shirt as he scanned the empty hall.
My stomach churned, threatening to reveal the fact I’d been chucking up my pills since my last visit to Dr. Conway. I closed my hands into fists to bite back the honest tremors.
Something wasn’t right. I’d shown up to the nurse’s station to see Rhonda gone and a new nurse handing me over my cup with a chipper smile on her face, and my love unseen and unheard of in two days.
“I want her out just as bad as you,” Scott admitted, evening out his hushed tone. His fingers flew to his temples.
