“Out of where? Where is she? Psych?”
“Confinement.”
“What the hell for?”
“You’re kidding, right? Have you been so fucked in the head,”—he pushed against my temple with his pointer finger— “you have no idea what she’s been through.”
I slapped his hand away and pushed past him. “I have to go to her.”
Scott grabbed my arm, but quickly released it as a student walked past from lunch. “It’s more complicated than that. You can’t just show up in solitary and demand to see her. You want her out? Find out who threw a spanner in the works. Find out who put the newbie in the hospital. Someone,” he lowered his tone, “someone stole Rhonda’s key, switched pills, and planted the key in Mia’s room.”
“Did you happen to start with who opened their mouth on where this said key was? Ace, Scott, I thoughtyouwere the fucking cop.”
“Dead end,” he replied dryly.
“Right,” I shook my head. “Give me the name.”
“Fuck off.”
I shoved him against the wall, my nerves ticking, body shaking, this wanker under my last nerve. “This isn’t a contest, she’s no prize to be won.” I wrapped my fingers around his neck and pinned him with a glare. The prick scratched at my hands. “Give me the bloody name.”
Ethan gasped, surprised by my strength, but it was the adrenaline pumping through my veins, giving me the ability to take a guy the same height, same muscle, but unequally matched with his experience and training. It was the thought of Mia. Her being alone in confinement, a place I visited too many times to know she’d been alone, trapped, in the four walls I previously helped her escape from. Before, I’d let the bloke beat me because I deserved it, this time it was Mia who had been stomped on, and she didn’t deserve any of this.
“Jude,” Ethan fought out. I released him, and his eyes turned red.
“You’re going to take me to her.”
“Like hell I will.”
“You think Lynch would take kindly to his security guard’s slumming it with his patients? I’m not a fool. I know whose bed you sneak into each night, and how frustrated it makes you that it’s all that will ever happen. Tonight, you’re taking me to see her or I’ll be in the dean’s office first thing in the morning.”
“I could ruin you.”
I dusted off the front of his shirt. “I’m already fucking ruined.”
The clock struck midnight, and I’d been in this same position for almost four hours now, sitting at the edge of my mattress waiting on Scott to unlock my door. The single door click meant everything. It meant I had been right all along, and Scott, for the past, I didn’t know how long, had been lying beside Mia while she slept through the night—feeling her touch, smelling her scent, watching her dream.
But it also meant I’d get to see her.
The kiss we’d shared was everything. It had been confirmation Mia still believed in us, a silent promise. It was the one thing I held onto to know for certain she’d never cross that line with anyone else. Though what if I was wrong? If she had, I’d be able to forgive her. Because just as much as she was all-consuming, she was imperfect and honest—the representation of love. Consuming. Imperfect. Honest.
The door clicked, and I sprang to my feet, unsure whether I was pleased or not with the outcome. Scott stood on the other side with a blank stare.
I gave one hard look at the bloke who shared moments with Mia that were meant for me. Moments I’d given him on a silver platter because of my stupidity. I couldn’t blame him. I would have done the same. If anyone understood what falling in love with her was like, it would be me.
Scott stared back, the muscles in his face tightened in the dark. “She loves me, but she’s in love with you.”
I smirked despite the jealousy clouding my heart. “I could’ve told you that.”
“How are you so bloody certain you’re it for her.”
“You’re asking me to explain the impossible, like taste a feeling or hear a touch. When we’re together, I just fucking know.”
“One night. That’s it.”
“Just take me to her.”
With one hand, Scott held the door open to let me pass.
