At least, that’s what they call me in Hell.
Asher and Steve? They’ve officially earned a place on my hit list.
As for Jones? Well, I’ve never killed a beta before, but there’s a first time for everything. I had planned on letting the honor go to Hayden’s daddy, but I have a feeling my good boy will understand.
Meep meep, motherfucker.
six
Jo
Brooks gives me a look of distaste over his glasses. “I can’t say I’m happy with you, Jo.”
“The feelin’ is mutual, Doc,” I deadpan, blood dried on the front of my straitjacket and on my mouth. They didn’t even bother cleaning me up before tossing me back in my room. Now here’s Brooks, sitting in a chair in the corner while I wear a muzzle and sit on my bed.
I swear, you bite the ear offoneguy…
“Are you ready to tell me who gave you that bite mark?” he asks, tapping his clipboard with a pen. His black walnut scent still makes me want to vomit, but at least I’m getting alittle used to it now.
“Are you ready to go fuck yourself?” My voice is sweet as honey, but that doesn’t stop him from glaring at me. There’s no way Hayden is getting dragged into this if I have anything to say about it. Too bad I effectively burned all my bridges earlier with Jonesy and Steve.
Not that I’d be able to look at the two orderlies without wanting to murder them now anyhow.
“Jo.” Brooks sighs. “Let’s circle back. On a scale of one to ten, how much has the bond sickness started to take effect? Are you feeling more irritable? Any headaches? Lightheadedness?”
Am I feelingirritable?
A bitter, slightly unhinged laugh leaves me. “I was feelin’ rather irritable when I bit the ear off ol’ Ash-hole out there, Doc, but that might just be due to the fact that your orderlies were about to let him rape and bond me.”
“Nobody would have bonded you, Josephine.” Brooks tuts, making me scowl.
“Oh, but rape was completely on the table, was it?”
“This all could be avoided if you would just confirm who bonded you!” he nearly shouts, his face going red.
My blood chills as a sickening realization occurs to me.
“You…you knew this would happen?” I ask, blinking in shock. I shouldn’t be surprised. Obviously he knows just who he has doped up in there, and he clearly told the orderlies to bring me into that room. “No…you…youwantedthis to happen, you sick son of a bitch!”
Brooks doesn’t even look chagrined. Heshrugs. “It’s the reality of the choice you made, Josephine.”
“Whatchoice?” I grit out. “I didn’t make a single damn choice.”
“You’re right. It was more than one choice. More like a…culmination of every choice you’ve made since you got here. Your violent outbursts. Your…relationships. It all added up, and now the price is toohigh. You don’t want to pay it. But it’smyjob, Josephine, to make sure you do.”
Anger thrums in my veins. I’ve accepted that I’m going to be here until Declan finds a way to get me out, butthis?
“This is fucked up.” As the snarl leaves me, I lurch forward, and a wave of dizziness takes over. I sway slightly, still sitting on the bed, blinking rapidly.
“Oh, good.” The bastard sounds absolutely delighted. “Light-headedness.” He scribbles a quick note on his clipboard. “Would you say it’s more of a vertigo-type feeling? Or nauseous?” When I stick out my tongue, he shakes his head before standing up. “We’ll get the answer out of you one way or another, Josephine. You’re lucky the shift just changed, because otherwise it would be Jones spoon-feeding you gruel through a muzzle.” He pauses, looking almost regretful. “If you confirm who bonded you, Jo, this all goes away.”
“I’d rather rot in hell, Doc.” I fall backwards, still in my straitjacket and muzzle, letting myself stare at the ceiling.
“Soon, that’ll be the only option you have left.”
Lucky me.
After the sniveling, shaky beta man they sent in spoon-feeds me literal gruel through the bars of my muzzle, I’m feeling pretty shitty. I don’t know if that’s because the bond sickness is taking hold, or because apparently in the Cathedral, we only get two meals a day. Breakfast and dinner.
