A couple of minutes later, and he’s out cold. As if I’m holding thin glass, I carefully maneuver Noah into his bed and under thecovers. I wait to make sure he’s peacefully asleep, then quietly leave.
That little boy deserves all the love and protection in the world. He should always feel safe in his home. He shouldn’t have to worry that someone is going to hurt Raven.
When I set my foot on the first step to head downstairs, my stomach drops at the shout I hear coming from outside.
“I said, no!”
I know that voice. That’s the voice of my Sunshine.
Whipping out my phone, I shoot off a quick text to Knox and run down the stairs.
“Raven!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
RAVEN
Half an hour later, Jed parks in my driveway. I hop off the seat and shove the helmet in his direction before rushing to my front door. I try the handle, but nothing happens.
Locked. Shit.
As I dig in the bottomless pit also known as my purse for my keys, a hand slaps against the door next to my face.
“Now, how about my thank you kiss?”
Like hell.
Jed grips my shoulder and spins me. His head dips, and my hands come up to shove him away as I turn my face to the side.
“Jed. No,” I grunt, using all my strength to keep him away.
He pushes his body closer. The heat of his breath is heavy on my skin. “Mmm. Yes, just like that.”
My chest squeezes, making it hard to get air into my lungs. This isn’t the first time someone has tried forcing themself on me. And with the way the world is, this likely will happen again. But I’ll never forget the first time.
“I’m told you’re refusing to take your medication.” Lewis’s smarmy expression freezes my entire being.
“I don’t like how it makes me feel,” I reason with him.
“That’s too bad.” He locks his office door and strolls to his desk, opening the drawer where he keeps the syringes. “This is a special medicine,” he enlightens me as he presses slightly on the plunger and flicks the needle, sending droplets everywhere. “After this, you won’t give the orderlies a hard time.”
Dr. Whitlock’s smile is still in place as he approaches me. I lean as far away from him as possible, but I don’t get far because of the restraints on the chair. I fight against their hold, but they don’t give.
“Shhhh,” Dr. Whitlock hushes as he swipes my hair to the side. “I know you just wanted to see me again. But you have my attention now.” He sticks the needle in the side of my neck and injects me with the liquid.
Concrete fills my veins over the next couple of minutes. Each muscle in my body relaxes to the point that I can’t move. Dr. Whitlock strokes my hair over and over.
I know what happens next.
A tear escapes my eyes and rolls down my face.
“You’re so beautiful,” Dr. Whitlock praises as he wipes my tear away.
But that was then, and this is now. I have control of my body.
“I said, no!” I shout as I thrust my knee up as hard as I can and shove Jed backward.
Reflexively, Jed’s hand flies up, hitting me in the face as he groans and stumbles away hunched over. “What the fuck!” he yells back.
