“Did I stutter?” the psycho whispers.
The poor woman swallows hard.
“Take a look at her hand. Now,” he continues quietly. “I don’t care if someone in the next room is dying. This,” he gestures to me, “this is the most important person in this building. Hell, on this fucking earth.”
The man is genuinely insane.
We have exchanged perhaps a handful of sentences, after I stabbed him, drugged him, and stole his car, and somehow, instead of revenge, he isobsessed?
The doctor looks between the two of us, clearly bewildered, but she collects herself and steps closer.
“May I see your hand?”
“It is not necessary,” I say.
But she gives me a pointed stare. I give up and extend it.
She examines it carefully, turning it gently.
“It’s not broken,” she says after a moment. “Just bruised and a little swollen. I’ll apply some ointment. But you’re absolutely fine.”
Markev watches the entire time, not taking his eyes off me for even a second.
The moment she finishes, I am off the table in seconds, slipping past him and out the door before he can grab me again.
I head straight towards the cafeteria, which is in the same building.
I don’t acknowledge him, but I know he is following.
As I reach the stairs, voices drift through the air.
I glance to the side.
The Ferrum Syndicate men are leaning against the wall, talking and laughing. They look in my direction as I pass, but in the next second Markev falls into step beside me, blocking their view.
I roll my eyes.
We take the stairs. He stays close, shielding me until I am out of sight, and then he stops.
Good fucking riddance.
I need a moment.
I continue towards the dining hall. Piper approaches from the opposite side, a book tucked beneath her arm. Our eyes meet for a second. She nods in greeting.
Adelaide stands a few steps behind her.
I narrow my eyes.
She smirks.
I do everything in my power not to punch another person this morning. Because every time I see her face, that infuriating little smirk, I relive the moment she had an assassin aiming a rifle at my sister, and I swear I am seconds away from combusting.
I enter the dining hall and look around.
I spot my sister sitting alone at our table. I cross the room and drop into the seat beside her, letting my bag fall to the floor.
I have only had one class, and already my hand throbs, and my temper simmers.
