Ryder
Hospitals have always given me the creeps. Even now it felt like I’d swallowed a cold draft, as if icicles were marching their way to war through my gut. Everything here was too white, too polished, and sterile. Like the walls themselves were trying to scrub out any trace of humanity.
I’d been in and out of hospitals enough as a kid, accompanying my mother to A&E more times than I could count. Every visit was the same, with the rooms stripped bare of colour and character. Man wasn’t meant to exist in absence, in that hollow nothingness stripped of all substance.
It’s why I wanted excess.
Money. Things. Women.
I wanted what I couldn’t have growing up, and Violet-fucking-Sonne wasn’t going to be the nail in my hypothetical coffin. I didn’t care how cute she was, or how fucked-up her life seemed to be; she was going to give me the USB drive.
No one, especially not some random woman who meant zilch to me, was going to risk the life I’d built from nothing.
I whistled at the atrium, and Violet frowned at me over her shoulder. “Posh place,” I commented, my eyes dippingto where the hem of my T-shirt met her creamy thighs. “You’re a bit underdressed, no?”
I wanted to say I did it on purpose, just to piss her off and get a reaction. The quicker she grew bored of me, the quicker I’d have what I wanted, and we could be on our merry way. But my gaze still lingered on her skin, wondering how easily she’d mark beneath my fingertips.
Annoyance flickered across her face, and for some reason I locked into that like a predator would with prey. I wanted her to react, to lash out with something that wasn’t forced politeness. But she didn’t, instead swinging her long hair in my face before walking towards the reception desk.
If we were going to be stuck together, I was at least going to have fun. I’ve never had to spend so much time with someone before, Roman and Hendrix being the exception. I usually grew bored of people, but Violet was as fascinating as she was frustrating.
“Hi, we’re here to see Greta Sonne,” she said, smiling at the receptionist.
“Ah, Miss Sonne, we’ve been trying to contact you, but we keep going to voicemail.”
“Is my mum okay?” Violet asked, her eyes widening. “My phone’s broken and I?—”
“Everything’s fine, Miss Sonne,” the receptionist replied gently, as if used to overreactive family members. “We always contact the next of kin with updates. She’s responding well to her new medication, but it can take some time to see the full results.”
“Are we able to see her?” I asked over Violet’s head. “We haven’t got much time, and we’d like to spend as much of it with her as possible.”
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr…”
“Please,” I cut in smoothly, “call me Ryder.”
The receptionist blushed, because of course she did. “…Ryder, I’m afraid only family members are allowed to visit.”
I tilted my head, letting my lips curve into something suggestive. “I’m sure we can come to some sort of arrangement,” I drawled. “You wouldn’t really want my friend here to go through this alone, would you?”
Her eyes flicked briefly toward Violet, though they didn’t linger, snapping right back to me.
“I imagine there’s a little… discretion allowed, surely?” I pressed, my smile widening as I leaned on the counter just enough to close the distance. “I promise, I’ll be on my very best behaviour Miss…”
“Oh, I’m Gloria. Call me Gloria.”
“Gloria,” I repeated softly, rolling her name on my tongue like it was a secret between us. “What a beautiful name.”
“Oh my God,” Violet whispered so quietly only I heard it.
“I’m sure it’ll be okay.” Gloria pouted her lips after a moment, reaching beneath the desk for two visitor badges. “But only if you behave.”
“Scouts honour.” I winked at her, which earned me another giggle in return.
Violet snapped the badges out of Gloria’s hand, shoving one harshly against my chest. “Thank you,” she muttered.
Gloria reluctantly turned her attention to Violet. “Miss Sonne is in the garden, down the lift on the ground floor.”
With another of her forced smiles, Violet strode toward the lift, and for once I had to hurry to keep up. “She was nice,” I beamed, stepping inside when the metallic doors slipped open. “Do you think I should ask for her number?”
