Javi hums. “Is this your plan, Doc? Throw an interesting case of Antisocial Personality Disorder at me and think I'll bite?”
I shrug. “It'soneof my tricks…” I dangle the carrot.
Javi flips a few more pages. “His evaluations contradict each other…”
I roll my eyes. “Tennant is an asshole. He likes to play with people. If you notice, he's been through his fair share of therapists and psychiatrists throughout the last thirty years.”
“I'm honestly surprised he's still under the court order… Even changing mental health professionals so many times, someone should have noticed…”
“See who supplies the therapists?”
Javi turns a page and frowns. “Well, that explains it. Fucking corrupt bastards.”
“Yes. That and, well, the original police report is in there, as well as the doctored one. Can’t say I’m surprised by the court order, even if it’s bullshit after he's proved he’s no longer a danger to himself or those around him for so long.”
Javi meets my eyes, amusement sparkling in his because we both know it’s bullshit. Tennant is a danger to anyone who stands in his way—and probably Benjamin, but the dumbass likes it.
“Either way, they probably would have let him out, eventually, but with Cristian buying his way to freedom, and Tennant playing musical therapists, the system dug its claws in deeper.”
Javi sits back and grabs his glass, sucking up the last of his melting milkshake. His eyes are striking, even if they seem to try to burrow their way under my skin. One a rich honey that darkens to molasses when something catches his attention, while the other is a deep, dark sparking green, similar to Roman’s. “You think this is enough to entice me?”
“Oh, I have more, but I’m not ready to give up all my secrets on the first date.”
Javi’s lips tip up at the corners. “I don’t know if your bodyguard would approve of me.” He leans over the table and I match him, our heads close enough that I find it hard to look away from those damn eyes of his. The electric current between us almost crackles as tension I haven’t felt since we used to study together in the library so many years ago sparks to life once more. My breath catches as his different colored eyes darken, the familiar look in them making my heart weep and cock ache…though there’s now a darkness in his eyes that steals my breath in a way nothing did back when we used to know each other.
“James will probably shoot you,” I tell him, trying to pull myself together—remind myself who I am. “But it’ll just give me an excuse to drag you home with me.”
Javi hums. “You’re trouble…I like that.”
“Oh, you don’t know the half of it.” I give him my best grin, the one that makes Daddy groan and add marks to his mental list of infractions. My brat responds to Javi now more than ever, especially since Daddy’s helped unlock it.
Javi’s grin is cocky. “I can change my mind at any time.”
“Sure. You’re not a prisoner, but it would be helpful for you to stay in the house, at least for the first few weeks. It’s a full-time position, because, well, honestly, I need another medical doctor around. Psychiatrist or not, I know you have enough medical training to help with triage. Those assholes get in too much trouble, and I’m tempted to let the next one who gets stabbed bleed out.”
Javi snorts and sits back. “I know my shit. Though I doubt anyone in that Family of yours deserves me.”
“They really don’t, but you’re the best chance they have.”
“Hmmm. Let the Council know I’ll be stopping by later in the week. I’d hate to kill your guards so soon into my employment.”
I let out a breath, some of my tension easing. The look Javi gives me says I didn’t hide my stress or relief too well, but I don’t fucking care right now. Lio needs him, and I would have done anything to get him that help.
“This isn’t a promise, or agreement that I’ll work with any of you. But…I am quite curious to meet Tennant; I hear he’s adept in torture, and it’s always good to learn new techniques. I also want to unravel all your secrets, Doc. Something tells me this,” he waves to Ten’s file, “barely scratches the surface.”
I press my lips together and don’t say anything. Tennant may have been my in, but I’m hoping Emilio is enough to keep Javi’s interest. If not…hopefully, Tennant and Hollis don’t killme for throwing their son in front of the psychiatrist.Thatball of crazy is definitely someone who needs psychiatric help, though I wouldn’t ever say that out loud to anyone.
Though I’m quite interested to see who’d win; Javi or Leandro. Mimic or serial killer. Could be fun.
Javi slides out of the booth. “I have places to be. You don’t mind getting the bill, do you?” He unwraps a sucker, tosses the wrapper onto the table, and walks away.
Letting out a breath, I laugh a little and run my hand through my hair, trying to catch my breath at the blast from the past stirring up so many unexpected emotions. Pulling out my wallet as I stand, I drop a bill on the table, more than enough to cover Javi’s drink and leave a decent tip.
James comes up to me and I don’t hesitate to wrap my arms around him, letting his strong embrace ground me. “Let’s get out of here. Your Daddy is going crazy. Hollis had to talk him down from storming in once you killed the earbud.”
I wince.Fuck. I am in so much trouble.
I look up at my best friend. “Scale of one to ten?”
