Chapter 14
Felix
The brutes carry me up two flights of stairs while I thrash and yell the entire time.
I’m lugged down a corridor with a row of doors on either side, and people open them to peek at the commotion.
I wind up in what looks like an honest-to-God doctor’s office, not the BDSM version I just left, and the men sit me upright on the examination table.
Apparently, this place has a lot of examination tables.
“Kid! You’re hurt. You need to get cleaned up, so calm the fuck down before we sedate you!”
Seated at the table, I notice that it’s hard to swallow. “I’m worried about him, okay? He needs help.”
“You’re the one who needs help,” a voice calls from behind a privacy curtain. A doctor or nurse reveals himself holding medical supplies. “You could be seriously injured, and your cuts could be infected. I have to clean and bandage them before you go anywhere.”
“They’re just a few scratches. It’s nothing.”
The man introduces himself. “I’m Elias, resident doctor, and I was informed over the radio that you lost consciousness due to strangulation. Do you remember losing consciousness?”
I lost consciousness? “Um…I don’t think so.”
The doctor gently inspects my neck and asks me to swallow. I’m instructed to speak so he can listen for hoarseness or voice changes. “Does it hurt when you turn your head?”
“I-no, it’s fine. How bad is this?” I finally ask.
The doctor briefly makes eye contact with me before stating, “Because you passed out, we have to assume your airway was compressed. I’d like to do a CT scan of your neck before you leave.”
What the fuck? “You can do a CT scan? Here?”
“Yes,” is all he says in response.
Holy hell, what kind of place is this?
The doctor turns to the men and says, “I’ll need to document how this happened for Mr. Kay. Where were the dungeon attendants?”
Thing 1 and Thing 2 look at each other with furrowed brows. Thing 2 replies, “Mr. Torren Kay was the one in the room with our friend here.”
The doctor shoots a look at them and says, “I see. Then, I assume Tobias knows about this already.”
The brutes nod, but my hackles raise. Torren looked devastated by what happened, and the urge to defend him is palpable, but I’m still so at a loss for words. Am I really about to get a CT scan?
The doctor fills a syringe with something and explains, “I’m using saline to irrigate the wounds. Small particles of whatever cut you—” Through the mirror opposite me, I can see him searching for an answer from my captors, one of whom responds, “Pieces of mirror.”
The doctor nods, as if that’s an entirely normal answer.
“Ah. Yes, we need to be sure these cuts are clear of debris.” The doctor gently places his hand on my shoulder and begins cleaning my wounds.
Cool water soaks my back. There’s a slight burn at first, but that soon gives way to a soothing sensation.
He continues cleaning my wounds and finally says, “We’ll need to monitor you for delayed swelling. Between that and the CT scan, you could be here for several hours. Is that alright with you, Mr…”
My head is spinning so intensely that I blurt out, “Felix Hargrove,” and the collective gasp from all three men in the room lets me know that they recognize the name and that I am in deep shit.
Aw, fuck.
I wasn’t really planning on announcing who I am tonight, but I guess that ship has sailed.
“We need to tell Tobias,” says Tweedle Dee.
To which Tweedle Dum replies, “Finish up with him, doc,” before looking at me. “You ain’t leaving here until you talk to the boss man.”
Oh. Shit.
Torren
I’m inside one of the vacant rooms on the top level. Non-descript white walls surround me, and there’s a bed pushed against the wall that I refuse to rest on. No, I sit in the corner, crying and scratching the walls like the lunatic I am.
This is where I belong—locked in a bedroom where I can’t hurt anyone ever again. No matter how many times I rub my eyes, I can’t get rid of the image of Felix’s blue face and bloody body.
I’m disgusting.
The door creaks open, and my brother walks in. “Torren.” His low, soft voice calms the storm raging inside. He was my confidante—my everything when we were trapped in that hell. Each night, we slept in the same bed, our fingers laced together, dreaming about a better life.
He’s sick like me, but we’re there for each other. Always.
“Tobias,” I croak as tears stain my cheeks. “I let it out. I hurt h—” A sob snatches the rest of my statement.
Tobias shushes as he sits on the floor beside me. He pulls me into his chest and runs his fingers through my hair. “You’re okay, Torren. You didn’t hurt him too badly. You stopped yourself and called for medical. That is restraint.”
I shouldn’t have gone to the diner. I should have listened to Gabe and found a new place. It was the contact that strengthened my yearning and made me go wild when I saw him tonight.
“Why him?” Tobias asks. “There’ve been others, and you didn’t let it out. Why him?”
I wish I had an answer; maybe then I could figure this out, but I don’t. So, I just shrug and say, “I don’t know.”
Tobias sighs and adds, “He’s the Mayor’s son, Torren. This is a dangerous game you’re playing.”
Fuck me. “I know. I’m so sorry. I don’t think Felix would rat you out, and if he does, I’ll be the fall guy. I should be locked up anyway.”
Tobias hugs me tighter and whispers, “You should not be locked up. You lost control, and you stopped.” He’s wrong, but I don’t want to argue. It was more than just getting carried away. “I have to talk to him,” Tobias adds. “We need to make sure he won’t say anything.”
“He won’t. Please don’t hurt him, Tobias. He’s already hurt enough.”
Tobias rubs my shoulder. “I won’t hurt him.”
“I know he won’t say anything. I feel it in my bones.”
Tobias leans closer and whispers, “Come with me. Talk to him, Torren.”
“No,” I blurt out. “I can’t. I can never see him again, Tobias. I can’t face him.”
This time, Tobias kisses my temple. “What if he wants to see you?” he asks.
“He can’t. I’m leaving now. I don’t want to see him, but please tell him I’m so sorry.” The thought of facing Felix again is unbearable. What would I even say?
I start to get up, and Tobias helps me.
“Torren, look at me.” It’s hard. I don’t want to look at anyone, but I do. Tobias locks eyes with me and says, “What happened tonight is not the same. I know you think about it a lot, but it isn’t the same. Okay?”
It is.
I don’t want to have this conversation. I just want to go home and hide, so I nod and force my agreement.
“You sure you wanna go home?”
I nod. “Right now.”
There’s a moment of disappointment on his face, but he shakes it off and says, “Okay. Let me walk you to your bike.”
Then he laces his fingers with mine, and, for the first time in a long while, I feel like I’ve got my brother by my side, and I feel a little less alone.
For now.