Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
Adele sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose while Eliza paced one side of the small office.
Rowan looked calmly between them, hands clasped in her lap as she fought not to move.
There had only been one session and they were already reconsidering their actions.
Rowan schooled her expression, trying to look unbothered and neutral, picking at her nails even, while she watched them debate Delilah’s future care.
“I agree that it’s concerning,” Adele finally admitted after an entirely too long pause.
“But it’s only been one session. She’s testing you, both of you.
She wants to see what she can get away with and how the system can be worked to her advantage.
You know that.” Adele looked first to Bronwin then to Rowan who nodded solemnly. “It was in her file.”
Bronwin stopped pacing and looked over at Rowan, who was still sitting on the hard, wooden chair that dug painfully into her ass.
She didn’t meet Bronwin’s gaze, looking instead at the various junk cluttering Adele’s desk.
The small picture frames and various trinkets were pushed haphazardly to one side while the rest of it was taken up by her computer and about fifteen files pulled from the cabinet behind her.
“I agree,” Bronwin said, hesitantly. “I don’t think any harm can come from this at least. Physically, I mean.
We’ve taken numerous steps to ensure that Ms. Watson will not have access to anyone long enough for her manipulation to truly take hold.
As long as Rowan is unbothered…?” She trailed off, leaving the question hanging in the air for Rowan to snatch.
“I’m fine.” Rowan shrugged, her insides burning throughout the whole ordeal, her skin itching with need to stay on this detail.
“I don’t think her curiosity with you will last. I think she just wants to push your buttons.”
“We do know that she has a history of exhibiting obsessive tendencies,” Adele added, unhelpfully.
Rowan wanted to glare at her. To wrap her hands around Adele’s neck and throttle her until she dropped the subject.
“You aren’t worried she’s taken Rowan as her next intended victim?
” Adele winced and then said, “No offense.”
Rowan didn’t bother replying, letting Bronwin take the lead instead.
“It’s barely been enough time for that,” Bronwin waved a hand dismissively.
“I don’t believe she could form an attachment this quickly, especially not of that nature.
I think what you said before is accurate: she’s trying to see what she can get away with.
Trying to push the buttons until there’s a change or a pushback.
If we pull Rowan off this right now, Ms. Watson may get the wrong idea that she can…
intimidate or exploit us into doing what she wants. ”
Rowan looked at Bronwin with a frown. “You think she’s trying to escape?”
Bronwin nodded. “I’m not exactly sure, but I really can’t think of any other reason why she’d request this hospital.
I mean, we are a high-security ward, but, admittedly, we have nowhere near the amount of precautions as her old prison.
There is a lot of evidence that she has a short temper.
Maybe she got too frustrated trying to escape—not that she’d admit that.
I’m more willing to bet that if we ask her she’ll just say she got bored.
And to an extent, I do think that could also be true.
I really haven’t gotten a good read on her yet. ”
Adele looked at Bronwin thoughtfully for a moment before turning to Rowan. “And do you think you can handle her pushing?”
“I don’t think she’ll be a problem.” Rowan smiled. “And she’s not bothering me.”
“I think this could even be good for her,” Bronwin added, striking the final blow while Adele was leaning toward their side.
“I think she’ll really open up with Rowan around.
The inconsistency of switching out her guard—especially after we’ve already established that role will be held exclusively by Rowan—will only lead to her not trusting us.
Keeping things the same will be our best chance at treating her. ”
The next day, Rowan arrived to escort Delilah to her therapy session on time, beginning the routine that they’d develop for the duration of Delilah’s stay at the facility.
She’d spent the night re-watching Delilah’s trials—studying them—and looking for her tells, reading into her lies, waiting for her sweet, honey voice to turn sour.
It was only Tuesday and Rowan was already falling into Delilah’s trap.
The words Delilah had teased her with had wormed their way into her brain.
The curve of her smile was a vision that Rowan’s brain played on a loop when she tried to sleep.
Rowan hoped that the next therapy session would bring more clarity about what Delilah wanted from her.
Bronwin, of course, hadn’t let Delilah discuss Rowan after the day before.
In fact, they really hadn’t discussed much of anything.
Bronwin tried valiantly to pry information out of Delilah, but she locked up tight once it was clear that she wouldn’t be getting what she wanted.
Some sick side of Rowan was keen to know what Bronwin would attempt today—and how Delilah would respond to it.
“I’ve been trying to figure out,” Delilah whispered as they walked down the empty hall to Bronwin’s office. Her bicep was hot under Rowan’s firm grip, and her cuffs clinked quietly with each step. “That camera in my room, are there any blindspots?”
For all intents and purposes, the question was rather normal. Every new patient worried about privacy, either out of embarrassment or shyness. It was usually one of the first questions that Rowan was asked.
“Yes,” she replied curtly, unable to stop the curdling disappointment that Delilah was asking such a basic, bland question. Perhaps Rowan had overestimated her.
“And do you know where they are?”
“Yep.”
Rowan fought to keep the smirk off her face as Delilah’s petulant glare burned into her temple. The short fuse Bronwin had mentioned the other day rearing its head already.
“Where?” Delilah ground out, her voice forced and rigid, tamping down her anger as best as she could.
Rowan didn’t bother hiding her smirk. She should tell Delilah, but provoking her was so much more fun.
“Oh, I thought you were important here,” Delilah said and pouted, her entire demeanor changing in an instant.
Anger was replaced with a sickly sweet mocking as she leaned into Rowan’s space—and this time, Rowan let her.
“Guess I was wrong.” She sighed dramatically, and her breath wafting in the air between them smelled of mint toothpaste.
Rowan’s smile didn’t falter as she stopped in front of Bronwin’s door and guided Delilah inside with a gentle hand on the small of her back.