Chapter 11
Two weeks.
It had been two full weeks of hell, and somehow I was still breathing.
The worst of the withdrawal had finally broken. The constant vomiting had stopped. The violent tremors had dulled to occasional shakes. I could keep soup down now, and I no longer felt like my bones were trying to crawl out of my skin. I felt stronger. But my mind was still a warzone.
And Lena was making it worse.
She came into the room carrying a tray with more broth and medication, her ponytail swinging like she was on a runway instead of in a prison. The moment the door clicked shut behind her, that fake-sweet smile appeared.
“You’re looking better today, Bria,” she said, setting the tray down. “Almost like a real person again.”
I sat up slowly against the headboard, watching her warily. “Where’s Kael?”
Lena’s smile sharpened. She perched on the edge of the bed like we were girlfriends having a chat.
“He’s been very busy,” she said lightly. “Important meetings. Deals. You know how men like him are. They can’t spend all day babysitting broken little things.”
My hands clenched the blanket. “I want to see him.”
“He doesn’t want to see you.” She tilted her head, studying me with open pity. “He asked me to keep you comfortable. He trusts me with your care.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “How did you do it?”
She didn’t give me any context or let me ask what she meant before continuing. “I’ve been trying to find a way to meet him properly ever since I saw him at that party Zia and Caine threw last year. He was impossible to miss.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“I tried to get his attention that night, but he barely looked at anyone. Now here I am, in his house, taking care of you.” Her eyes dragged over me slowly, full of disdain. “Funny how life works.”
Something ugly twisted in my chest. “Why are you doing this to me? I’m here because he brought me here. Whatever is between you two is just that,” I snarled.
Lena leaned in closer. “You really think he’s going to keep you?
” she whispered. “A junkie he had to chain to a bed? He’s a king, Bria.
Men like him don’t build empires with weak little rabbits who can’t even stay clean.
He’ll get bored. And when he does… I’ll be right here.
Ready to give him what he actually needs. ”
Rage exploded through me so fast I didn’t even think. I lunged at her, slapping her hard across the face. The sound cracked through the room like a whip.
“You're playing with me, you bitch!” I screamed.
Lena’s head snapped to the side. For a second, she looked stunned. Then her expression twisted into something vicious. She grabbed my wrist and yanked me forward, slapping me back so hard my lip split.
“You stupid little whore,” she hissed, climbing halfway onto the bed as we struggled. “You think you’re special? You’re just a project. A pet. I’ve seen girls like you come and go—”
I screamed and hit her again, nails raking down her arm. We tumbled sideways, knocking the tray to the floor with a crash. Soup and pills spilled everywhere. She grabbed my hair and I elbowed her in the ribs, both of us snarling like animals.
The door burst open so hard it slammed against the wall.
“What the fuck is going on?” Kael’s voice thundered through the room.
We both froze.
Lena immediately pulled back, eyes wide and teary, pressing a hand to her reddened cheek. She looked small and shaken in an instant.
"She attacked me," Lena said, her voice trembling with perfect victimhood. She touched her fingers to her cheek, wincing. "I was just trying to give her her medication and she… she lost it. I think the withdrawal is still affecting her mind. She's confused. Aggressive."
Kael's eyes snapped to me. I was breathing hard, lip bleeding, hair wild, still half on the bed, half off. My chest heaved. Blood dripped down my chin.
I opened my mouth, but the words wouldn't come. All I could do was stare at him—desperate, mad as fuck, and terrified all at once.
Please, I thought. Please see it. Please see it was her.
Kael's jaw tightened. He stepped fully into the room, boots silent on the spilled soup and scattered pills. His face was unreadable. I had seen this cold mask he wore when he was deciding someone's fate, and I couldn’t tell who it was directed at.
Lena pressed her advantage, reaching out to touch his arm. "I tried to calm her down, but she just—" She let out a shaky breath. "I understand she's going through something terrible. I don't blame her. But maybe I should handle her medication from the hallway for a few days. For my safety."
Kael looked down at her hand on his arm. Then he looked at me.
His eyes moved over me. He looked at Lena's hand on his arm. He looked back at me.
And for one horrible, gut-wrenching moment—he didn't move.
My heart fell somewhere into my stomach.
He believes her.
Of course he believes her. She's clean. She's professional. She's not the junkie who tried to rob him.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Instead, I just sat there, bleeding and shaking, waiting for his judgment.
“I want the truth.” His eyes were on me, harder than I had ever seen them.
Kael reached behind his back. He pulled out a gun—not a small one, but a heavy black pistol that looked like it could put a hole through a concrete wall. He didn't point it at me.
He pointed it at Lena.
Her smile froze. "Kael?" Her voice cracked. "What are you—"
"Bria," Kael said, cutting her off, his voice quiet. "I'm going to ask you once. And I need you to tell me the truth."
Lena's hand slipped off his arm. She backed up a step, eyes wide now, genuinely afraid for the first time.
Kael didn't look at her. His eyes stayed on me.
"What happened?"