Page 102 of Poisoned Promise
“Bree, you’re twisting things.”
“Wow, you’re sensitive. That bitch really did a number on you, huh?”
A deep sigh follows. “I don’t know what’s real anymore. How have the last fifteen years of my life been built on a lie? What kind of fool does that make me?”
The woman, Bree, murmurs something I can’t catch. I screw up my eyes and try to focus but every voice is slightly muffled as if I’m underwater.
“You’re only saying that because I’m paying you.”
“Yeah I’m all about the money,” Bree snorts. “Felix… listen to me. Everyone knows what a cunt she is. Some more than others. Do you really think half of those people would even trust her if it wasn’t for you? No one’s going to judge you for not knowing.”
“I do,” Felix replies. “I judge myself. Look at this mess I created.”
“Did you create it?” Floorboards creak somewhere to my left. “Or did Caterina? Don’t shoulder blame for a monster like that. You won’t survive.”
Their voices soften and drift out of focus and then silence follows. I should open my eyes but exhaustion weighs them down with the temptation to sink back into sleep once more. If Felix is here then I feel safe.
Maybe I shouldn’t but I do.
Until Alex enters my mind. The memory of his smoke-streaked face in front of that burning building is enough to ignite a sharper instinct within me, so I force my eyes open.
A white, tiled ceiling stares back down at me, fitted with small, silver, circular lights that remain dull due to the sunlight streaming over the back of the couch I’m lying on.
Judging by the hue, it’s late in the day but I can’t tell how long it’s been since I arrived here.
Rolling my head to the side, Felix sits on a lounge chair across from me with his head back and his eyes closed.
A couple of cuts on his face have been stitched and the bruises on his knuckles and jaw show slight fading around the edges.
Has it been a couple of days?
Longer?
Taking a deeper breath, my focus returns to my own body.
Nothing hurts, although my back pulls as I breathe, as if something is stuck to it.
A weighted blanket keeps me down and areas of my face pull tightly as I wiggle my brows and press my lips together.
But there’s no pain.
Not even a hint.
I’m in the middle of subtly testing my limbs when Felix suddenly clears his throat.
I look back at him and his sorrow-filled eyes meet mine.
“You’re on strong painkillers,” he explains quietly. “And you’ve been treated well.”
A shadow moves near my head and snatches my attention.
It’s just Toph.
He stands in the doorway blocking any entry or exit and when our eyes meet, he flashes me the smallest of smiles.
“By who?” I croak as I look back at Felix.
“Bree McCarthy. Do you know her?”
