Page 98 of Payback
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. In posing the question, he highlighted something I didn’t have an answer for. Why was I so eager to know? Would it be dangerous to know? I didn’t know what Jared was involved with, so perhaps ignorance was the safer path.
“Um...”
“Exactly,” he pointed out. “If you don’t want to know, then when I tell you not to ask, don’t fucking ask.”
“But shouldn’t we still get a professional to look at you?” I insisted.
“No, we shouldn’t.”
“Jared, this is serious. Something very bad could happen to you!” I urged.
“Something already did,” he mumbled, downing his drink.
“Then talk to me!”
“I thought we just agreed that knowing was a bad thing.”
I knew he was right, but this was weighing on me. After what he had revealed, I felt a greater responsibility toward his well-being. Yet, he remained tight-lipped, and I was uncertain whether I should even press further.
Chapter 48
-Jared-
Alison displaying genuine concern for me was a new experience. Though I might be deceiving myself, her worry seemed authentic. While I had no intention of divulging any information to her—given my own ignorance on the matter—it was perplexing to have her show such concern. I was unsure how to navigate this side of Alison, and my response became laced with anger and sarcastic remarks. Despite my resistance, she persisted in pushing me to consider a visit to the hospital. Yet, I had more pressing matters to attend to, and a hospital visit wasn’t on my agenda.
“Fine, then don’t tell me anything. Let’s call a doctor.”
“For a house call?” I retorted.
“We need to do something! The job I did on your wound wasn’t well done. You could easily develop a serious infection!”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Could you please stop saying that and take this more seriously?” she implored.
I poured myself another drink and quickly downed it, hoping it would help alleviate the throbbing pain in my body. Slowly turning toward Alison, who regarded me with a begging look, I recognized that this was a new aspect of her I needed to adapt to. But I knew that once the initial shock wore off, we’d likely revert to our familiar dynamic.
“I am taking this very seriously, which is why I need to leave now.”
“Leave?” she questioned, clearly taken aback.
I pushed away from the bar counter and started walking toward the entrance of the house. Alison followed closely behind, dressed in an oversized shirt and gesturing wildly in her attempts to make me stop.
“I’m not stopping, Alison. I have something I need to do!” I told her.
“You need help!”
“Don’t we all,” I muttered under my breath.
“I meant professional help!”
“I meant the same thing,” I countered as I opened the door.
“This isn’t a joke, Jared!”
“Do not leave this premises!” I ordered her, fully aware I didn’t have time to lock her up in the blue room right now. Yet, we both understood the gravity of the situation—her leaving would be a colossal error. “Do you understand?”
She crossed her arms and shot me a defiant look.
