Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 65

(Angel's POV)

The therapy room was always quiet in an unnerving way. A heavy silence hung in the air, filled with secrets nobody wanted to speak about. I sat in the chair across from Dr. Nixon and fidgeted with the hem of my sleeve. She watched me, her eyes sharp, as if she was trying to peel back the layers I had wrapped around myself.

"So, Angel," she began, and her tone was casual, but there was a glint in her eyes that made me feel wary. "How are you adjusting to everything here?"

"Fine," I replied too quickly. She didn't miss how my voice shook. Dr. Nixon always noticed everything. "As fine as I can be in a place like this."

She gave a small smile. "You know, sometimes the most dangerous places aren't the ones with locked doors and barred windows. Sometimes they're the ones where everyone wears a smile, but their eyes are full of secrets." I shifted in my seat and felt the meaning of her words. "What are you trying to say?"

She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. "There are connections in this place, Angel. Connections you'd never expect. People who seem innocent but aren't."

My heart skipped a beat. "Like who?"

"Well, for example," she said, and her tone was so light it felt wrong. "Dr. Joe and Miss Ava. Did you know they're related?"

"What?" The word shot out of my mouth before I could stop it. "You're lying."

"I'm not," she said with a shrug. "Ava's his niece. Her mother, Dr. Joe's sister, left her in his care after she... Well, let's just say things got complicated."

I blinked and tried to process this new information. It didn't make sense, yet somehow, it did. "But why would she be here? Why would he allow her to-"

"She owes him," Dr. Nixon interrupted softly. "Ava's mother owed him a big debt, and now Ava's paying it off in her way."

blood ran cold.

look that made me feel like a child who'd asked a question I should already know the answer to. "By doing whatever he asks. Being his eyes, his ears,

felt like it was closing in, and the walls pressed tighter. "Why are you telling me

Ava isn't just some girl with a contention. She's dangerous, and she'll do whatever Dr. Joe asks. Whatever

as I tried to piece together everything. Dr. Joe. Ava. This center. There

warned as she stared into my eyes.

felt like I'd just been

...

Hendrix in the game room later that day, laughing with Bundah over some card game. For a moment, I watched him and remembered the boy who used to chase me around the

faded when he

"Don't cheat while I'm gone," he warned,

the hallway. "What's wrong?" he asked in that concerned tone he always used when he

took a deep breath and tried to gather my thoughts. "Dr. Nixon said something today. Something

"What did she

I began, and my voice was shaky. "And that Ava's mother owes him a debt. Now Ava is paying it

and muttered a curse.

continued and swallowed hard. "She's been spying on us, Hendrix. All of

his hand over his face. "This is bad, Angel. Really

a whisper. "What are

even closer watch on her," he said firmly. "No

Ava strolled down the hallway with her group, and Dilrah trailed behind them, looking more out of place than ever. Hendrix's arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me closer without a word. "What are you doing?" I hissed and tried

he whispered