Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 81

(Ava's

POV)

The box sat on the desk in Dr. Joe's office, sleek and black with no visible markings. It looked ordinary, but I knew better. Nothing Dr. Joe handed me was ever simple.

He stood behind the desk, his piercing blue eyes fixed on me like a hawk watching its prey. His tie was slightly loosened, and his sleeves were rolled up to reveal forearms lined with faint scars. I'd stopped wondering about their origin a long time ago. Dr. Joe was an enigma wrapped in power, and every inch of him screamed danger.

"This," he said as he tapped the box with a long finger, "contains everything you need for your next task."

I hesitated. "What exactly is the task?"

His lips curved into a cold smile, and he stepped nauseatingly closer. "You'll be switching out the medication for two patients. Their injections are scheduled for tonight."

I frowned. "Switching them? With what?"

He leaned against the desk, his face far too close to mine. I could smell the faint scent of his cologne something dark and woody. "You don't need to know what's in the replacements. You just need to ensure they get injected. Both of them." My stomach flipped. "And if I don't?"

Dr. Joe straightened, his smile never faltering. "Then I'll remind you why you're here, Ava. Your mother's debt doesn't pay itself, and I'm the only thing standing between her and absolute ruin."

I swallowed hard and clenched my hands into fists at my sides. He had me cornered, just like always. Every time I thought I could find a way out, he tightened the noose. And now, he was asking me to poison people. Because that's what this was, wasn't it? Poison.

need more time," I said in

head, looking at me amusingly. "Time is a luxury you don't have. You'll do it tonight. Or should I remind your dear mother of the

hated how easily he could manipulate me. How powerless I felt every time I stepped into

closer again. His hand brushed against my arm in a way that made my skin crawl,

moved away, I grabbed the box and bolted

insane, suffocating me. I thought of my mother, of the debt that had chained me to this hell, and for a fleeting moment, I wondered if

...

(Angel's POV)

was avoiding me.

It wasn't like Hendrix to be this distant. Even when we fought, there was always a lingering sense of connection. But now? It felt like a wall had

When I approached him afterward, he muttered something about needing to be somewhere and walked away before I

evening rolled around, I was at my breaking point. The weight of everything-the journal, the center's secrets, Thomas, and now Hendrix-was crushing me. I needed to talk to him.

found him in the courtyard, sitting on one of the benches with his head tilted back, staring at the sky. He looked tired, his shoulders slumped, and there was a bandage peeking out from under

I called softly as

at me. "What

at the coldness in his tone but pressed on.

he asked, still

small distance between us. "About you. About us. You've been so... distant lately.

shaking his head. "There is no 'us,' Angel. Not