Free Chained: A Bad Boy Romance by Nora Flite, Leah Holt Page A

understand why he was standing inside, positioned like a soldier at the gate of a castle.
    He glanced my way. “I was told by Warden Lynch to keep an eye on the prisoner, I'm supposed to stand in today.”
    What the hell is the warden doing? Is he trying to screw up his therapy? Having that guy in here won't work. I'm done letting Lynch try to rule every aspect of this place. Out there they were his. In here, they are mine.
    “First, the prisoner has a name, it's Owen, and no. That's not how this works. I have patient doctor confidentiality. You can't be here.”
    “I have orders to...”
    My eyes narrowed as I cut him off. “I don't care what you have, you need to leave. If Warden Lynch has a problem with that then he can come talk to me.” I couldn't do my job if I had another set of ears in the room.
    I'm done biting my tongue. I'm sick of the warden trying to snake his control into my office. Enough is enough.
    I never would have stood for this at my old job. I was done playing nice.
    Regardless of Owen's reason for being here, despite the fact he was killer, he was my patient . I was committed to that first and foremost.
    A deep chuckle filled the room. I glanced over to find Owen laughing while shooing the man out with his hands.
    The guard stood, dumb founded; he didn't know what to do. I walked over to the door and opened it. “Go, I don't need you here.”
    He was hesitant at first, but he stepped into the hall. I closed the door and for the first time locked the emergency latch. It was there for my safety if there was ever an issue inside the prison.
    It was necessary for our meeting today. I had no idea if the warden would try to send any guards back in, or end the session because I'd defied him.
    I didn't care, I had a job to do.
    My heart beat rapidly inside my chest. I couldn't slow it down. I knew Owen was watching me, his eyes following each stride I took. I loved the rush he gave me. This was exactly what I had wanted.
    “Long time no see,” he said, winking. It was his calling card, that single flirtatious wink.
    I smiled and looked down towards the floor, my cheeks flushing with warmth. “Yeah, it's been a while, huh?”
    I had trouble meeting his eyes, I didn't want to show my excitement. I cleared my throat and adjusted my blouse while I walked back to my seat. I tried to focus, bring myself back into therapy mode.
    “Nice.” His head cocked back as he let out a slight laugh.
    “What?” I asked.
    He gestured towards the door with one finger. “That, kicking his ass out. Good move.”
    “Well, I need to be able to work. Did you want him in here? His big ears listening to us?” My eyes rolled exaggeratedly.
    “That depends.” His smile broadened as he relaxed back into the chair, his eyes engulfing me.
    “Depends on what?” My brows lifted with curiosity.
    “Our conversation, do you want him to hear about how much you missed me?” he said as he leaned, his chest meeting the table's edge.
    He's teasing me, he has to be teasing me. I tried not to show the surprise on my face. I couldn't believe he'd said that. I knew that I had wanted to see him, but how could he know?
    He's trying to manipulate me.
    I smiled made myself laugh. “Alright, obviously the hole has gone to your head. How have things been since you came back to the light?” I wanted to humor him some, but also try to keep this on track.
    “Things don't change around here. It's the same as before. Some walls, barred doors, assholes floating everywhere. The usual.” Owen shrugged his shoulders, his lip arched up on one side.
    “But it won't be that way for much longer, so long as you don't do anything stupid to jeopardize it again.” I wanted to see how he reacted to this. I knew what I had witnessed but I wanted to hear it from him.
    “No worries about that. I'm getting out of here. No more fighting, scouts honor.” He raised three fingers on his right hand as he laughed under his breath. “I was never really a boy