Free Transcending Nirvana (Dark Evoke #3) by V. L. Brock

opening. Sensing him behind me, I turned around. “What are you doing?”
    Wry pity blazed in his blue and green speckled eyes, his head cocked. “You don’t think I’m going to let you go in there alone do you? You were released into my care after all. My presence here and the words I speak carry a weight that you couldn’t possibly comprehend.”
    Fuck, he was right. I was released into his care…panic seized me. The instant my head dropped, a commanding finger hooked beneath my chin, wrenching my gaze upward. The gesture brimming with intimidation would have gone unnoticed by any viewers, simply being recognized as a connection between a devoted man and his woman. He really was a master manipulator. And now I could see it for myself.
    “And that reminds me,” The man I once loved, but now filled me with terror, took a menacing step forward and loomed over me like a cursed threat from the heavens, as he whispered through gritted teeth, “They will question you on how come there were traces of valium in your bloodstream the night of the accident, just like they questioned me when you were unconscious. I’m sure you can think up something…believable…”
    Slanted pale blue eyes and the bright blond hair of Dr. Leviton had me inwardly questioning how so much could change in such a sparse amount of time. It had been only three weeks since I was discharged from the care of the hospital and into the care of my partner, a man who should have cherished me, not harmed me. How devious could one person possibly be?
    The natural light searing through the window to my right rebounded from the magnolia coated walls, making the office appear larger than it actually was. I occupied one of the seats on the opposite side of the oak desk, as Liam occupied the one beside me. Every nerve in my body trembled, every muscle tensed due to my mind racing in fear. While Dr. Leviton flipped through my notes, I wrung my fingers in my lap, anticipating a destructive hand to be laid upon me in some way or form by the time the appointment was bought to an end.
    His primary questioning sliced through the awkward silence. “So how have things been since your release, Kady?”
    “It’s been fine.”
    Leviton studied me from across the desk waiting for me to expand on my answer. Well, irrespective of his urging expression, he was going to be waiting a long time for it. What did he expect me to say? That everything was fine and that life can resume as before? I couldn’t say that. Nothing was fine––the situation as it stood couldn’t possibly be further away from fine. With my abuser sitting beside me, I knew that the words Walker spoke earlier that morning about telling the doctor everything, were never going to happen. Well, not now anyway.
    “Mr. DeLaney, have you noticed any difference in Kady’s behavior at all? Do you have any concerns?”
    My body immediately stiffening, I waited, restless, for Liam to excavate my grave with his answer.
    “She has been quite…aggressive. Her moods swings are, once again, somewhat erratic.”
    “That’s highly common with patients with PTA, Mr. DeLaney, so I wouldn’t say that there is a high cause for concern regarding that.” He peeked up from my notes in front of him. “What about your memory, Kady? The duration of PTA gives us an indication as to how severe the head trauma sustained was. Has anything sparked?”
    “Actually it has. It is the small things I’m having problems recollecting.”
    “But the majority of the three yea––”
    I may have been answering Leviton’s question, but it was aimed at the rather unkempt man beside me. Looking at him intently for a brief second, I indirectly made it crystal clear for him, spitting, “I remember,” before turning back to the doctor.
    “Well, that’s fantastic news, Kady.” Pushing back in his seat, he opened a drawer behind the desk. “I apologize for this, but it’s just a little problem solving task that we require patients