Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 110492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110492 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
“Torri,” he said, frowning. “Look at it from my point of view. If I discharge you and you have some kind of psychotic episode—”
“I’m not going to have a psychotic episode!” Torri insisted. “I’m not like Tanya who thinks she has demons inside her or anything crazy like that. I am simply a woman who had night terrors for a time, which caused sleep deprivation, which in turn caused a few mild hallucinations. But as you can see, I’m over them now.” She spread her hands wide. “I’m living proof that a good night’s sleep is better than all the drugs in the world. I’m better and I want to go home.”
Dr. Burrows cleared his throat.
“We’ll talk about it if you’re still doing well in another week.”
Torri felt like shouting at him that she didn’t want to wait another week, but she held onto her temper grimly. Yes, she wanted to get out of here but she also had a reason to stay now, too.
Don’t be foolish, she told herself sternly. You can’t stay in this place just because of Vic and those crazy dreams you keep having about him. Any therapist worth their salt would say you’re just projecting what you want and need onto him. Sure, he’s a nice guy, but you can’t stay locked up in here just to be near him.
Still, the thought of Vic—and her reluctance to leave him—helped her keep her temper this time.
“All right,” she said evenly. “We’ll table this for now but I expect to pick it up again in exactly one week.”
It was the assertive, confident way she had talked when she was a bank manager leading a meeting and she could tell by Dr. Burrow’s face that he didn’t like it a bit. Well that was too damn bad, Torri told herself. She was done being a doormat—from now on, she was going to stand up for herself. And she was going to get out of here, no matter what Dr. Burrows said.
“There is one more matter,” he said, as she rose to go.
“Yes?” Torri raised an eyebrow at him.
He looked uncomfortable.
“It has to do with your husband and some…papers he needed you to sign.”
“If it has to do with the insurance, he’ll have to deal with it himself,” Torri said, frowning. “And of course, if they’re tired of paying to keep me here, you could always just let me go.”
“Never mind.” Dr. Burrows waved a hand dismissively. “It can wait for another time. You can go now, Torri.”
“Thank you.” Torri nodded and turned to leave the psychiatrist’s office. She would put up with one more week in this place—mainly because she liked being with Vic. But after that, she was getting out, one way or another.
Sixteen
She had barely left Dr. Burrows’ office and turned the corner when she nearly ran into a large, menacing shape in the middle of the hallway.
“You nearly got me fired, you little bitch.” It was Mike O’Toole, glaring down at her. “I had a week’s suspension with no pay because of you!”
“That’s not my fault!” Torri backed away quickly. She looked around but Dr. Burrows’ office was a few hallways down from the main treatment wing and everything was deserted.
“Hell yes, it’s your fault, you little cunt!” O’Toole spat. “You put a black mark on my record!”
“You shouldn’t have been groping me!” Torri flared, still backing away. “You’re disgusting!”
“Oh, I’ll do more than grope you,” O’Toole snarled, leaning down to push his face into hers. His breath smelled like stale cigarettes and his teeth were yellow. “You’re gonna be sorry you ever came to this little slice of Hell, bitch!”
Torri’s back hit the wall and she realized, too late, that he had been backing her deeper into the deserted section of hallway. She started to shout for help, but just then a shape even bigger than O’Toole loomed over the orderly’s shoulder in the dim hallway.
“Problems?” The deep, menacing voice could only belong to Vic.
Torri felt a surge of relief as she saw O’Toole whirl around and stare up at the huge patient. O’Toole was tall but Vic was taller—and broader through the chest and shoulders. He glared down at the orderly and for a moment, Torri was certain she saw a flash of red in his blue eyes.
“Who in the blue fuck are you?” O’Toole demanded, looking up at Vic’s scowling face.
“That’s Vic—he’s new here and he’s also my best friend,” she said, finding her voice at last. “He’s very, very protective of me, as you can see,” she added.
As if to illustrate her point, a low growl began to rumble in Vic’s deep chest.
“Leave…Torri…alone,” he said slowly and clearly, glaring at O’Toole.
The orderly’s face turned pale and he backed away quickly.
“Hey, I wasn’t doin’ nothin’ to her, man!” he protested, holding his hands up in a “don’t shoot” gesture. “Just sayin’ hello—that’s all.”