The Bad Guy's Doctor

FOUR

"Outside?" I echoed, one of my patients, Orlando, nods. He shrugs for a second, watching me bandage up his wrist.

"Yeah. I was walking in and he said that he had a message for you. He told me to tell you," Orlando tips his head slightly, remembering. "To meet him at First Alley for the truth about your sister." I freeze, before glancing up at him.

"What?" First Alley was a place where no one went. It was brimming with crime and only a select few can walk through it without having a knife pressed to their throat. A meeting there... about my sister...

"He said to go alone. At 4 in the morning." Orlando reiterated. My sister, Elena, had gone missing a few years back. When I was 8 years old, to be precise. She was presumed dead and forgotten by... everyone. And now...

I have to go.

"Do you remember what he looks like?" The patient glances at me for a few seconds.

"You can't seriously be considering going there, right, Althea?" I shake my head quickly. If I pressed for any more information, it'll be suspicious. If Jasper or Arsenio even got a whiff of me thinking about going, they'll lock me in a basement and leave me there.

"Of course not. It's probably just a prank." I shrugged, mimicking the coldness that I was known for. I bite my lip hard, glancing at the clock. The clinic closes soon.

I need to get there on time.

- - -
"Althea, stop ignoring me," Arsenio whines, prodding my shoulder incessantly. Why is he being so clingy today?

This is the absolute worse timing possible.

I glance at the clock, biting my lip. I need to go. "Don't you have any, you know, bad guy stuff to do?" Arsenio glances at the ceiling before shaking his head.

"Not today. You have me to yourself all day." All day. This isn't going to work, I have to go. It was still dark outside and I needed him to get going. Or...

I slide my hand up toward his chest, pushing him back gently. He raises his eyebrows as I lower him onto the bed, his elbows propping him up. I hover over him, collecting both of his wrists in one hand. He watches me with intense interest, my skin prickling. "Is this your strategy? Play hard to get in front of everyone and—" I tighten the knot on his hands, binding them to the bed's headboard. "—is this one of your... interests? It's completely fine if you like it, I'm okay with anything—"

"How are you so confident?" I grumble, hovering over him slightly.

"Sweetheart, of course I'm confident. You're—" I plant my hands against his chest, dragging them downward. He chokes, staring at me with wide eyes. "W-Wait, Althea, what-what are you—" I feel a strap right above his belly button, lifting his shirt quickly.

Take the gun and go, come on.

I unclip the gun from his torso, sliding it away from him. "What are you planning?" I hook it around my waist, tightening it accordingly. "Althea?"

"You heard, didn't you?" I grab a hair band from my desk, pulling my hair into a tight ponytail. "About what Orlando said. That's why you've stuck to me like glue." He shifts and I can feel his stare burning into my back.

"I was right to, wasn't I? I've been watching you and you've even tied me up, just to go." I paused, shaking my head. "Nothing good happens on First Alley," I don't respond, instead, stare at the balcony doors, keeping my back to Arsenio.

"I need to know the truth." If he could find a way up to my room from the balcony, then I should be able to find a way back down. If Arsenio already knew, Jasper must've as well. He probably had men watching my front door. I survey the dark sky, before reaching for the handle of the door.

A hand plants itself on the door, right beside my head. I flinch. I can already feel his breath on my neck, distractingly hot. He seemed be able to already sense my question because he replies. "I taught you how to tie that knot, angel. I never thought that you'd use it against me though."

"I'm going." I pull on the handle, but it doesn't budge against his hand. "Arsenio—"

"I don't want you to." A hand snakes around my waist and I glance at the clock desperately. There's a soft kiss against my neck and I flinch at the sense of warmth against my back.

"But I do." I pry at his arm, yet to no avail. "Don't be selfish."

"Let me be selfish, just this once, please?" He murmurs, detaching me from the balcony door.

"Stop. I'm going, I just need to know what happened to her." I say through gritted teeth. "Somehow, I forgot her. I owe her this much. I need to know where she went."

And why she left me.

"You don't. He probably doesn't even know—"

"You once said that I saved your life, right?" I feel him stop breathing. He nods. "Help me." The words dislodge from my throat, taking fire through my tongue. I'm asking for help. Like he wanted me to do. "That's all I ask for."

"It's hard to say no when you use my words against me." Arsenio runs a hand through his hair, chuckling softly. "What do you want me to do?" He needs to follow me in a way that wouldn't drive the man away.

How would he know if I was alone or not?

"Tail me. And don't get caught." I glance down at the strap against my waist. "Do you want it back?"

He stared at me for a second, before shaking his head. "You look so fucking hot with a gun." I roll my eyes as he procured another gun from his side.

"Come on, lover boy." I slide the balcony door open and I hear him sigh, content.

"Your lover boy."