The Bad Guy's Doctor

FIVE

"Althea." I spin around, the man before me not exactly who I expected him to be. He was short, built heavily against the shoulders. Most of his face was covered by a mask, yet his dark eyes glittered.

"What do you know about Elena?" I force through gritted teeth. Arsenio was hidden somewhere in the shadows, amongst the people on the street.

"Not even a hello?" I don't let any emotion flicker onto my face, instead, face him with scrutiny. "You should learn get some manners. Especially when you're meeting someone for inform—"

"You reached out to me. You need something in return, don't you?" I tilt my head to the side. There's no reason for him to have told Orlando anything. "What do you want?"

"Money. A hundred grand." My eyebrows shoot up, surprise running through me. A hundred grand for what? A tip in a direction that doesn't even exist? "Enough to have me well off—"

"Fuck off." I spin on my heel, walking in the other direction. A hand closes around my wrist and I'm pulled to an abrupt stop.

"Hands off." I swivel around, Arsenio holding a gun to the man's head. The stranger let's go of me, putting his hands up into the air.

"Don't hurt him, let's just go." I wave Arsenio to me, to which he moves carefully.

"You don't even want to know if she's alive—"

"She would've come looking for me if it mattered." My voice shakes, slight uncertainty in them. Fear. Of the truth. Maybe she is alive. Maybe I was never sought after, maybe I was never loved by her. It doesn't matter.

"You'll regret this—"

- - -

"So, doc," Orlando glances at me. I look up from mixing the ointment. "Did you meet him?" I shook my head, denying it. He nods, watching me closely as I apply it to his bruises.

"He clearly knew nothing. Probably did some digging on me and came up with the first result." I check his bandage before nodding for him to move on.

"Is Althea mad at me?" I hear Arsenio whisper, even though he's a few feet away and clearly close enough for me to hear.

"Definitely." I hear Jasper respond, nudging his shoulder against the other criminal. "What'd you do?" He shrugs, raising his hands to signify nothing.

"I don't—" I stand up quickly, point a finger at Arsenio. He glances up at me, standing as well, ready to follow. He gives me a nervous, loopy smile.

"Back. Now." He sighs, running a hand through his hair as he obeys.

"You always scold me in there, it's like a prison—" I press my hands to his back, guiding him in. I slide the door closed and he stands sheepishly.

"Why did you have a gun drawn yesterday?" He blinks. "All he did was grab me and you were about to take his entire head off." I knew that he was used to acting before speaking, but this time...

"But I didn't?" I raise my eyebrows slightly at his response. Wrong. Answer. "I-I didn't mean to, I never meant to hurt him—" I reach into a cabinet, before beckoning him toward me.

One of these days, he's going to get himself hurt.

"Listen, pretty boy," I pull on the gear by his chest, forcing him to lean down. His brilliant gold eyes gleam with surprise. "I've been thinking lately that I have to keep a leash on you." I wound the collar around his neck, clipping the buckle without much opposition. His Adam's apple bobbles, before I pull back. He straightens up, feeling it with curiosity.

"A gift, sweetheart?" I reach up, hooking a finger against the leather, and yank down. A noise of surprise leaves him. He pitches forward before catching himself, face inches away from my own. His eyes widen into saucers, his pulse quickening against my knuckle. "Holy fuck," Arsenio breathes, his hands planted on the counter behind me.

I slip my finger away from him. "You'll have to wear it until you start behaving, got that?" He nods, almost as if he were in a trance. I lean forward, pressing a quick kiss to his neck. "Good boy."

A reward for having my back.

He chokes, blushing furiously. He watches me in keen disbelief and bewilderment. "Y-Yeah, I'll we-wear it." Arsenio trips over his words, not looking me in the eye. Adorable. I huff out a breath, leaving the back room.