Vacant Voices (Blind Barriers Trilogy Book 3) by Sophie Davis

Author:Sophie Davis [Davis, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dabber & Baehr
Published: 2018-03-15T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

LARK

“Good afternoon, Lila.”

“Hello, David,” I replied, crossing my legs at the ankles, and settling into the lounge chair. My eyes were closed, but I could picture David leaning back in his seat with his fingers clasped over his paunch. I felt his muddy eyes on my face, studying my expression with the practiced eye of a therapist.

“How are you today?” His tone was deceptively mild, as though we were casual acquaintances enjoying a mundane conversation.

“Do you really care?” I countered, having no patience for chitchat—that wasn’t why David had yanked me from the darkness.

“Your wellbeing is very important to me,” he said evenly.

I rolled my eyes behind closed lids. “We’ve known each other a long time, David. So let’s cut the shit. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve been working overtime lately and this little session is disturbing my peace and quiet, which I could really use right now.”

“I have noticed.” The chair squeaked as David readjusted. “This stay has been particularly difficult for Lark, hasn’t it?”

“Stay?” I scoffed. “We aren’t at a spa. This isn’t a vacation.”

“No, it is not,” he agreed. “But that is not an answer.”

“I thought the question was rhetorical.”

David didn’t respond, a common tactic he used in his therapy sessions. Normally, I waited him out. The human need to fill awkward silences was lost on me. But I didn’t want to prolong this interlude any longer than necessary, so I obliged the doctor.

“Of course it’s hard on her,” I snapped. “No one likes being institutionalized.”

“On Lark’s last two visits to Montauk, she was much more…engaged. Why is that, in your opinion?”

“Do you really need to ask? It’s obvious, isn’t it? She’s pissed. The sperm donor and momzilla she calls parents had her committed against her wishes.”

“It was Phillip and Eleanor’s decision to send Lark to Montauk previously,” David responded, managing to make the statement sound less argumentative than it was. “They are trying to get their daughter the help she needs, Lila. I know you are aware of this fact.”

“They are trying to silence their daughter,” I corrected him. “They are trying to keep her naïve to cover their own asses.”

“Now, Lila, you are not being fair. Lark’s parents care a great deal about their daughter. This is something we have established.” David’s tone was still level, almost flat, but for the first time I detected an underlying hint of something…more.

I’m not supposed to have my own opinions, I reminded myself. My role in Lark’s life was very specific, defined by David. His opinions were meant to be mine where Lark was concerned, anyhow. In the beginning, that had been true. I bought the lies without question. But that had changed years ago, not long after Raven’s arrival. Asking for my opinion on a topic was David’s way of testing me, of making sure I was still a good soldier. Openly criticizing the Kingsleys and their motives was a mistake. I needed to be more careful, otherwise I wouldn’t be around to protect Lark.

“I did not ask you here today to argue, Lila,” he said.

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