Page 70 of Redline Baby

"Listen to me."

I do.

"I do not use silence as a weapon." His voice is calm. "I do not withdraw care to teach a lesson. If you break a rule we've agreed on, I will tell you what happened. If there's a consequence, you will know what it is." His fingers close more securely around mine. "It happens. Then it's over."

My eyes burn.

"Clean. Done. We talk if we need to, I take care of you, and we move forward." His thumb moves once over my knuckles. "I don't disappear on you, Kit. And I don't leave you guessing where you stand with me."

I stare at our hands. I still want to cry. My lungs don't seem interested in working properly.

"Have you thought about some rules?" I ask. My voice is small.

"I have."

Soren keeps holding my hand.

"Rule one. Therapy."

I nod.

"You keep going. You attend the appointments you schedule. If you genuinely need to move one, you reschedule it. You do not disappear until they close your file."

"Okay."

"You're honest with your therapist."

His eyes hold mine.

"And you're honest with me about whether you're going."

"Okay."

"And your medication. You take it as prescribed. If you're struggling with that for any reason, you tell me. You don't quietly stop and hope nobody notices."

I swallow.

"Okay."

"Is any part of that something you don't want?"

I think about it. Actually think.

"No."

"Good."

His thumb strokes my hand.

"Rule two. Riding."

My stomach tightens.

"No solo rides when your head is loud."

"Soren—"

"Hear the whole thing first."