Page 51 of Twisted Devotion

She does a double-take, as if she wasn’t expecting to see me, which immediately catches my attention.

Something isn’t right.

“Sorry, Kels.” She laughs, but it’s not nearly genuine enough to throw me off course.

I face her, frowning. “Is everything okay?”

She nods, but doesn’t vocalize a response.

“What’s going on?” I ask, crossing my arms as I step toward her.

“Kelsey,” she shakes her head, “you should go back to Jax’s office.”

“No. You need to tell me what’s happening right now.”

Bethany bites her lip, glancing at the ground. “I can’t.”

“What do you mean youcan’t?”

“He asked me not to. I’m so—”

Her words are cut off by shouting coming from one of the pre-treatment rooms. It’s not uncommon for clients to get upset before the procedure. But there weren’t any appointments on the calendar today.

“Kelsey—”

There’s more shouting. Normally, the noise wouldn’t bother me, wouldn’t cause me any concern. But this time, my head snaps up so fast my vision blurs.

Without warning, I bolt for the door to the room.

Bethany shifts, appearing in front of me. “Kelsey, wait—”

I push past her before she can finish, storming down the hall toward the sound of two sets of voices. One is loud, angry, and the other is a controlled calm—Jackson. I storm into the room before I can stop myself, sucking in a sharp breath even though I know what I’m going to see.

Jackson sits on one side of the table, but my eyes skip over him, landing on the one person I never imagined I’d see here.

“Seth,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

His painfully familiar face blanches as his moss-green eyes snap toward me. “I . . .” he trails off, staring down at the table. His white-blond hair falls forward, creating a curtain over his face.

“Kelsey,” Jackson’s voice floods my senses, deep and firm. “You need to leave.”

I don’t look at him. I can’t take my eyes off my best friend. My best friend I haven’t seen in months, who looks the same—broad chested and muscular, dressed in casual washed-out jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. But he also looks like a complete stranger.

He can’t be here.

“What are you doing?” I ask, biting my bottom lip to keep it from trembling.

Seth says nothing, just closes his eyes and balls his hands into fists on the top of the table.

Jackson rises from his chair. “I’m very sorry about this,” he says to Seth before turning toward me. “Get her out of here, Bethany.”

When she steps closer, I bite out, “Don’t touch me,” and she backs off immediately.

Jackson sighs. “Call security,” he instructs Bethany, and she hurries out of the room.

“Look at me,” I beg Seth. “Please.” I blink quickly so the tears gathering in my eyes won’t fall.

Slowly, Seth opens his eyes and turns his gaze toward me. “I’m sorry, Kelsey.”

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