Page 110 of Ugly Beautiful Scars

"How's everything with you and…" Mike's voice drops lower, though there's no one around listening to us. "You know who."

I don't miss the disapproval still lingering there, though it's softened since his return. Being around his wife and kids has taken the edge off his judgment. But I'm sure heknowsnow that Londyn and I started something. There's no trying to deny it.

"Fine," I say, not wanting to elaborate.

It isn't fine, though. Things have been strained since this past weekend when Londyn shut down and pulled away. I can still feel her weight on my lap. The taste of her on my tongue. The way she went from vibrant to closed-off in the space of a heartbeat, and I can't figure out how to bring her back. The connection that had been building between us is now stretched thin, like a rubber band ready to snap.

I'll do anything to stop it from breaking.

"Hey." Mike's voice cuts back in. "You still there?"

"Yeah. Just watching."

Another lie. I'm not just watching. I'm planning. I'm wondering if I can convince Mike to take an early night so I can get some alone time with Londyn. Not for the obvious reasons, though I'm still getting wet dreams from the memory of her thighs againstmine. I just miss her. Miss talking to her. I miss the way her beautiful smile would peek out when she thought I wasn't paying attention.

I need to bridge this distance between us, so I'll see if she's up for another book club meeting tonight. I could read her some of that poetry she likes so much.

And I need to tell her the truth about NexaProtect and how I'm not getting paid. She's worried too much about cost, but I need to tell her I'm not leaving when the two months are up—not a chance—not unless I know for a fact she's safe.

What if she's pissed I've been lying? What if she's already decided to cut me loose regardless? What if—

The glass doors of her office building open, and my heart jumps in anticipation of seeing her again. A second later, there she is. Her hair is loose today and an oversized gray jacket hangs off her frame. Beautiful, even at this distance. Even with her head down.

But she's not alone.

Before my mind can process why, my body has a hardwired response and coils in preparation. There's something about the man beside her. The set of his shoulders. The way he's walking too close. The angle of his arm, like he's holding something.

He looks familiar, so I dig through my memories. What was his name? He's a coworker.

Josh Sullivan.

Moved to Manhattan earlier this year. Social media told me he has a girlfriend. Grew up in Oregon. Attended UCLA. His background check looked normal. Bland.

But he's too close to my Londyn and every alarm bell in my head starts blaring. Adrenaline floods my system as I watch them exit the building. My instincts are screaming that something is very, very wrong.

"Mike," I snap into the comm. "Do you have a visual? Are they talking?"

"I don't see—Hold on." A pause. "Moving in for a better look."

Maybe Josh is too close but this might be a situation where two coworkers walk out together, chatting about work or evening plans.

Maybe, but I'm not risking it.

I'm already crossing the street, weaving between cars that honk at me. A sudden swarm of people who leave a nearby restaurant slows me down, bodies becoming obstacles in my path. I keep my eyes locked on Londyn, on the way she's walking—too stiff, too careful. Her face is tight with fear, eyes darting around frantically.

She's looking for me.

She needs me.

"Something's wrong," I bark at Mike, breaking into a run and shoving people away who shout after me in anger. I'm sprinting to get to her, but Mike is closer. "Move in now. Go."

My eyes dart to the black SUV waiting at the curb and I realize that's where Josh is guiding her. He places an arm around her shoulders that would look casual to anyone not trained to recognize a hostage position.

Mike's voice comes back. "Closing in."

But we're both a few too many feet away and Josh is too quick. I push my legs harder, glimpsing Londyn's panicked face as Josh opens the rear door and shoves her inside. He runs to the driver's side and gets in.

I lunge forward, but the vehicle is already pulling away from the curb. Mike lunges for the door handle, but his fingers close on empty air. The SUV accelerates, cutting into traffic with precision.

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