Page 24 of Beneath the Scars

"So this guy? He's the agent sent here to find that killer everyone is talking about?" she asks, frowning at the cup she clutches in her hands.

"Yeah. Agent Byron Scott."

Jayne's cup nearly tumbles from her hand as she jumps up from her perch on my desk. "I need to get going. Sorry. I'm late for my rounds and wasn't expecting all of this," she says as she waves between the two of us.

"Uh. Okay. You fine, Jayne?"

The pinched look on her face softens a smidge, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah. I'm sorry. I just need to get going. I'll phone you, okay? We'll plan to have a proper talk this week instead of being rushed like this."

Once again, I feel like another rug is being pulled from under my feet.

Chapter Twenty

Lillian.

I don't know why you think you can just go around like this when you know you belong to me.

You're mine.

You’ve shared what belongs to me with someone else.

Don't worry, though. I'll fix it. I'll fix us.

Soon, my sweets. You'll see me soon, and I’ll keep watching you.

Yours always,

xo

Chapter Twenty-One

Lillian

Thenotearrivedwitha box of chocolate-covered cockroaches. I went out for lunch and returned to them on my desk.

Along the way, I left things with both Byron and Jayne, which has left a nasty taste in my mouth.

It's quite fitting, seeing that my stalker has upped his game and sent me the ickiest bugs known to man.

With a heavy heart I pick up my phone to call Byron.

"Baby," he answers, his voice soft, instantly making me feel better about calling him. I don't know what was happening this morning, but whatever it was must be over now or under control enough for him to at least be happy to hear from me. I'm instantly filled with regret that I have bad news.

"Hi, honey," I respond before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I don't want to bother you while you're working, but I got another package."

"Shit." He silences the speaker, probably saying something to someone he's with before coming back to me. "Give me ten minutes to wrap up here, and then I'll head that way."

"Okay, Byron."

"Lily?" he calls, surprising me by drawing a smile from me. "It will be okay, I promise."

He hangs up, and I'm left with nothing but my messed-up thoughts and an overwhelming urge to throw the chocolates into the trash.

"You okay, Doc?"

I jump at the sound of Karl's voice from behind me. His gaze travels to the box I've been staring at before carefully smiling at me. "You got a new boyfriend, doc?"

Shaking my head, I take a careful step back from the desk. "No. Yes. Uh, it's complicated, but the chocolates aren't from the guy I'm seeing."

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