Page 168 of The Night Shift
Scrambling off the bed, I grab my pants from the floor, yanking my phone out of the pocket. A text. I swipe it open. My stomach drops.
Theo watches me closely. “Who is it?”
My fingers tighten around the phone. My pulse is thundering.
(917) 420-3857: tell him 2 stay away … or next time it will be u
Attached below is a photo of Camille bleeding on the floor of her apartment.
Chapter 33
Holly
Thirty-five minutes later
Cami’s apartment
“Stay out here. I mean it this time.” I step out of the car.
As expected, Theo doesn’t listen.
I hear the click of his door opening before I even make it to the curb. “I’m not letting you go in there all by yourself.”
“Good thing I wasn’t asking for your permission.”
“Why can’t I come along?”
“For one, I don’t think Cami likes you very much. And two, it could be dangerous.”
He scoffs. “More dangerous than being around you?”
I whip around to shoot him a glare. “Now isnotthe time.”
He exhales through his nose and pouts like an upset puppy. If it weren’t for the circumstances, I might have even found it cute.Might.
“Fine,” Theo grumbles, but not before stepping close and pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. “Be safe.”
The warmth of his lips lingers as I turn away, marching toward Cami’s building.
The second I step inside, I know something is wrong.
Her apartment door is unlocked. I grip the handle of my scalpel and push the door open with extra caution. It creaks.
A low groan comes from somewhere inside.
My pulse spikes. “Cami?”
No answer.
I step forward, tension coiling in my muscles. Another groan — closer now. The bathroom.
I rush toward it, pushing the door open.
Cami is on the floor, slumped against the bathtub. She blinks up at me. One eye is already swelling shut, a deep cut near her temple streaking blood down her cheek. The corner of her mouth is split, her lip puffy and stained red. There’s dried blood crusted on her skin, but some of the cuts are still fresh, glistening in the dim light.
My stomach twists.
“Oh my god.” I cross the room in three quick steps, dropping to my knees beside her. My hands hover, unsure where to touch. “Cami, what the fuck happened?!”
