Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
GIA
I circled the parking lot twice before finding a space. My hands still shook after that encounter with my Dad, even after taking Misty back to the house to sleep until I returned home. Chemo always took it out of her.
How could I have forgotten this big equine veterinary conference was today? I should be attending the talks. I needed the continuing education credits, but I didn’t have the right mindset to sit in a dark room for hours while someone talked at me.
The lot was jammed with unfamiliar vehicles, polished trailers, and farm trucks caked in mud. I squeezed my car into a narrow spot beside the work rigs and killed the engine.
For a moment, I sat there, gripping the steering wheel hard enough my knuckles blanched.
I needed work to drown out the receptionist’s confirmation that Misty’s insurance had been cut off.
I longed to erase the look on Misty’s face from my head.
And drown out my father’s voice threatening a little girl who had nothing to do with his sick crusade.
Yet, his voice kept crawling through my skull like poison.
Inside, Vision Veterinary Center was chaos.
The mixed animal building—half ER and small animal clinic, half storage and treatment space for livestock—buzzed with strangers at every turn.
Conference attendees clogged the halls in pressed khakis or jeans and polished boots.
Their chatter bounced off the walls, bright and normal, grating against the storm raging under my skin.
I finally found Marty near reception. In her sixties, she’d always managed Vision Veterinary. Marty did everything—staff wrangling, scheduling, paperwork, and crisis control. She somehow kept the whole place from collapsing.
Relief flashed across her face when she spotted me.
“Dr. Stevens. Thank goodness, you’re here.
Two farm calls this afternoon. The Sawyers, then a new client up off 24.
They’ve got a few goats, but one prolapsed.
I wrote everything down.” She pressed a folded paper into my hand, then the emergency 911 pendant on its chain. “And the truck keys.”
“I’ll grab a few supplies out of the room.” I glanced down. “And my boots.”
“Sounds good. Text me when you’re ready to go on to the goat place so I can send them a message with the heads up you’re on the way.” Marty resumed looking at her computer screen. Her eyes darted to the phone line where a new call needed answering.
I waved and turned. Every muscle in my body locked. Air stopped.
Justin.
For one stupid, suspended second, my brain refused to make sense of what I was seeing. That was my ex-husband, standing there, smiling and chatting.
Of course he was here. Why wouldn’t he be at one of the largest equine-only vet conferences on the east coast?
What my brain couldn’t process was the petite blonde curled against his side. My old tech. Amy’s hand was tucked comfortably in his.
Amy was—
My stomach dropped so violently I thought I might hit the floor.
Heat rushed up my throat. Cold sweat broke across my skin.
I bolted.
I barely made it to the bathroom before everything in me came up, like my body was trying to purge the sight of them.
Tears burned hot behind my eyes.
My hands shook.
Amy was pregnant. The one thing I had failed to do, that little husband-stealer had done.
One thought pounded louder than all the rest: Get out of here. Now.
I bolted for the large animal storage wing like a thief caught mid-heist, throwing frantic glances over my shoulder at every hallway intersection, half convinced Justin was right behind me.
My pulse battered my ribs hard enough to bruise. My lungs burned. My stomach churned, acid-hot and vicious, until I thought I might throw up again right there on the polished floor.
I ducked into the large animal barn and storage area and slammed the door behind me harder than necessary.
Silence.
Three stalls lined one wall. The fourth was packed floor-to-ceiling with equipment. The adjoining room held drugs and medical supplies. The sharp sterile smell of antiseptic and shavings was oddly grounding compared to the chaos in my head.
I sucked in a shaky breath, yanked out my preferred duffel, and started stuffing it with whatever my hands landed on. Syringes. Wraps. Gloves. Medications.
Survival by distraction.
Get out of here. Don’t think.
Duffel slung over my shoulder, I headed for the back exit.
Voices stopped me cold.
Josh Hurst’s voice carried down the hall, cheerful and oblivious.
“This is our farm animal barn when needed, plus storage. Most of our field work happens on-site, so we didn’t need the footprint the equine hospital has across the lot.
Occasionally, we have animals stay who need complicated surgery. ”
Another voice answered. Deep. Smooth. Familiar enough to make every muscle in my body lock solid.
I stepped into view and there he was.
Tall, but not as tall as Timothy, with brown hair kept short to easily fit into a surgical cap, Justin was beautiful in the same polished, venomous way as a snake.
Beside Justin stood Amy, smiling politely in her cute sundress with her baby bump, fully aware she was standing next to the wrecking ball that had once flattened my life.
I couldn’t smile. Couldn’t fake pleasant. I could barely breathe.
Josh brightened. “Gia, perfect timing. You can meet—”
“Justin Stevens.” My voice came out flat. I swallowed the acid clawing up my throat and gave Justin the same empty expression I’d perfected while surviving my father, the look that said you can’t hurt what you can’t reach. “We know each other, don’t we, Amy?”
My cold gaze slid to the tech that had sometimes helped me long ago.
Justin’s eyes skimmed over me, cold and assessing. I felt exposed and not enough. And ugly in ways mirrors could never show.
“I’m considering a position here,” Justin said smoothly, turning that practiced charm on Josh. “With the new surgical capabilities in the equine complex, I’d be a natural fit. Orthopedics. Intra-abdominal surgery. Frankly…” He smiled. “I’d be an asset few practices could compete with.”
Rage ripped through me so fast it made me dizzy. “Why?”
The single word cracked like a gunshot.
His eyes came back to mine.
I took a step forward. “Seriously, why are you here? Did you get bored when you couldn’t destroy my life any longer, so you followed me here?
Now you want to poison clients against me again?
Maybe you want to whisper in my boss’s ear that I’m unstable?
Dangerous? Criminal?” I jabbed a finger toward Josh.
“He’s right here. Go ahead. Tell him what you told everyone else. ”
Justin remained silent.
I tapped my mouth, pretending to think. “What was it?” My laugh came out sharp and broken.
“Oh, right. You accused me of stealing tramadol and selling it on the street. Called the DEA on me anonymously. They couldn’t find shit because it was a lie.
” I tilted my head. “Are you planning to do that here, too?”
His smile vanished. “Gia—”
“No.” My tone turned cold. “You don’t get to say my name like we’re old friends.” Years of fury burst loose. “What about when you told grieving owners I killed their mare during foaling? That I ‘gave the wrong medication’ when you were the one who told me exactly what to administer?”
Silence crashed over the barn.
Josh looked seconds away from stroking out.
Justin didn’t even look rattled. “I’m more of an asset than you could ever be.”
“Then you’re here to try to force me out of a job?
” I nodded, sharp and brisk. “Got it.” I cast Josh an apologetic gaze and softened my voice.
“I’m headed to the Sawyer farm for pregnancy checks on the cows.
Then there’s a prolapsed goat waiting on another property.
If you want to schedule a performance review tomorrow or terminate my employment, send me a text and we can set up a time to meet. ”
Without waiting for a reply, I stalked to the exit.