Chapter 31
KAYLA
Nerves skitter in my gut as I clutch the door handle of Dr. Collins’s office. We have to break up today, and it makes me sad because I did like him. But after that night at my birthday party, I can’t shake off the unease.
Hopefully, he’ll understand. Blowing a quick breath, I open the door before I change my mind.
“Hello there.” He looks up from his yellow pad, his glasses perched low on his nose.
Suddenly, the nerves return, and I bite my upper lip as a smile trembles out of me.
“Please have a seat, Ms. Jenkins.” He straightens his spine as he takes me in. “I was beginning to worry. You have cancelled our last few sessions.”
“Yeah, uh…” I lower onto the brown leather. “I had tests and stuff. Had no time.”
He nods. “I understand the pressures of school, but you must put your mental health first or else you will fall back to your old habits.”
My heart beats faster. “Right, yes.”
“How are you doing otherwise? Have the nightmares been recurring? This madman is still on the loose. I can’t believe they’re not able to catch him yet.”
“The nightmares have been better.”
I ignore the part about the killer. It’s the last thing I want to think about, not after everything…
“Well, that is great. The medication is working, then.”
“Yes.”
Or maybe the murders are. It’s been cathartic. Killing those men. Sometimes I forget they’re not the men from before, from my past. To me, though, they’re all the same. Same soul, different face. And in the end, your soul is all that matters.
“There is something I wanted to talk about,” I tell him.
And there goes my pulse, ricocheting in my throat.
“Of course.” Concern fits his thick gray brows. “What is it?”
“This is a bit uncomfortable for me, but I was thinking…”
“Yes?”
“I was thinking of switching therapists.”
“Oh?” He narrows a gaze. “Any particular reason?”
“I think you may have been right. It’s difficult for me to talk about what I went through with a man. It’d be easier with a woman, you know?” I play with the hem of my t-shirt, hoping he buys it.
His mouth thins. “Of course. I understand. I can recommend someone within the center, unless you’re looking to go outside of it.”
“No, I’m going to stay in the center, and I already do have someone in mind.”
Complete bullshit, because I have no clue. There are numerous therapists here, and they’re all free.
“That’s wonderful.” He grins. “The most important thing is for you to get the help that you need. I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to talk to me about it. I do wish you all the luck in the world, Kayla. You have come so far. You’re doing great.”
I nod with a tight smile. It almost makes me feel guilty for leaving because right now he seems just like the man he always was.
“We can cut this session short if you’d like.”
“Yes. That would be great. I have to study before my classes later.”
“Well, it was nice knowing you, Ms. Jenkins. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.” He nods as I get to my feet and head for the door.
ADRIEL
While Kayla is meeting with her therapist, I scan the police files online in my basement. Hoping to find some new piece of evidence on the Midnight Murderer, I look through everything the cops have.
I never expected there to be two killers. One was taller. That’s all I was able to get from the recording the night they hurt Kayla. Their faces were shrouded in ghost face masks. Nothing to go on at all.
I need to find them before they come for her again.
My phone vibrates on my desk, and when I stare down at it, I see Michael’s name.
Shit. I’ve been avoiding him. He’s gonna have questions, especially about the whole my-parents-being-dead thing. But when I was Chris and told Kayla my parents were dead, I wasn’t thinking it would come back to bite me.
My parents are dead. Both of them. They may as well be. But now, this could fuck me. I have to figure out what the hell to say to him.
Slipping the voice changer into my mouth, I answer the call. “Hello?”
“I’ve been calling for days. Why haven’t you answered?” The tight flare of his quiet rage fills my ears.
“My mother’s hospital has poor reception. I apologize. I’ve been here night and day.”
“Your mother not doing well?”
“She’s not. She’s on her last breath. Any day now.”
“I’m sorry.” He doesn’t sound like he gives a shit.
“But we need you back. Things with the traffickers have taken a turn. Dom Cavaleri and his brothers have captured a few who have given up some of the smaller rings around the country, and it’s all hands on deck.
I need you here. You’re one of the best I have. ”
Fuck!
I thought I had more time. But I can’t lose this fucking job. I need to stay on top of this family.
“I get it. Let me see if one of my brothers can stay with her. Can I let you know tonight?”
“Sure. I’ll be waiting. Take care.” He hangs up, while I try to figure out what the hell to do.
Returning to the computer screen before me, I hit a few buttons, seeing that Kayla is back at the hotel. I have to get out of here. The less she’s alone, the better.
“What the hell do you mean, you’re going to be Chris again?!” She gawks. “You can’t do that! Michael is gonna kill you!”
“No, he won’t.” I grab her hips and fit her on top of my lap where she belongs.
Her eyes are two pillars of rage.
My smirk widens, deepening with her concern. “You worried about me, baby bird?”
“Yes, you idiot! I am! I can’t lose you, do you understand that?” Her brows weave tight. “If you go back, he’ll kill you. Michael is dangerous.”
“Babe, so am I. And did I mention how sexy it is when you worry about me?”
“You know what’s not sexy?” She narrows her gaze. “Your death.”
“Kayla.” I palm her cheek and stroke my thumb over the corner of her mouth. “You think I’d go unprepared? I’m always ready for war.”
“Not much of an army when you’re alone.”
“I don’t need one when I have the kinds of weapons I do.”
She shakes her head. “Why are you so infuriating?”
“I don’t have a choice. I have to go. If he was telling the truth about the traffickers, I want to do everything to help. It’s one thing I agree with the bastard on. But if it’s a trap and they’re trying to get me, then I’ll be ready.”
I grab the back of her head and lower my forehead to hers.
“I have something to live for now,” I whisper. “I have you. And nothing and no one will take me away from you. I swear it.”
“You don’t know that,” she breathes, her lips softly kissing mine. “You’re not invincible.”
“Sometimes with you, it feels like I am.”
“Adriel…” She sighs and smashes her lips to mine, kissing me deeper.
And with a growl, I lift her off the chair and throw her onto the bed. “I need you.”
With her eyes boring into mine, she says, “Then need me.”
And I get lost inside her for hours, wishing we could stay this way forever.