Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
ERIKA
Two weeks later
I typed notes as fast as I could to finish up the last case. Appointments had run later than expected this Saturday. I’d missed Vinny’s two games this morning, but it was a tournament, which meant I could see him play tomorrow.
Josh and I remained civil at work as the days blurred by, but something had broken between us. He couldn’t look at me. He wouldn’t discuss the architect’s plans for the new facility. He wouldn’t talk about anything that had to do with my business proposal.
I’d been able to push off a meeting with the Tadlocks and the other big horse people for another week. But I had a bad feeling that when we finally had the official meeting with our potential investors next week, he’d say I had to do it alone. Could I? Yes. Did I want to? No.
“I’m heading out,” Bonnie called as she left. “Marty is finishing up front.”
I waved. “I’m almost done. Thanks for your help keeping me on track today.”
Finally done, I ducked into the office to grab my stuff. As I stepped out, I heard, “Hello, babe.”
My head whipped around to the entrance to the treatment area.
Jay Renfroe leaned against the doorway with his arms folded over his chest. Shadows lurked under his eyes.
Dark stubble lined his chin and under his nose.
His kakis and blue button-down shirt were wrinkled. I’d never seen him look so unkept.
“Jay.” I tried to keep my voice smooth, but his fanatical grin shot anxiety through me. “What are you doing so far from Philly?”
“I’ve come to get my girl.”
“Me? We broke up. I moved away weeks ago.” I pulled out my phone and sent Josh a 911 text.
Darkness lurked in his laughter. “I see you know how to use your phone. If you’d read your texts, you would see I arranged for you to get your job back. Once you’re back where you’re supposed to be—in my bed, working in my hospital—then all will be right again. Then Stillwell will hire me back.”
He stepped deeper into the treatment area, each slow footfall echoing off the sterile walls.
The air tightened around us. I held perfectly still, every instinct screaming that something in him had broken.
I cursed myself for letting Tracker go with Vinny to the tournament this morning.
He’d been so excited, tail thumping, and I hadn’t wanted to disappoint either of them.
“You’re coming with me. Now.”
“I—” My voice came out rough, thin. “I’m still trying to get things stable here with my father’s practice. What if I can’t just drop everything and go to Philly right this second?”
A smile twitched on Jay’s mouth. “Then I’ll put a bullet through the skull of that nice lady sitting up front. And if that doesn’t motivate you…” He lifted his right hand, letting the overhead lights glint along the barrel now aimed casually in my direction. “Well, I’ll get creative.”
A dark storm churned in his eyes. I couldn’t look away. Couldn’t breathe.
“Put the cell phone on the floor and slide it to me.” He waved the gun in threat.
I put it down and kicked it his way. He crunched the phone with the heel of his muddy sneaker.
“It was you who walked out,” he hissed. “We all know you made a mistake.”
My mind spun, whirring with possible weapons, potential exits, distractions—anything to hold him off until Josh could get here.
The baseball field was ten minutes away.
And it might take him several minutes to get from the fields to his truck.
If he even checked his phone. I needed to redirect Jay, stall for time.
I held up my hands. “Maybe I did make a mistake.”
“I just said that. You were stupid to leave.”
My eyes didn’t leave the gun he held as he waved it around. Would he really shoot me?
I forced out, “You put me in a tough spot that night. I had to figure out what to do with the kid.” Maybe it would help if I was derogatory towards Vinny. “I couldn’t throw him out in the middle of the night. What other choice did I have?”
“I know that.”
“I’m sorry my leaving caused you trouble.” I schooled my features into concern. “Was there a lot of backlash?”
“Backlash?” He barked out a laugh that came out high pitched and feral, like a howling dog.
Maybe it had been a stupid thing to ask. The adrenaline coursing through me was muddying my thoughts. My flight instinct was overriding my fight. I wasn’t sure I could win a physical battle with him anyway.
Jay’s voice was flat, almost bored. “I was fired from the hospital once Stillwell realized my bookkeeping was…a smidge off. He gave me a choice: walk away or bring you back.”
“I’m sorry,” I said, the lie tasting bitter on my tongue.
“Sorry?” He spat the word, stalking closer with slow, deliberate steps. “Everything is your fault.”
The space between us vanished inch by inch, and my thoughts fractured into frantic calculations. I could bolt through the back door to the left, if I moved fast enough. But what about Marty? Had Jay knocked her out? Hurt her? Worse?
If I stayed, he’d kill me. I lunged past him toward the back door.
Toward my only chance for freedom. My breath tore out of my chest. I could see it, just a few more steps, escape was right there.
My hand was on the door handle. I got it open and pushed out, but Jay’s arms locked around my waist and ripped me off the ground.
I kicked and clawed and screamed, striking anything I could reach—his legs, his face—anything to make him let go. But he was a wall, immovable and furious.
He threw me. I slid across the linoleum floor until my ribs slammed against the base of the treatment table. Pain burned through me. I gasped, scrambling to my knees, dizzy, terrified, my vision blurring with tears.
His hand tangled in my hair—fist tight, merciless. His face came down close to mine. “You missed me, didn’t you?”
When I didn’t reply he shook me hard. “Didn’t. You?”
“Y-ye-yes,” I manage to get out.
His face lowered close enough to mine I could smell his fetid breath.
He must not have brushed his teeth in days.
“You’re mine. I knew it the moment you started your internship.
It’s why I pushed Stillwell to keep you on for the residency.
He thought it’d be better if you got experience elswhere.
But I knew I would get you in line and in my bed. ”
“If I go back with you, what will happen to Vinny?”
His eyes darkened. Oops. Wrong thing to ask. “I’ll dispose of him before we leave. We don’t need the excess baggage.”
“You will leave my brother alone!”
He made a frustrated noise. “Such a stupid bitch.”
He dragged me forward. I barely had time to scream before he smashed my head into a cabinet, and the world exploded into stars.