Page 82 of A Stop in Time

DANIEL

It takes every ounce of restraint I have to not punch the back of the seat in front of me. A rock. She fell on a motherfucking rock.

My fingers curl into fists, my knuckles going white, and I wish like hell I’d been there. I sure as shit wouldn’t have let her slam her face into the ground, let alone a rock. I bet anything she’d passed out again and that’s how she got banged up.

I don’t have fuckin’ time for this, I inwardly remind myself. I need to keep my eye on the prize and get to the bottom of Emilia’s murder. But fuck if the universe isn’t hellbent on throwing me crazy-ass curveballs.

When the bus draws to a stop and Mac rises from her seat, I follow suit. We exit and I fall into step beside her as she leads me along the sidewalk to a strip mall. The closer we get to one door marked with a simple Open sign, more nervousness radiates off her in thick waves.

“You okay?”

She nods. “Yeah.” But she’s not the least bit convincing. “I just hate needles, and they have to sedate me for part of it.” Drawing to a stop beside the door, she hesitates, her eyes darting everywhere except at me. “I’ll be pretty wrecked afterward, so if you don’t want to stick around—”

I step forward, forcing her to meet my gaze. “Not goin’ anywhere ’til you’re done.”

What appears to be relief flashes across her face before she clears her throat and faces the door. “All right.” She shakes out her arms and releases a slow breath. “Let’s do this.”

I pull open the door and gesture for her to precede me, following her inside. A dark-haired woman sits behind the receptionist’s desk. “You must be Mackenzie. Right on time, just like they said.”

Mac fidgets before shoving her hands in the back pockets of her jeans. “Is Lara here?”

The woman’s mouth turns down in an exaggerated frown. “Sorry, she’s no longer with us. She accepted a promotion at a different location. I’m Tabitha.” Her eyes drift over Mac in thorough appraisal.

“Oh. Nice to meet you.”

Tabitha’s gaze locks on me, and the entire room feels like it drops twenty degrees. Damn. If I had to guess, she’s either damn protective of Mac…or she’s got a thing for her. Which is odd, considering they just met. “I’m sorry, sir, but only trial patients can be inside the office.”

Mac’s lips part to protest, but Tabitha rushes on with a smile directed at her. “It’s a stipulation for insurance reasons.”

“No problem. I’ll wait on one of the benches outside.”

Mac tosses me a look of apology while Tabitha comes out from behind the desk to stand with her. “Okay, beautiful. Let’s take you on back and get you prepped.”

The woman swipes her badge at the door, prompting a mechanical click, and pushes it open, gesturing for Mac to head inside.

Tabitha lingers at the door, watching me as I exit the small office, and I swear, the sensation of her beady eyes tracks every step I take to the nearest bench.

Some buried possessiveness emerges, and it takes monumental effort not to bust back in there. I sit and wait for her, making some calls in the meantime, and do my best to ignore the lingering sensation of Tabitha watching me.

38

MAC

Tabitha’s black hair makes her fair skin look much paler, but her red lipstick makes the contrast even sharper. Those black scrubs certainly don’t help the least bit.

As always, my muscles are wrought with nervous anxiety, and nausea plagues me. God, I fucking hate needles.

After setting my phone and keys on the designated tray on the slim counter, I slide into the cushioned leather chaise. My fingers clutch the armrests like it’s a life raft and I’m in fear of drowning.

Tabitha skims the paperwork affixed to her clipboard, her pen in hand. “Any updates or issues since your last appointment with us?”

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. “Yes. I woke up this morning with no idea when I went outside and I ended up with these.” I show her my hands before sliding my sunglasses up to rest on my head. “And this.”

Tabitha takes the sight of my eye in stride, poker face fully intact as she records my response in my file. “And no one discovered you or saw you at any point?”

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“Do you have a lingering headache or dizziness?”

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