Page 91 of Bad Blood

“I’m only gonna ask this one more time before I call the police. What are you doing here?”

She narrows her gaze, ripping her arm free of my hold. “I’m allowed to go wherever the hell I want. It’s not my fault you were here.”

“I’m always here.”

“How am I supposed to know that?”

“I figured you were keeping tabs.”

“My life doesn’t revolve around you”—she averts her gaze, pulling her lower lip between her teeth—“anymore.”

“That’s how it’s supposed to be.”

“If you’da given me the chance to explain.” She shoves past me and flips me off as she stops in the foyer.

“There was nothing to explain.” I enunciate every word. My irritation grows, and I glance over my shoulder, trying to figure out what floor we’re on as I plan my escape. No one knows how much of a conniving, manipulative nut-job she is better than me.

“Are you okay? You look a little flush,” she says, giving me a coy smile.

I go to pull my cap lower over my face to hide. Where the hell did it go? The halls feel like they’re closing in as my eyes bounce around the foyer. My chest tightens, and I can’t think. I jab my finger into the elevator call button, wishing I weren’t here, as I wait for one of the three elevator doors to open. “I need to go down.”

“Wrong floor?”

I let her mind go to whatever conclusion it desires. I just need to get the hell away. Liam’s going to have to wait a little longer.

“I wasn’t paying attention.” Why do I keep engaging her?

“This place is overwhelmin’. I get lost every time I come here.”

Her words draw me out of my need to escape. She comes here a lot? I don’t want to ask, but I need to know why. “For what?”

“I’m sure I’ll see you ‘round,” she says, ignoring my question as she meanders out of sight. “Hope everything’s going good with your brother’s treatment.”

I freeze, the blood in my veins turning to ice. Sirens erupt inside my head. The elevator makes it to the cafeteria, the circle lighting up before it returns to this floor.

How does she know about Liam?

My phone vibrates from my pocket, and I’m thankful for the distraction. “Hello?”

“Did you get lost?”

I cut Liam off. “Yeah, I’ll be there in a second.” I cover the mouthpiece with my hand as I back away from Dani. “One hundred feet. One. Hundred. Fucking. Feet.”

“Fuck you, Dax.” There’s an obvious threat in her tone, smashed between every letter of my name.

“I’d say it would be my pleasure, but you know . . .”

“I’d stay away from the park if I were you. Somethin’ bad took place there last night. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to that beautiful face.”

Was she there? Last night. When I was with Brighton? There’s no way . . . It’s all over the news. Chill out, Dax.

She makes her way to the end of the hallway and turns at the corner.

“Who’s that?” Liam’s voice tears me out of my nightmare.

“Dani.” I curl my hand at my side and wait for the elevator’s arrival.

“Dani, as in stalker-ex-girlfriend, Dani?” I don’t have to see his face to sense his surprise.

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