Page 39 of Puck Me

“How much do you want?” I ask resignedly, already going over numbers and budgets in my head.

“Stay away from Chester.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Chester ismine.You’re to break up with him at once, and don’t you dare tell him why—I’m listening and I’ll know if you do.”

No way. This can’t be happening. It’s like something out of a movie. “But, but don’t you just want money?”

“I have no use for your money. All I want is Chester. Now, are you going to stay away from him, or do I need to contact the police?”

“I…”

“You have an hour to decide.”

The line clicks as the mysterious stalker hangs up.

I stare at the phone screen, trying to process what just happened. How could everything go so wrong, so fast?

I broke the law, that’s how. I should have known it would end badly for me, and it did. I didn’t expect it to go quite so spectacularly wrong, but I guess that’s what you get when you engage in criminal behavior.

The question is, now what am I going to do? I can’t leave Chester. I… I’m in love with him. He’s the light of my life… and yet… my work is the same as ever. It fulfils me just the same as it always did. More importantly, I’m saving lives.

Can I really put my own selfish wish for happiness with Chester above the lives of all the patients I will save throughout my career? I would never forgive myself if I were to do that.

Sometimes, you have to make sacrifices. Even if it means sacrificing my own future, I made an oath. I made an oath to help people, and if leaving Chester is what it takes…

It feels like my heart is shattering as I walk back into the bedroom. I know what I have to do.

11

Chester

Ican tell from the moment that Storm walks into the room that something is seriously off. “Storm? What’s wrong?”

“I need to talk to you, Chester.”

“Okay. What’s up?”

Storm sighs. “I fucked up. I fucked up bad.”

“What’s wrong, baby? What did you do?”

“I… The details aren’t important. What’s important is that I did something illegal, and I’ve been uncovered. You should know that your safety is in question. That call I just got? Someone has been stalking you, and he’s demanding that I stay away from you, or he’s going to turn me over to the police.”

“Wait. Just back up a moment. What did you do? I know you, Storm. It can’t be anything really bad. You’re too good of a person to do something truly awful.”

“You’re wrong, Chester. I crossed a line. I was doing it for the right reasons, but I… I fucked up.”

“What did you do?” I repeat.

“I can’t tell you.”

“Like hell you can’t! You said someone is stalking me! This is my business, too.”

I don’t believe that Storm did anything so bad he can’t tell me. He’s the best man I’ve ever known. He would never—

“I blackmailed Dr. Kline to get you into the clinical trial.”

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