Page 119 of Aching for His Discretion

“Then I guess this is goodbye...” I said, standing up from the sofa, and he nodded.

“I never thought I’d see the day,” he whispered thankfully, and I gave a small smile.

“Neither did I,” I simply replied before turning to walk away. However, I stopped when I reached the doorknob.

“There is… one thing I forgot to do,” I muttered, and he tilted his head as I looked over my shoulder to him.

“And what would that be?” he asked, and before he could even notice, my gun was raised, and I shot a bullet straight through his chest. His face dropped at the realization, and I listened to him tumble to the ground, groaning in pain as he began to cough up blood.

Receiving a text, I ignored him as I stepped out of the room for a moment to have a better look at the message.

Rivera: She just left for the hospital.

I tilted my head in confusion as I opened another app.That seems a bit odd.Her necklace is still at the apartment complex. Thetrackerseemed to be in optimal condition…so she had to have taken it off. Silly girl.

“H-Help me,” I heard the fucker behind me beg, and I glared at him.

“You shut the fuck up!” I practically growled as he bled out on the floor.

Looking back at my phone, I received a message fromDr. Lombardi, my own personal doctor whom I sent to oversee Teegan at John Hopkins.

It was the link to the security camera in the front of the hospital. Opening it, I watched as my sweet Tesoro walked into the hospital… as I did every morning at 7:12 AM. She had a strict schedule… I had to be on time; I couldn’t possibly miss seeing her walk inside.

Make sure she has enough time to eat today. She needs to have her lunch and her snack break.

Dr. Lombardi: Of course, sir.

Switching to the hall of the hospital, I paused the video as I looked at my pretty girl… she was as beautiful as always. Shewould’ve looked even more beautiful had she worn the diamond necklace I’d given her, but she was forgiven. I’d always forgive you, Tesoro… I even forgive you for leaving me for the last two years... but I won’t forget. Not at all, Tesoro.

Ican’tlose you again. Iwon’tlose you again.

You belong to me.

And I’m changing Tesoro… I changed for you. I noticed my mistakes, learned from them… grew. I knew I had to get control of myself before I lost you, and that is what I did.

But you know I couldn’t let you go too far now,did you?The only thing the lying, stealing, conniving therapist actually truly helped me with… wascontrol.

And now that I have control, Tesoro... there’s only one thing I need, one thing I need to win back.You.

Arriving in Baltimore by plane was the easy part. Mustering up the courage to face you, Tesoro, would be the more challenging part. Nonetheless, it had to be done. Walking up to the complex, I looked around the lobby momentarily as I heard a bit of shuffling in the back office.

I rang the bell once, only to hear Rivera’s voice letting me know he’d be just a second. He stepped out of the office after a moment and stopped in his tracks by the doorway. The color seemed to drain from his face as I cracked my neck to the side.

“Thought you’d be more excited to see me,” I muttered.

He reluctantly sighed as he walked over to the front desk slowly. “She’s not here right now,” he muttered.

I nodded as I gazed toward the steps. “Oh, I know.”

He took a seat in the office chair and crossed his arms, the gears in his mind turning at my presence.

“I don’t think she’s ready yet. The boys told me they just noticed she wasn’t wearing the necklace.”

Looking down at my phone, I sighed, placing it in my pocket as I walked over to the staircase.

“Yeah. I noticed, too,” I muttered as I ascended them and walked over to her apartment door.

Opening it with the key, I stepped in, only to be met with a low purr. Looking over my shoulder as I pushed the door closed, I turned back to see the cat making its way over to me.

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