Page 44 of Beyond Oblivion

“Always,” she called to me as I headed for the bathroom.

“Love you!”

When I pulled up to Skin Deep, the lights were still off, the door still locked. I jiggled the key in the door and pulled, leaving the building dark until I walked into Calvin’s office. Flipping on the light revealed Kostas sitting in Calvin’s chair.

A primal, warrior-worthy war cry erupted from my throat as I cocked back my fist, fully prepared to launch just a few seconds before my brain registered the man quietly waiting for me wasn’t a threat—just a smug bastard patiently waiting in the dark to ruin my morning.

Kostas burst into laughter. “You should’ve seen your face, mate! Priceless!”

“Fuck off,” I grumbled, letting my fist drop. “How did you even get in here? Your truck isn’t out front.”

“Magic,” he said, standing. “You hired a private investigator to tail Maddie, didn’t ya? I’m guessin’ you wanna keep this private.”

“She’s not a fuckin’ spy, Kostas. You’re trying too hard.”

Kostas crossed his arms across his chest. “You came to me because of my contacts. I know the best. Not wasting the insane amount of money you’re paying Joe by getting sloppy.”

I dropped into the armless chair across from him, amused. Kostas looked out of place in Calvin’s chair, his oversized frame crammed into it like a grizzly trying to make peace with a preschool desk.

“She’s in the Grand Rapids facility,” he said, adjusting himself with the grace of a bull in IKEA. “But they’re planning to release her in three months. When they do, she’ll be back home with her parents. Their plan is to implement a security and tracking system for her, that’s the condition upon her return, anyway, per Millie Davidson from the Southern Pointe Country Club. Justine, Joe’s contact in reception, said Maddie isn’t allowed visitors just yet, but a point of interest is who called to inquire when that would change.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Someone shady, I assume?”

“Bingo.”

“Who?”

“Looking into it.”

“You know, though. Someone of interest. To you? To Joe? Who?”

“You’re asking the wrong questions, mate. The caller isn’t someone Madison knows. Could be someone she’s trying to convince to make waves here while she’s inside.”

“How could she convince someone she doesn’t know to bother us?”

“Coin,” Kostas said simply.

“Nah.” I shook my head. “She’s a college kid. No way she’s got that kind of cash. And her parents aren’t gonna bankroll her drama.”

“Maybe it’s money they stand to gain or save. It doesn’t always mean a payout.”

“To screw with me and Cami? Get real, man. Who the fuck would care enough to recruit a college kid to stir shit with us?”

He gave me a slow, deliberate look. “You’ve stirred anyone up lately, have ya?”

I snorted. “Lach. I’m a Maddox. Pissing people off isn’t a recent development—it’s a lifestyle.”

“You might wanna give it a think,” he said. “Could be somethin’ worth knowing. Anyone been poking their nose in where it doesn’t belong? If not, you’d best keep an eye out.”

I rubbed my temples. “Nah. I’m just gonna focus on stayingdrama-freefor the next three months. I’ll deal with it when she’s back in town.”

“You keep calling her a kid with a crush, Trent. Joe found out what she had stashed in her room. Got her parents properly freaked.”

“Do I wanna know?”

“Probably not, but I’m gonna tell ya anyway. Camille’s schedule, spots she hangs out, times, addresses—she had access to your appointments, both your rego numbers, and a journal full of ideas for stirring up trouble in your marriage, planting doubts…”

“We knew she was a stalker the second she showed up at the restaurant.”

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