Page 56 of Found By Him

I inhale shakily. “What you said hurt, but I know you didn’t mean anything.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but quickly closes it. Pushing his chair back, he stands and holds out his hand. “Come on. I’ll take you home. It might be a late night, but I’ll be by after the event that I have to work.”

Sometimes, I don’t know how he and Nate are doing it all. Especially Jack. Between dealing with making sure I’m taken care of and running a business that’s growing by the day, he’s running himself into the ground.

I grip his forearm to get his attention as we walk to the elevator, enjoying the feel of his muscles beneath my hand. “You need to hire some more employees. I’m worried about you.”

We step into the elevator, and after he pushes the button for the ground floor, he pulls me into his side. His arms wrap around my shoulders, and his lips graze the top of my head. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be fine. But you aren’t wrong about hiring more employees.”

By the time we make it back to my condo, our moods have lightened some. There will be time to stress about everything later, but right now, no matter how few they are, I want to try to enjoy the moments I have with Jack that don’t revolve around the messiness of my life.

We walk hand-in-hand down the hall, a small smile on my face. When we get to my door, there’s an envelope taped to it.

I glance around. I don’t see one on anyone else’s door.

Jack rips it off the door, concern lining his features.

I pull out my keys, my hands are quaking ever-so-slightly. “It’s probably just a letter from the buildingmanagement. Usually, they email, but sometimes they leave notes on our doors.”

Jack doesn’t look convinced as he follows me inside.

Before the door even closes behind us, Jack is tearing open the envelope.

“Goddamn it!” he bellows as he tosses the contents on my kitchen counter and pulls out his phone.

My heart stutters, and I cautiously walk across the room to see what has him reacting that way. I squeeze my eyes closed when I see what it is. The hairs on my arms stand up, and I feel sweat form down my back. Eyes popping open, I move the first photo to look at the next. Then the next. Until I get to the last one.

The photos are of me. Me with Tyler standing outside the flower shop, a red X over me. Me with Ian as he picked me up for work, the red mark aggressively colored over my face. The next is me and Jack outside the senior center. This one is different.

Over Jack,DEADis written in shaky handwriting.

29

Him

That fucking bitch. I knew she was a whore the moment I saw her. She’s proving me right tonight. I watch her leave her building and get in the overpriced vehicle of that muscled-up idiot.

Jack Sanders.

Nash Security.

I can’t imagine what my sweet Ella sees in him. Even more reason to punish her. She’ll pay for what she’s done. Excitement zips through me when I think about giving her exactly what she deserves. I will, of course, get my fill of her first. I need to know if what I imagine is correct. If I don’t, I’ll always wonder. And I don’t deal well with wondering. I like to know things for sure.

I can admit the pictures were a bit dramatic, but I couldn’t help myself. I bet that little bitch was so scared. Probably weeping.

Oh, what I would have given to be able to see that.

My plan is coming together quite nicely, if I do say so myself. Just a few more things to take care of, and everything will be perfect.

I love chaos. The confusion. The fear. It’ll be awesome.

I watch them share a long kiss after they get in the car. I won’t lie and say that I don’t like watching that. I cannot wait until that is me and not him.

Maybe I’ll follow through with the threat on the picture and kill him too when I’m done with her, just because I can.

I want to follow them, but there’s no way I can get to my car in time, especially if I’m trying not to attract attention. A man sprinting to his car is sure to do just that.

I smile as I stare into the brake lights as the vehicle stops at the corner before they turn left.

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