Page 49 of Mine to Keep

I pushed off him. “I left a message for Officer Mendez. No killing, Nick.”

“Do you think it stops here, Matt? They are evolving; they’ve touched you. They will want more.”

A shiver jolted up my spine, the fear nearly suffocating. “I’m okay.”

“I see you’re physically fine for now. Matt, please don’t brush this off.”

“I’m not!” I yelled. “This is happening to me, Nick. Me. I’m doing what I can the best way I can. I don’t need you scaring me more.”

He pulled me to him again and I went willingly. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to scare you.”

“He saw you and me together, took a picture.” I pulled it from my pocket. Nick took it and glared at the photo. “Said I was breaking their heart and to end it or they would.”

Nick was gritting his teeth, and I wanted to soothe him just as much as I wanted to let him loose. Part of me wanted Nick to make this stop anyway he could, but I didn’t know if I would be able to live with that.

“Come inside.” His eyes scanned the area. “You’re safe here.”

I entered the house, surprised that I didn’t see anyone. “Where’s JJ?”

“Outside. He said he’d be waiting for you there. I told him I needed to speak with you first.”

I nodded. “And everyone else?”

“Some are with Noel working on not being tech illiterate. The rest are at Saintly Sweets.”

“Does JJ know?”

“They’ll all be informed this evening. I need their help with these background checks. The faster I get it done, the sooner this will be over.”

I followed Nick to the kitchen, where I could see JJ in the yard. “And you really think whoever is doing this is someone on that list?”

“I absolutely do.” He spoke with so much conviction, I believed him.

“Right…” I hooked a thumb toward the window. “I’m going out to work with JJ.”

“Come find me when you’re all done.” He gave me a quick peck on the lips and was off to do something dark and dangerous, I was sure.

I shook my head and walked outside. JJ was smiling at me, like a cheesy-ass grin.

“You’re chipper this morning.”

He jerked his chin at the house. “Saw that…windows are transparent.”

I hung my head and chuckled. “Of course you did.”

“Not so much enemies anymore but instead, lovers perhaps?”

“We were never enemies, JJ.” I laid out the two yoga mats.

“Uh-huh, riiiiiiiiiiiiiight.” He winked and began doing his stretches.

For the next forty-five minutes, we went through his PT. He didn’t ask any more questions about Nick. However, while I was packing up, he got all serious.

“Something new happened, didn’t it?” His eyes flickered to the left, probably trying to see if anyone was watching us. “Nick said you agreed to let us help.”

I hooked the bag on my shoulder. “Yeah, let’s get a drink, and I’ll tell you about it before your massage.”

JJ and I sat in the kitchen hydrating while I told him everything new. To JJ’s credit, when I got to the part where Nick came by and stayed the night, he didn’t push further; instead he was concerned for me.

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