Page 99 of Nate

“Oh, thank you so much, Doc Russ,” Jodi said, smiling.

“You deserve it. I’ll be in my office.” Markie smiled then headed for her office. Hopefully, she’d be busy enough to forget about seeing Jarrett.

Saturday evening, Markie sat on the sofa, idly stroking her cat as she waited for the time to check on the dog who had recently undergone surgery. She couldn’t help but smile as Socks purred contentedly on her lap.

“I miss Nate tonight, Socks,” Markie whispered to the feline. “I hope he’s having a good time. After I check on the dog again, I’ll send him a text.”

The timer on her phone went off, jolting her out of her thoughts. It was time to administer pain medication to the recovering dog. Markie carefully placed Socks back onto the sofa and made her way to the door. As she stepped outside, she pulled the door closed, locked it, and ran down the stairs. She stopped at the bottom when she thought she heard something, quickly brushed it off as paranoia and continued to the back entrance of the hospital. Jarrett couldn’t know she was coming down to the hospital, even if he had found out where she lived. She shivered at the thought.

After unlocking and entering through the back door, Markie turned off the alarm system and made her way toward the recovery room. The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air. Then with a sigh, she realized she hadn’t locked the door behind her.

She turned the corner and came to a stop when she saw Jarrett standing inside the door, grinning at her. He reached behind him, turned the lock and took a step forward, but Markie turned and ran back along the hallway. She quickly entered an exam room, and tried to close the door, but he grabbed it pushed it hard, making her fall onto the floor.

Jarrett walked inside the room, closed the door and laughed.

“Well, well. Look what we have here.”

“Get out,” Markie shouted.

“I don’t think so. First thing you’re going to do is take me to the room where the medications are kept—”

“How about no?”

“Then, you’re going to give me all the opioids that you have—”

“You can go to hell,” Markie said as she got to her feet, but backed up when Jarrett strode toward her and trapped her against a counter between his arms. Then he touched her hair, making her jerk away from him. “Don’t touch me.”

“Oh, Markie, I’m going to do more than touch you. You’ve done nothing but tease me for years. Wearing short skirts or shorts. Shaking your ass anytime I was around. You wanted your mother to divorce me because you wanted me, and now you’re going to get me. All the times you’d tell me no, or push me away, was just a tease.”

“I wasn’t teasing. You are fucking delusional,” she snapped.

Jarrett laughed, making her feel sick. She had to get away from him. Damn it! Why hadn’t she set the alarm? Then a thought came to her.

“I didn’t turn off the alarm. The sheriff’s department will be here soon.” She saw his eyes widened, then he grinned.

“Liar. They would have been here by now. You opened the door, Markie. If you hadn’t turned off the alarm, it would have gone off. You didn’t even lock the door.” Jarrett’s hand wrapped around her throat. “Did you have that fucking cowboy on your mind so much that you forgot?”

Markie grasped his wrist, trying to hang on to her sanity as he choked her, then he suddenly let go of her.

“I want to have too much fun with you to do that... yet.”

“I will fight you every step of the way.”

Jarrett grinned. “Just the way I like it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun. “Move. You’re going to take me to that room.” Markie shook her head but jumped when he shouted.“Now!”

Markie’s heart raced as she tried to think of a way out of this situation. Jarrett had been a constant thorn in her side for years. And now, he seemed more dangerous than ever.

“Move. We’re going to the dispensary,” Jarrett said with a glint in his eye.

“No way in hell,” Markie spat, trying to push past him.

“You brought that cowboy to Idaho to make me jealous. And now, I’m finally going to take what you’ve been offering.”

Markie’s blood boiled at his words, and she struggled against him. But they both froze when they heard her cellphone buzz from her pocket. She started to reach for it, but Jarrett shook his head.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“It could be an emergency, and I am the only vet on call this weekend. If I don’t answer, they’ll call Tess, and she’s in Kalispell.”

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