Page 36 of Vital Signs
"Often enough." His words came slowly. "Someone has to watch for predators. Social workers who pocket benefit checks. Cops who trade arrests for favors. Dealers who spike product without warning."
And he'd just let me inject him because he trusted me. Or because he had no choice. Either way, the power made my pulse quicken.
I pulled into the clinic parking lot, killing the headlights. The building loomed dark against the winter sky, all sharp angles and locked doors. A fortress. But I'd learned how to slip past defenses in Paris, where the stakes had been fashion shows and my career. This was just a different kind of performance.
"Do you know what the Laskins do?" I asked.
"I've heard stories." Hunter sat forward slightly. "Word is they're in with the Russian mob."
I smirked at that. I was more Russian mob than most of the Laskins were, considering my father had been an enforcer in Paris. "They're vigilantes," I said. "That's why I had to go to the family meeting. I wanted their help with this."
Hunter frowned. "I thought you said the family meeting didn't go well."
"It didn't. My family thinks I'm too damaged to handle this case," I said, pulling out the stolen keycard. "They don't understand what it means to be disposable."
Hunter turned his head, studying my profile. "You know about being disposable."
I flipped the card between my fingers. "Everyone's so busy protecting me from myself. They want to treat me like I'm a delicate little kitten. Well, I'm not." I closed my fist around the badge before looking over at Hunter. "They've forgotten I have claws, too."
"Then let's remind them," he said and opened his door.
The service entrance opened smoothly thanks to Miranda's keycard. We slipped inside, and I pulled my hood up while handing Hunter a black bandana from my pocket. He tied it around the lower half of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
And that look? It made me hot for him in ways that I hadn't thought possible.
I tied my own bandana in place and led the way deeper into the building. The hallway stretched before us, emergency lighting casting everything in red. It reminded me of backstage at fashion shows. That charged darkness before stepping into the lights, when anything seemed possible.
Hunter moved beside me, surprisingly graceful despite the drugs. I matched his pace, and the synchronicity made me think of choreography. Of being paired with someone who knew how to move, how to use space, how to make danger look easy.
Come play, I thought, the same words I'd used watching Hunter from the funeral home window.Let's see what we can do together.
The records office was exactly what I'd expected. Rows of computer workstations, servers humming. Hunter moved to one while I positioned myself so I could see both him and the door.
He tried the keyboard, frowning. "Locked out. They terminated my access years ago."
I pulled out Miranda's keycard, flipping it over to show the password written in faded blue ink. "M!randa2024!"
Hunter looked at it, then at me. "People never learn."
"Lucky for us." I pulled out the cloning device and plugged it into the USB slot. "This'll copy everything."
The screen filled with billing records. Hunter navigated through directories, his movements still slightly slowed by the fentanyl, but his mind sharp. Over his shoulder, files scrolled past, my chest nearly touching his back. I could claim the cramped space made it necessary. We both knew better.
"Here. Claims under Wright's provider number."
Tyler's name appeared on the screen. My throat tightened, but I kept my voice steady. "Look at these addresses. Tyler's listed as '127 River Road, c/o Athens Outreach Center.'"
Hunter scrolled down. "Same address for a dozen others. Riverside Shelter, Haven House. They're all homeless."
The pattern crystallized as we clicked through records. Dozens of participants, all belonging to shelters. All receiving investigational drugs through sponsor-covered payments. All disposable in Wright's eyes.
"Here's Tyler's timeline," Hunter said. "December 15th emergency room visit. Adverse drug reaction. Sponsor-covered." He clicked forward. "December 20th, another trial visit. More investigational drugs."
The casual cruelty of it made my stomach turn.
"Look at this." I pulled up another file, my hand covering Hunter's on the mouse. "Three more deaths Wright covered up."
Hunter leaned closer to read. His breath was warm on my neck.
