Chapter 3 - The Ghost from the Past
I stared at the glowing screen in absolute horror.
Brendan was pacing aggressively in front of my clinic, kicking the glass door.
He looked unhinged, exactly the way he used to look right before he would hurt me.
"If he burns that clinic down, the animals trapped inside will die," I choked out, tears stinging my eyes.
Jared slowly lowered the tablet.
"My men are stationed three blocks away from your clinic," Jared said.
"If you agree to stay here and save my dog, my men will arrest Brendan and ensure he never hurts you again."
I looked at the massive mafia boss, realizing I had absolutely no other choice.
"Fine," I whispered, the word tasting like ash in my mouth.
"I will stay until Titan is fully recovered."
Jared's sharp jaw tightened slightly, but he nodded.
He gestured toward a hallway illuminated by soft, recessed lighting.
"Your room is the last door on the left."
I walked down the quiet corridor, feeling like I was walking deeper into a beautiful prison.
The guest room was larger than my entire apartment, featuring a massive king bed and a skyline view.
I collapsed onto the mattress, completely exhausted from the longest night of my life.
I woke up hours later to the sound of Titan whining softly outside my door.
I opened it to find the massive dog sitting heavily in the hallway, staring up at me.
He had managed to walk all by himself.
I smiled for the first time in days and sat on the floor to scratch behind his ears.
I noticed a slightly open door across the hall, revealing a massive private office.
Curiosity overwhelmed my fear, and I quietly slipped inside.
The office was meticulously organized, with a heavy mahogany desk sitting in the center.
On top of the desk was a thick manila folder with my name printed in bold letters.
I held my breath and flipped the folder open.
Inside were hundreds of photographs of me.
Pictures of me buying groceries, walking to the clinic, and sitting alone in the park.
Some of the photos were dated more than a year ago.
Jared had not just bought me from Brendan tonight.
He had been watching me since the day I moved to Brooklyn.
May you like
I heard the distinct click of a gun being cocked right behind my head.
"You shouldn't be looking at those, Willa," Miles said softly.
