“Ginger says Chloe’s been crying.”
His hand clenched around the disposable cup, crumpling it. “That’s not my concern.”
“Like hell it isn’t.” Houston leaned across the counter, voice low. “I don’t know what you did, but that girl’s miserable. And you—” He gestured at Victor’s haggard appearance. “You’re barely holding it together.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re an idiot.”
He left before he could respond. Or shift. Or put his fist through Houston’s concerned face.
Sam cornered him at the Moonlight Tavern two nights later, actually emerging from the water and entering the tavern in his land form.
“Nina says?—”
“I don’t care what Nina says.” He downed his whiskey in one burning swallow. “I don’t care what any of you say. I made my decision.”
“To be miserable?” Sam settled on the barstool beside him. “Bold choice.”
“To be safe. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?” The Kraken cocked his head, studying him with those ancient silver eyes. “Seems to me safe is just another word for alone.”
“I’m alone by choice.”
“Doesn’t make it hurt less.” Sam signaled the bartender for another round. “I tried to keep Nina at a distance, to protect her from myself.”
“And?”
“And I was wrong.” Sam accepted his drink with a nod of thanks. “Being with her is easier than being without her. She calms me.”
“I’m not a Kraken.”
“No, you’re a Hyde. Don’t you ever wonder why he’s part of you?”
He had, many times. The journal Chloe found had referred to the Hyde as the guardian within, but his father’s records painted him as nothing but a curse.
“Doesn’t matter,” he muttered. “The result is the same. I’m dangerous.”
“To enemies, maybe.” Sam sipped his drink. “But to Chloe? To that baby? I saw you at Halloween, remember. Watching them from the shadows. Looking like someone had carved out your heart.”
“I was?—”
“Protecting her from a distance. Yeah, I got that.” Sam set down his glass. “Question is, who are you really protecting? Her from the big bad Hyde? Or yourself from actually being happy?”
He didn’t answer. Couldn’t answer.
The next day, he caught a glimpse of her entering the Town Hall. She looked tired. Pale.Beautiful.Hyde surged and his vision flashed green before he could suppress it. The car swerved and he jerked the wheel straight, nearly clipping a parked truck.
He took another dose of the formula when he got to the clinic. Then another that night. And again the next morning. His hands shook so badly he couldn’t hold his coffee cup steady. The tremor spread up his arms, making even basic tasks difficult.
“Dr. Jackson.” Petal appeared in his office doorway, her tiny form somehow imposing. “You need to stop.”
“Stop what?”
“Whatever you’re doing to yourself.” She crossed her arms. “The suppression formula. You’ve made three batches this week. Double your normal usage.”
“My dosage is not your concern.”
