“What the fuck?” Startled, she blinked, and her eyes opened, looking confused. Lindsey reached out to touch my chest again, and I stepped back.
“Linc, after all the history we have together, aren’t you glad to see me? Can’t we just talk privately, for old times’ sake?” She flipped her hair. Her voice was saccharine sweet, and it made my stomach turn.
“No. I’m not. I’m notgladthat you’re back. I’m notgladthat you called me. And I’m really notgladthat you came within 500 feet of my woman. I don’t know what you’re up to, but stay away from me, and from Sophie.” She gave a high-pitched laugh, looking at the small crowd that had developed around us.
“She got you on such a short leash you can’t talk to anybody else?” she asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder, trying to shoot coy looks at some of the guys on duty.
“Don’t. Don’t talk about her. Don’t think about her. Cut your losses and go back to whatever hole you crawled out of.” Lindseystumbled for the first time, her cheeks flushing. She stepped closer to me, her voice an angry whisper.
“What’s the big deal? What are you afraid I’m gonna do to your little farm girl?” Lindsey tried to sound like she was joking, but there was something dangerous behind the statement.
“Nothing, because you’re not gonna get near her.” I took a step closer, enjoying the fear in Lindsey’s eyes.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’m gonna figure it out. If you think you can come back and fuck around with my life, then you better wake up real quick. I love Sophie, more than I ever thought was possible. More than anything we ever had. Sophie and Lou are not your business. They’re under my roof and under my protection. I’ll make sure everyone at the station knows your face and knows that you’re unwelcome. I’ll do that with every place in this town if I have to. Now get gone.”
A round of applause broke out from the group of nosy bastards who had been eavesdropping. Embarrassed and enraged, Lindsey had no choice but to leave. Nodding to the guys, I walked past them, heading for my locker. I needed a minute so I could call Sophie. I didn’t want her hearing about it through the small town grapevine.
I thought I had more time to figure out what Lindsey was doing. What had her slithering about the town she had sworn never to return to. Going over everything about her visit, I froze as I remembered what she had said.
Your little farm girl.
How could Lindsey possibly know that about Sophie?That changed everything. The question wasn’t justwhatLindsey was doing back there—it waswhowas feeding her information, lurking in the shadows, quietly pulling her strings.
Chapter 22
Natalia
Shortly after Eloise’s hospital visit, Helen insisted on taking me on a trip. I found myself in an oversized waiting room of a luxurious naturopathic facility. The sterile space with high-end gadgets was cold and intimidating.
Water in expensive glass bottles was given to us, the liquid tasting like mint and cucumbers. Soothing music played at a low decibel, seeming to ebb and flow throughout the space. Even the air felt cultivated; heavy with the smells of lavender and eucalyptus.
Everyone spoke in hushed tones, forcefully maintaining an atmosphere of relaxation. The decor, the pamphlets, and the signs all had the same message: Restore and rejuvenate, reclaim your youth and vitality. No matter the cost. After a short wait, a nurse brought us into an office where a woman named Aurora greeted us.
“Okay, so here’s what you do,” Aurora declared, sliding the bottles across the desk. “Mix the horny goat weed and tongkat ali and give them to him daily. Morning is best, since it might increase his energy. This combo is powerful.”
The bottles made a soft scraping sound against the wood, labels unreadable from where I sat.
“What does each one do?” I asked, my voice thinner than I intended.
“Tongkat ali helps boost testosterone. And this is Epimedium, also known as horny goat weed. It’s derived from a Chineseplant, and it improves blood flow and performance.” She leaned back in her chair and gave a knowing wink.
Helen nodded beside me as if it were perfectly reasonable.
“Is it safe?” I asked quietly. “I don’t want to hurt Max. I just…” My throat tightened. “I’m running out of options.”
“For heaven’s sake, Natalia.” Helen sighed. “They sell it at supplement stores.”
The nutritionist’s smile didn’t waver. “All natural,” she added, tapping one bottle lightly. It rocked once before settling. “People swear by it.”
Sliding the bottles into my purse, anxiety and doubt seemed to add extra pounds to the leather strap digging into my shoulder. Ready to leave, I was startled when Helen put an arm out to stop me.
“Is there anything else you would recommend? There’s… quite a bit at stake here. Wouldn’t you agree, Nat?” Helen gave me a serious look, so I nodded in agreement.
She pulled out her checkbook, the glossy monogram for Townsend & Sons brandished on top. I didn’t see the total amount before she was sliding it over to the woman.
“Anything extra you could recommend would be appreciated.” Helen’s tone may have been neutral, but the implication behind it was anything but.
Aurora accepted the check with an eager smile and slipped it into her pocket without hesitation. Standing up, she went over to a locked cabinet and started searching for something. Returning to the desk, she placed a tiny vial in front of me, and I could see it only contained a serum.
