A few seconds later, an itch crawls across my forearm.
Then the other.
I scratch both arms while scanning another page.
Something moves.
Three tiny black dots skip across the white paper.
I freeze.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The dots disappear again.
“What the fuck?”
I throw the files onto the bed and jump to my feet, my eyes sweeping the room for whatever the hell just crawled across my paperwork.
I tap the intercom button as I scratch all over now.
“Yes, sir.”
“Get an exterminator here now. I have a bug problem. I’m guessing fleas.”
How can I have fleas? My dog gets treated for fleas. He’s not even here. My sister has him. I plan to introduce him to Serenity after we’re married. Did Serenity bring the American Bulldog Bruetta I bought her? I hadn’t seen her on the security cameras. I think she’s still living with her parents.
“Right away, sir.”
I run into the bathroom, toss my cell on the countertop, en route to the shower. I close the shower door behind me. Scratching as I attempt to tear off my clothes. I discard my t-shirt and PJ pants on the floor in a small heap. Hoping the hot water will kill the bugs. I douse myself in shower gel trying to stop the itching.
“Serenity!” I yell at the top of my lungs.
“I’m going to kill you,” I roar.
After a twenty-minute, piping hot shower, I’m no longer itching. I step out of the shower and stand in front of the mirror. My eyes move over my reddened body. I don’t see any tiny bugs anywhere. I move my fingers through the fine hairs on my chest. Again, no itching. I’ll sleep in one of the guest rooms tonight. I line my toothbrush with toothpaste and run my toothbrush over my teeth. I glance at the phone and read a text from my brother.
“Mr. Pitucco, the exterminator is here,” Esmerelda says on the other side of the door.
“Okay, I’ll be right out.”
I rinse my mouth out and mindlessly drop the toothbrush back into the holder, rushing out of the bathroom.
I glance at the exterminator. “Hello, I think they’re fleas. Spray the entire room. And my bathroom.”
“Not a problem, Mr. Pitucco.”
“Reacher,” I holler out.
He steps into the room. He’s one of my number one bodyguard’s so he’s never far behind me. “Yes, boss.”
“Watch the exterminator, pay him, and then see him out.”
His eyes and Esmeralda’s widen.
“Nico, your teeth are blue,” Reacher says.
Esmeralda shakes her head, agreeing.
