Page 64 of The Specialist

I froze, turning around. He held out another file, and my feet headed back toward him before I could think about it. I opened the file. There was my Sofia. In my arms, dancing. Laughing. A picture of us at the cottage, taken from afar, obviously zoomed in. In my apartment, kissing her in the kitchen.

I sat down heavily.

The places I had felt safe with her. And the places I was sure we were not being watched.

They had been there. At the benefit. Somewhere close to my apartment. Spying on us at the cabin.

“Stay away from her.”

“Ah,” he said. “Too late.”

I was on my feet, my fist connecting with his nose before anyone else could move. His head snapped back, the sound of bone meeting bone loud in the room. Blood spurted, and he tried to stem the flow with his hand.

No one moved. I lunged for the door, throwing it open. The hall was empty. I rushed down the corridor, dialing Sofia’s number.

Behind me, Ivan’s voice called out, “We’ll be in touch. Soon.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Sofia

From the moment I walked into the ER, I was busy. I saw patient after patient, getting X-rays, scans, stitching cuts, setting broken bones. I swore it was a full moon since we were busier than normal. But it was just a bad night. We finally slowed down, and I was busy casting a young girl’s arm when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I had to ignore it, frowning when it went off again and again. I finished the cast, pulling off my gloves and wiping some residue off my arm when Sally stuck her head in the door.

“Sofia, Egan is on the phone at the desk. The private number. He says it’s urgent.”

I lifted my eyebrows. He never called on that number, but given the number of times my phone had gone off, somehow I wasn’t surprised. “I’ll be right there.”

She came in. “I can finish this. You go and see what’s wrong. He sounds very upset.”

I hurried down the hall, hoping nothing had happened to Damien or Raven. I picked up the phone. “Egan?”

“Sofia,” he replied, his voice panicked and rushed. “I need you to listen to me. Do exactly what I say. Do you understand?”

Something in his voice frightened me. “Yes.”

“I don’t have time to explain. Find a room. Somewhere you can lock the door. Go inside and don’t come out until I get there. Do you hear me? Don’t come out.”

“Egan, what’s—”

He interrupted me, his voice loud. “Sofia, just do it. Now! I’ll be there soon.”

He hung up, and I stared at the receiver.

I headed down the hall, unsure what to do. Patients were waiting. We were all busy. The rooms were all taken, gurneys and stretchers lining the halls. There were only a few places I could think of with a lock. One of the washrooms, the supply room, or the staff room. The supply room seemed the best place. It was at the end of the hall.

I glanced around, not seeing anyone looking, and using my pass, slipped in, the door locking behind me. It was dark, and I held up my phone, scanning the room. I leaned against the wall, unsure what was going on. Egan’s voice had upset me, his unusual request scaring me. Outside, I could hear people walking, talking, issuing orders. I wondered how long it would be until I was missed.

I waited, my fear growing. My phone buzzed, and I looked at the message.

Egan

Where are you?

Sofia

Supply closet.

Go to the back stairs. I’ll be there. Hurry, Sofia.