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“Oh, I already got them.” The numbers aren’t matching up like they should, and that’s reigniting my headache.

“Do you need something else?” she suddenly murmurs from behind me.

What I need is Michael since he’s a pathologist specializing in hematology. He’s provided essential insight and information. But I know he’s indisposed because of last night.

“No, thank you,” I reply without looking up—my eyes glued to the microscope.

“What are you doing? Can I help?” She leans forward, brushing against my back to see what I’m reviewing, unnecessarily crowding me.

“No. I need a hematologist.” I keep my voice flat, ready to push her away if she doesn’t back off this instant.

Her hand lands on the microscope near mine, her thumb touches my skin for a moment. I straighten abruptly. That fleeting contact made me uneasy.

She looks remorseful, an apologetic smile twitching her lips as I shift and turn her way. “Blood never lies, right?”

I frown at her.

“Haven’t you ever seen Dexter? The TV show,” she adds. She doesn’t move, but I still feel uncomfortable. This stalker ordeal is turning me into a jumpy monkey.

“No,” I reply.

My eyes fall to the name on her coat: Maggie Smith.

“I’m sorry to have disturbed you, but I’ve been wanting to ask something for a while. Would you?—”

Sandy’s return stops whatever Maggie was about to say. His eyes flicker from the intern to me. He can probably see how tense I am.

“You. Out.” He tilts his head to the door while his eyes stay on the intern.

Maggie doesn’t move. The smile has dropped from her lips. Her teasing gaze has turned into a glare aimed at Sandy.

“You shouldn’t be here. Dr. Bear-Stone’s lab is inaccessible to interns,” Sandy continues, moving closer to us.

“Sorry.” The intern suddenly looks embarrassed. “I just brought the test results, that’s all.”

“It’s not your job,” the PA insists, holding up the mug filled with my hot tea. He moves between us and hands it to me.

Maggie finally takes a step back. “Dr. Crisp told me to bring them here.”

“I’ll definitely verify that. Now go back to the other interns.”

She sends me a small smile before finally leaving the room.

Sandy quickly starts tapping on his phone. “Oh, those groupies of yours. Don’t worry, you’ll never see her again after I tell Raph.”

“She didn’t do anything. I’m just edgy.”

“I can see that,” Sandy agrees, still typing on his phone. “But better let your brother work his magic. You never know.” What he means is let him fire the intern, not kill her. Sandy doesn’t know about the family side business. He's an amazing assistant and an incredible person; he can’t be mixed up with that dangerous part of our lives.

“You really don’t need to involve Raph. That intern was just curious about my study.” I’m about to take a sip from my mug when the sight of a red package on the desk near the window stops me. Where did that come from? Is it the dildo I ordered? That was fast.

Sandy is talking on the phone with the HR department as I grab the box cutter and go to the desk to slice the tape before opening the cardboard flaps. As soon as I look inside, I know I’ve made a mistake. A pair of metal cuffs and a picture of me with my eyes burned out are on a bed of black rose petals. There’s also a torn piece of paper that says:You can’t run from me anymore.

“Sari, what’s wrong?” Sandy’s voice sounds far away, even though he’s next to me. He looks down at the package and curses loudly. “Don’t touch anything. Don’t even look at it. Sari?”

His voice sounds muffled now as the thoughts in my head keep piling up. Why now? Why me? What should I do? What do they want from me? Who are they? Do I know them? Why? How?

I can’t breathe. I’m hyperventilating. My palms are sweating profusely. I’m…I’m having a panic attack.