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Thank God that I’d only be here temporarily, because seeing more of him would make me sick. Was the universe testing me with a barrage of things I didn’t want to see?

I hadn’t expected to see Forrest in Texas either. Each of these men provoked a different emotion in me. One made me feel like shit, while the other ignited hope in me. I refused to let Mitch Kramer dictate my life.

What did I have to lose by going on a few dates with Forrest? I’d been thinking about him nonstop, so facing my problem head on would solve the issue, wouldn’t it?

Fine. I’d give him two dates and see where things went.

CHAPTERTHIRTEEN

FORREST

Levi took me to a local pharmacy called Wellwise for my picture ID. The place was filled with over-the-counter medication, household items, packaged foods, two rows of beauty products, some clothing, and a little section that sold fresh flowers. The merchandise was well organized, portraying the pharmacy as nothing more than what it was supposed to be. But I knew other transactions occurred here that had nothing to do with the pharmacy.

How was this local pharmacy connected to an exclusive and elite party? Was the owner an attendee? Or did the banquet organizer own this pharmacy?

Questions swarmed my head as Levi led me to the back room with a space for photographs and two large printers. A sales associate wearing black-framed glasses, ripped jeans, and a logo polo shirt glanced up from the computer, recognized Levi, and nodded.

“I’ll be right with you,” he said while assisting an older woman. “We’ll have your passport photos printed in a few minutes. Jackie will get them ready for you.” He gestured to a girl wearing a cherry print dress.

“Did you get your picture taken already?” I asked Levi, who was texting on his phone, smiling like he was going to get laid.

“Yup,” he said without glancing up.

“Sir?” The sales associate waved me over. “You can stand right here.”

While I waited for my identification, I scanned the store, surveying the incoming and outgoing customers. Nothing stood out except for a few men in suits who also entered for their photos. Their tailored suits told me they had money.

What kind of social gathering was I attending? Why did they need a photo ID?

The banquet had to be linked to The Trogyn. Their presence was a threat to me and my friends. I’d put too much effort into building my career, wealth, and status. No one and nothing had the authority to destroy that.

I’d been doing my research on this crime organization, and my friends were investigating as well. The Trogyn’s associates were everywhere, hiding in the dark corners of the city. We had to be extra careful to avoid inadvertently revealing ourselves as their enemies.

The sales associate emerged from the back room and offered me a black envelope. “You’re all set, sir.”

“Thank you.”

I took a seat beside Levi, who was texting. I opened the envelope, pulling out a shiny black card. The back had a holographic image of me with another image overlapping it. A gold strip ran across the bottom of the card along with a series of numbers, which I assumed was my identification number.

The information I’d filled out on the online form only showed my initials. They didn’t need to know my full name. I’d paid a hefty sum to attend, and that was all they needed to know.

“Mine looks better.” Levi glanced at my ID, smirked, and withdrew his from his wallet.

The cards looked the same except for our faces. “I guess your plastic surgeon did a good job.”

“Fucker.” Laughing, Levi rushed off to a date.

I headed back to Pine Tower Hotel, wondering what Kiera was doing.

During the drive, my thoughts wandered to Bruno’s associates. These men cheated their way up the ladder. Their family name had bought them a space in high society, and they had no issues bragging about it. They had no shame bedding other men’s wives either. I could use that incriminating detail as a powerful weapon one day.

I’d witnessed Bruno slapping his date at an after party. He’d been drunk, but that was no excuse to hurt anyone. I’d hauled his ass away from her, and she dashed off. If she were smart, she had stayed away from him.

My research on FitFlex didn’t reveal any illegal activities or ties to Bruno’s associates. He worked for several clothing brands, organizing photo shoots for them. Was he doing something else for those men? Did the attacker at the campground want to hurt him, or had it been random?

My last encounter with him was at a photo shoot for Heal the World, a nonprofit organization that supported health clinics in third world countries. I was a board member of that organization. That campaign had sold T-shirts, caps, backpacks and other accessories, which brought in millions of dollars and helped open two new clinics. One was in Ethiopia, and the other in Ghana. This organization differed from others in that it also introduced holistic medicine for patients who had an aversion to western medicine.

The human body was unique and a mystery all on its own. It evolved, and medicine needed to adapt to that change. Keeping an open mind allowed me to welcome in new changes.