I walked out of the doctor’s office with a buzzing in my ears. My feet were touching ground, but I didn’t feel it. The cold air hit my face, but I didn’t flinch. I was fifty feet from the door when I slumped on the bench.
“Mr. Karis?”
I looked up, blinking and trying to shake this feeling of dread to find Winston standing in front of me.
“Winston.”
“Are you all right?”
“Uh…” I instinctively glanced around for Lukas but didn’t see him.
“Mr. Farren isn’t here, I just came for my annual physical. You are ashen, Mr. Karis. Can I help you?”
“No…I’m fine, just need a minute.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to leave you like this.”
A small smile played on my lips. “I appreciate that. I really am fine, just tired. I’m going to head home and rest.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.”
He nodded curtly but didn’t leave. I realized he likely wasn’t going to until I drove away. I stood, mustered up a grin, and walked to my car. I turned it on, the heat going full blast over my chilled skin. Winston still watched me, his head tilted. Was he going to tell Lukas I was acting weird?Shit.
My drive home was muscle memory as was climbing the stairs to my apartment, petting Bubbles, and feeding her. She was due to eat, and all I wanted to do was crawl into bed, but I didn’t want her to be hungry.
Once everything was settled, I stripped down to my boxers, slid under my covers, and cried.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Lukas
This trip wasn’t helping.Yes, the blood was delicious, but that was where all of it ended. I was packing my bag when my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Winston.
“Yes, Winston?”
“Good morning, sir. I hate to disturb you during your vacation.”
He didn’t elaborate so I questioned, “What is it?”
“It’s Sam, sir.”
I stood ramrod straight, suddenly focused on every word Winston had to say.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“It could be nothing but…” He paused for a beat, and I held back my need to shout for him to tell me already. “I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, routine, my yearly physical. As I was entering the office, I saw Sam sitting on the bench. At first I thought nothing of it until I saw his face. Sir, he looked devastated. I wanted to know if he was okay. He brushed me off, but it was very unlike him. I think something is very wrong.”
I’d asked Winston to look into things about Sam but it felt intrusive, so I’d instructed him not to. This was different, though.
“Did you get a feel for what it could be?”
“Sir, the only building in that area is the clinic.” It wasn’t an answer, and yet it was.
“He was at the doctor.” It wasn’t a question.
“Sir, I think you should come home.” Winston wasn’t one to tell me what to do, but if he thought Sam needed me, I was going to be there.
