Page 23 of Hidden Obsession

“Yeah, I am.” He dipped his head and kissed her hard and fast. It lasted only a second and wasn’t exactly passionate, but it left her reeling. Mason released her and walked toward Travis. “Travis,” he said, holding out his hand to greet him. “What brings you here?”

“I wondered if you had time to get lunch. I wanted to pick your brain about the case I’m on. Get a different perspective.”

Mason glanced at her and Cleo knew he wanted to talk.

“Go, we can talk at home tonight,” she said softly, and something about the way she said it must have relaxed him because she saw his shoulders lose the tension in them.

“Okay, I shouldn’t be too long,” he said to her and then turned to Travis. “I’ll grab my phone and meet you outside.”

“Thanks, Mace.” Travis waved at Cleo and walked away.

Cleo wanted to clear the air but now wasn’t the time especially as Mercy walked in and had some extra things to add to her expense report at the last minute.

For the restof the afternoon she was kept busy with end-of-the-month stuff. Mason came back two hours after he left and gave her a smile and a wink, which made her heart beat faster as he went to his office. The day was uneventful, just how she liked it, but she couldn’t shake the feeling this was the calm before the storm. Her gaze went to Mason’s closed door, and she prayed he found her stalker soon, she hated living like this.

It was late afternoon when Caitlin came rushing in screaming, her eyes wild, tears streaming down her face, Killian limp in her arms. “Someone help me!”

“Oh my god, what happened?” Cleo rounded her desk as office doors flung open.

“I just found him like this. I think it’s poison. I need to call my dad.” Caitlin’s parents were both vets, which was where she got her love of animals from.

“Let me. You stay with Killian.” Cleo dashed to her desk as Cain fell to his knees beside Caitlin.

Cleo made the call and was told to take Killian straight to the vets, Caitlin’s dad would meet her there. Cain helped a clearly upset Caitlin to the car and went with her as the rest of them stayed behind to worry.

Mason moved behind her and curled his arm around her. Cleo turned to him and inhaled the scent of the man who had become her anchor. “Do you think he’ll be okay?”

“I hope so!” She knew he was trying to be honest.

Her email pinged, and she pulled away to answer it. Rounding the desk, she opened the email and felt bile roll up her throat at the contents.

YOU DID THIS, BITCH!

A picture of Killian was attached.

It’s my fault.