Page 42 of The Doctor

At her words, the itching ceased, only for my mind to race.

Why was she being so nice? What did I have that she could possibly need? Would she, like Chloe and Sadie, leave me stranded after she had no need for me?

“Come in, come in,” Eliza said, ushering us both through the door. “I’m assuming you’re here to see Jet?”

Zee returned her warm smile. “You don’t think I’d stop by to visit you?” Eliza pressed her lips into a firm line, though somehow, the smile never fell. Zee raised his hands. “Okay, you got me.”

“Mmm hmm.” She glanced my way, holding her hand out to me. “Clara, would you—”

“No!” Our heads jerked toward Zee. For a split second, something flashed across his face before he took a step my way, taking my arm. “Sorry. What I mean to say is, we can’t stay… We won’t be long. We have to go.”

“Of course.” Eliza dipped her head, then turned to me. “Perhaps some other time?”

“I’d like that,” I managed, even with the storm of emotions pulsing through me.

Eliza excused herself, and I tugged my arm, though Zee didn’t immediately let go.

“What’s going on?”

Zee looked everywhere but at me, and his shoulders sagged when Jet stepped into the hall on the other side of the living room. “We have a three o’clock,” he muttered before moving toward Jet.

Not wanting any distractions while driving, I’d left my phone back at Zee’s. So as he stepped past me, I snagged his cell from his pocket, not once worrying about how I looked in front of Jet. I was able to get a glimpse of the clock before Zee snatched his phone away from me and shoved it back into his pocket.

It was barely noon.

“Zee, Clara, good to see you again.” The two men shook hands before Jet extended his to me.

Like I might somehow belong.

“What can I do for you?”

“I need access to a safe house. Potentially long term and preferably as close to Paulo’s penthouse as we can get.”

Jet paused before his gaze zipped to the side.

To me.

Warmth rushed to my cheeks.

As if Zee needed a place to keep me.

As if I couldn’t just stay in my own room in his house.

Or I could climb into his bed again, be awakened the way I was this morning…

“How soon do you need it?” Jet asked.

“It could be a while, but I want to make sure it’s all set before they arrive.”

Again, Jet glanced at me.

Again, I felt warmth flood through me.

“Let me get you the keys.”

As Jet darted down the hallway and disappeared behind a door, I went to Zeno’s side.

“What’s the apartment—”