Page 50 of Creeping Beautiful

You’re sure.

Yeah, I’m fuckin’ sure. I saw the whole thing on the goddamned security footage. I was watching from the control room in the basement. She went behind the bar where he was hiding and the minute she saw him he said, “Deactivate.” And her whole body locked up. What the fuck? And what kind of trigger word is that? Do you have any idea how many times in her life someone will say the word “deactivate?” It’s like… it’s like they put no thought into her at all.

I didn’t know. I swear to God, I didn’t know.

Well, someone knew. Because someone did this to her!

What happened to the men?

I fucking killed them! What else could I do? That asshole told her to slit her wrists! They set me up. They set her up!

And the Company?

Uh… pissed off doesn’t even cover it. They are livid. Fucking livid with me. But I bought her, Donovan. She’s mine. They do not get to come in and take her mind from me. You understand that?

I hear you. And I did not know.

Well, I’m about to go down to that island and cut your grandfather’s throat for this.

He didn’t do it. He’s got nothing to do with that program.

I don’t give a fuck. Do the words “full disclosure” mean anything to you? He knew. He had to know. She was there with him for six months. He had a file on her and if the Company is keeping that kind of information hidden from a guy like him… well, who the fuck is running this show? He’s on the goddamned board! And the fact that they thought they could just come in and fuck up my girl? I want to kill every single one of them.

Just calm down.

No. I will not calm down. She slit her own wrists, Donovan.

But she lived. So she passed.

She passed because I killed them.

Maybe that’s what they wanted? You are the clean-up guy.

They have no idea how badly they fucked up with me.

Were they targeting you? Do you think they know anything?

I don’t fuckin’ know. But we need to, excuse the pun, deactivate this shit inside her head. Now. You’re not going back to Duke. You’re gonna spend the next…fuckin’ however long fixing her.

I can’t quit school, Adam. I have a job to do too. I’ll be up to my neck in clinicals starting next month. And so much for my research paper. I can’t publish this. Not even internally.

You did not just say that.

I mean… of course I’ll be back to fix her. But I can only come between classes, Adam. I can’t disrupt my schedule. They don’t even know what I’m doing here with you. And now is not the time to go off plan. We’re very close. I’ve got a lead on Sasha Cherlin. And if we can get to her, then—

Fuck that girl! I don’t want to work with her again. She’s the antithesis of how I want Indie to turn out. And you’re the one who told me to stay away from her. Remember that? Back on the island. You said…

I know what I said. But she got out and she’s still alive.

She got out because of me!

Fun fact.

What?

I met another guy named Adam in the business.

Who?