Page 64 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads

Amy was?—

My stomach dropped so violently I thought I might hit the floor.

Heat rushed up my throat.Cold sweat broke across my skin.

I bolted.

I barely made it to the bathroom before everything in me came up, like my body was trying to purge the sight of them.

Tears burned hot behind my eyes.

My hands shook.

Amy was pregnant.The one thing I had failed to do, that little husband-stealer had done.

One thought pounded louder than all the rest:Get out of here.Now.

I bolted for the large animal storage wing like a thief caught mid-heist, throwing frantic glances over my shoulder at every hallway intersection, half convinced Justin was right behind me.

My pulse battered my ribs hard enough to bruise.My lungs burned.My stomach churned, acid-hot and vicious, until I thought I might throw up again right there on the polished floor.

I ducked into the large animal barn and storage area and slammed the door behind me harder than necessary.

Silence.

Three stalls lined one wall.The fourth was packed floor-to-ceiling with equipment.The adjoining room held drugs and medical supplies.The sharp sterile smell of antiseptic and shavings was oddly grounding compared to the chaos in my head.

I sucked in a shaky breath, yanked out my preferred duffel, and started stuffing it with whatever my hands landed on.Syringes.Wraps.Gloves.Medications.

Survival by distraction.

Get out of here.Don’t think.

Duffel slung over my shoulder, I headed for the back exit.

Voices stopped me cold.

Josh Hurst’s voice carried down the hall, cheerful and oblivious.“This is our farm animal barn when needed, plus storage.Most of our field work happens on-site, so we didn’t need the footprint the equine hospital has across the lot.Occasionally, we have animals stay who need complicated surgery.”

Another voice answered.Deep.Smooth.Familiar enough to make every muscle in my body lock solid.

I stepped into view and there he was.

Tall, but not as tall as Timothy, with brown hair kept short to easily fit into a surgical cap, Justin was beautiful in the same polished, venomous way as a snake.Beside Justin stood Amy, smiling politely in her cute sundress with her baby bump, fully aware she was standing next to the wrecking ball that had once flattened my life.

I couldn’t smile.Couldn’t fake pleasant.I could barely breathe.

Josh brightened.“Gia, perfect timing.You can meet?—”

“JustinStevens.”My voice came out flat.I swallowed the acid clawing up my throat and gave Justin the same empty expression I’d perfected while surviving my father, the look that saidyou can’t hurt what you can’t reach.“We know each other, don’t we, Amy?”

My cold gaze slid to the tech that had sometimes helped me long ago.

Justin’s eyes skimmed over me, cold and assessing.I felt exposed and not enough.And ugly in ways mirrors could never show.

“I’m considering a position here,” Justin said smoothly, turning that practiced charm on Josh.“With the new surgical capabilities in the equine complex, I’d be a natural fit.Orthopedics.Intra-abdominal surgery.Frankly…” He smiled.“I’d be an asset few practices could compete with.”

Rage ripped through me so fast it made me dizzy.“Why?”