Page 54 of The Innocent

Jekyll sat on his bed, not uttering a word. This wasn’t news to him, and he could’ve ended the call. But he had a relentless need to hear her voice. It was a form of self-torture. He’d forced himself to rid his mind of Imogene when he walked out of prison. And now she’s back.

“It’s just things like information on getting a GED, though you already got that. Which is awesome. But other things like finding jobs or treatment centers and rehabs and…”

“I don’t fucking do drugs.” That wasn’t entirely true. He’d hung out with Ghost on his roof quite a few times.

She gasped. “Oh no, of course not. I wasn’t suggesting that you did. I was just sharing our services.”

This was why she was reaching out?

“I don’t need help,” he snapped.

“Okay.” Her voice sounded so small. “I wasn’t trying to imply that you did. I just figured…” Her voice trailed off.

He cupped his mouth. Why the fuck do I feel bad?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. My job just offers all these resources for their clients, and I just thought if you or Xander could use anything, I’d be happy to help. I wasn’t assuming you need them. I just wanted to help if you did. That’s all.”

“Why help us?” He growled.

“What?” She asked.

“Why us?”

“I liked you both.”

Hyde was understandable. Of the two, he’d always been the more approachable cousin. Deadly when he needed to be but overall likable. But Jekyll? Why the fuck would she like me? Jekyll had never given her any reason. He’d never shown her any type of affection. If anything, he’d been especially cold, at times. It was his personal line of defense to keep her far away.

“And I owe you.”

Jekyll furrowed his brows. Imogene did owe him, but she’d have no way of knowing that. Unless…

“You don’t fucking owe me.”

She cleared her throat. “Mike, the prison guard, told me after there’d been a threat against me, it was you who threatened Myers to stay away from me.” She lowered her voice. “And he did.”

Fuck. He dragged his hand over his face. It had all been prison yard rumors, and he usually didn’t pay much attention to any of it. But when Jekyll heard of Myers talking about Imogene, he’d shut that shit down real quick, making threats of his own and a preview of what would happen if he laid a hand on her. Myers had a ten-day stay in the infirmary, courtesy of Jekyll.

That was never supposed to get back to Imogene.

“Don’t know anything about that.”

“Right,” she muttered. “Well, um, sorry to bother you. I’ll let you go. But if you ever change your mind or Xander does, just call me. If you want.”

Jekyll should’ve been eager to get off the phone. He wasn’t.

“Where are you?”

“Right now?” She paused, but he didn’t answer. “I’m in Lawry heading home. I had a meeting with a client, so I need to file my report. Last time I just stopped by the office after the halfway house since it’s close. But we met at the diner not far from my place, so I’m just going to do it there.”

She’d given a lot away, and he wasn’t sure what he should focus on first. He wouldn’t push for her address since it was something Cypher could get with a little time. The halfway house comment had him on edge, but he was more concerned with the client himself.

“You meet with him a lot?”

There was a long stretch of silence, and he pressed the phone to his ear. He could hear her breathing.

“Today was my second time. But he requested another for tomorrow. So…”

Imogene was definitely off. He may not know her well, but he could gauge her tone and uneasiness. And it wasn’t stemming from talking to him. This client made her nervous.