Chapter 022

***~Jaxon~***

I stood casually leaning against my doorframe as Michelle fidgeted with her keys, her blush deepening under the faint fluorescent glow of the hallway.

I wondered what she was thinking about that made her so red.

“You look...” I trailed off, struggling to keep the compliment Platonic despite the way her nude-painted lips curved so perfectly or how the black dress hugged her figure in all the right places.

Her neck looked so elegant, framed by fiery strands of her hair.

“Good. Date night?” I asked, keeping my tone as casual as possible. Her eyes met mine for a fleeting second.

“Yeah,” she muttered before shaking her head. “I mean, I was out with friends,” she corrected quickly, and I couldn’t help but smile.

She regarded me coolly from under her lashes, her expression unreadable, but the flush on her skin was predictable.

“You just got back from the hospital?” she asked.

I shook my head. “No, I… I went to California,” I replied. Her brow arched, her lips parting slightly.

“Family emergency,” I added quickly, and she nodded, clamping her mouth shut.

She didn’t press further, and I was grateful for that. We lingered in silence for a moment before she broke it.

“I’ll be gone this weekend.” A strand of hair fell over her eyes, and I resisted the urge to reach out and tuck it behind her ear. She gestured vaguely with her hands. “A two-day trip.”

“A weekend vacation, then?” I asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah,” she murmured, tucking the loose strand behind her ear. “Just something to clear my head. I need to clear my head. This week has been… exhausting.”

The way she said it hinted at just how tiring her week had been.

“I think it’s a great idea,” I replied evenly. “Sometimes stepping away is the best thing you can do. Maybe you’ll come back with a fresh perspective.”

Her blush deepened, and she glanced down at her hands, twisting the strap of her bag. “You think so?” she asked softly.

“Absolutely,” I said, hoping my voice conveyed sincerity. “Besides, a little time for yourself sounds well-deserved.”

After all, she’d been working tirelessly—designing one device and already on to the next. A break was very much needed.

She looked up at me then, her light green eyes sparkling with gratitude. “Thanks, Jaxon. That really means a lot.” Her smile was small but genuine as she unlocked her door.

I nodded, stepping back toward my apartment. “Take care of yourself, Michelle. And enjoy the trip. We’ll all still be here when you get back.”

Her laugh was light, lingering even after she disappeared into her apartment and locked the door behind her. I stood there for a moment, staring at her door, before turning and heading into mine.

I called Sasha to check on Steve. After he regained consciousness, there was hope—his pneumonia was in its early stages and could still be controlled with medication.

After checking in, I hopped into the shower, dried off quickly, and collapsed into bed. I’d already missed a shift, and I didn’t want to risk missing another. My body sank into the mattress, and for the first time all day, I let myself relax. Sleep pulled me under quickly.

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I woke suddenly, my senses on high alert. The room was dark, save for the faint glow of the streetlight filtering through the blinds. For a moment, I stood still, the silence pressing in on me.

Then I felt it—a prickling at the back of my neck.

I was being watched. I knew it.

Flicking on the light, I found nothing. The bedroom was empty, and the curtains were drawn, but still…

Shaking my head, I forced myself to lie back down. “It’s nothing,” I muttered, though the words felt hollow. I closed my eyes, but sleep refused to come. The sensation of being watched lingered.

My instincts had never failed me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling. As unsettling as it was, I refused to entertain the thought that someone had broken in.

After tossing and turning for a while, I got up, walked into the living room, and turned on the lights. The door was locked, and there was no sign of an intruder.

My thoughts drifted to Michelle. It was early in the morning, and I wondered if she was okay.

Whoever—or whatever—was watching me, I shook the thought away. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me.