***Trigger Warning***

Jeremiah has done more than his fair share of frustrating, awful things but this has to take the cake. He couldn't possibly be confessing to Roger's murder...could he? I mean, I've suspected him all along, but for him to be so open about it was sickening. I needed an actual confession.

"Your message?" I grit my teeth.

He adjusts his shirt. At least he knows his color is red flag. "Oh, come on! Don't give me that judgmental look. The man was 85 years old! How much longer do you even think he had Lyra?"

I slap him hard across the face. That one was for Roger. "He was a good man! He could've had twenty more years for all you know! It wasn't your place to dictate that." I do my best to keep my tears at bay. I had no doubt I was going to cry about this a lot when I was alone.

Jeremiah angrily rubs his face. "You have no idea who that guy even was! You knew him one night, stop acting like you were best friends!"

Bitterness coats my words. "So, you what? Killed an innocent man just to show me how tough you are? Well, let me tell you something Jeremiah, that's about the weakest thing you could've done."

He chuckles, sending chills down my spine. "No. I killed him because he owed me money. Not everything is about you."

The glare I give him is so intense he looks away. "Owed you money for what?"

"When you dumped me that become none of your business."

I square up, ready to beat him senseless if I had to. "None of my business? Really?! Did you forget that you brought me here because you were in trouble with the law? Someone wants to kill me and my entire family. I'm guessing that has something to do with the reason he owes you money. I'd say that's my business."

"You and your precious family are fine." He mocks me. "I'm sure he forgot about you by now. They only wanted you to get to me."

He wasn't going to talk, infuriating me to no end. I did the only thing left I could think of. I lied. "Okay, you don't want to tell me why you did it, that's fine by me. I don't need to know. That's the police's job. Now seems like a good time to tell you that I've been recording you this whole time. Oh, and don't even bother grabbing my phone because I've already sent it to someone. There's nothing you can do now."

The look on his face gives me satisfaction. It's clear he believes me. "Wait! Please don't do this! I'll tell you everything if you promise to keep it between us."

I wasn't one to break a promise, but this is Jeremiah we're talking about. If anyone deserves someone breaking their promise, it's him. "I promise I won't tell if you tell me the truth. Are you in the mafia or what?"

He ignores my question and poses his own. "You know how I work at a strip club?"

I don't bother to hide my annoyance. "Yes. It's literally your entire personality."

My rude words don't seem to faze him at all. "Well, I sell some of those girls for a little money on the side. Roger bought one of them but they didn't end up doing anything so Roger said he didn't owe me. My girl told me he said he didn't want to do anything, so in my book that means he still owed me."

Bile comes up my throat. "You sell them? Like as prostitutes?"

He nods. "Yeah, it pays good."

I didn't want to talk to this vile, disgusting man any longer but I needed answers. "And they're okay with this?"

He shrugs. "Some of them. The rest I convince through a little incentive."

I have nothing else to say, so I don't say anything. I need to get away from him before my gag reflexes get any weaker. He forces women to hook up with strangers so he can make a quick buck. He treats these girls like his property. I have lost any respect I've ever had for this man I used to love. I have the strange urge to talk to Brexton about all this, but I can't. Then, I remember our note agreement. Maybe he left one? If not, maybe I could.

I hurry to our planned drop off spot. I grab a cart on wheels and pretend to be preoccupied outside his room. I run my hand across the railing as I keep my eyes and body on the cart. My hand crosses over a thin piece of what feels like paper. My fingers tingle with anticipation as I grab it and push it down into my pocket. As I look around I'm glad to see nobody was paying me any mind.

I take the note and disappear into the staff bathroom. I always keep a pen and paper on me when I work which will come in handy if I need to write him back.

I unfold the paper and begin to read.

Lyra,
I'm going to keep this sweet and simple since I'm not sure how long you'll have to read it. This place keeps you so busy. I'm bored, lonely and I miss you. Can I ask you for a favor? I need you to bring your lips back here, it's my turn to try to kiss you. The mall cops fell asleep.
-Your favorite patient

I reread the note one hundred times to make sure I've read it right. Was this some sort of trick by Jeremiah and Jessica? Did he really just ask me to bring him my lips? I wanted so badly to kiss him, but I could get in so much trouble. Correction, I could get in so much trouble if I get caught. I know I'll regret it if I don't try. I decide to believe I can be sneaky enough to keep my job.

I hastily write my response.

Mr. McGomery,
If the mall cops are still asleep in an hour put on your call light and I'll come cure your loneliness. Lucky for you, my lips are attached to me so they'll probably come along.
-Your favorite nurse

I'm not the best at being flirty, but at least I tried. I can't believe I'm offering my lips to somebody who's being accused of murder. I don't know if I believe he did anything wrong, he just doesn't seem like the type. Believe me, I've dated the type. He seems too gentle to hurt anyone. He also seems exceptionally smart though which could be dangerous.

I check the time, it's 6pm. My shift ends at 8pm, so that leaves me with two hours. I made sure to give myself enough time to check on my patients before I visit Brexton. Although, I was anxious to see him again, I couldn't just abandon them. They still need me.

I put Brexton out of my mimd the best I can while I round on my patients. They all seem to be in good shape so it goes by quickly. I check my smartwatch when I'm out of the last patient's room. It's 6:50pm. Not wanting to look too suspicious, I sit at the nurse's station, charting and waiting. At exactly 7pm I see the light above Brexton's room light up. He actually did it. I look around, as I expected none of the nurses make any effort to see what he needs. This time, their laziness works in my favor. I go into his room and immediately turn off his call light before anyone else has the chance to come in.

I feel eyes burning through me as I press the silence button. I turn to meet his gaze. It takes everything in me to look away from him, but I need to be sure we're in the clear. Just to be safe, I look back at the security guards who are snoring as usual. Feeling more confident that we can pull this off, I undo his restraints and motion for him to follow me into his bathroom. I smile as I hear his footsteps trailing behind me. When he's inside, he closes the door behind him. My stomach does summersaults when I hear the lock click. We were finally alone.

I press my back against the sink and he moves from in front of the door to breaths away from me. "We're in the bathroom."

I laugh nervously. Why am I so nervous? It's not like I've never been alone with a guy before. "Yeah, I didn't want the security guards to wake up and freak out."

He runs a hand through his dark curls. "How has the rest of your shift been going?"

I scuff. "Productive I guess. I found out my ex is the one who poisoned Roger."

Brexton takes my hands in his, completely enveloping them. "I'm so sorry Lyra. Are you okay?"

I close my eyes. "Yeah, I just want him to pay for what he did."

His hands move from my hands to my face. "He will. I'll make sure of it."

I open my eyes to see his perfect face staring back at me. "I missed you too."

His smile makes me instantly feel better. "Yeah?"

"Maybe a little." I tease.

There was so much I wanted to know about this man and I don't know the next time we'll be able to talk like this so I ask. "Where did you work before everything happened?" I couldn't make myself say what 'everything' was.

He grabs my waist and lifts me onto the sink, earning a gasp from me. "I was an IT."

An IT? That explains why he's so smart. "Thats, ummm, impressive."

"You're impressive." He says right before he pulls me into the best kiss I've ever had.