sage and let out a s

Dereck. "Typical. Play dumb. 'Did I do so

little crying face. It was a good act.

he phone buzzed again. A n

e was different from before. The sickness was still there, a faint rasp, but i

to say. You're scaring me. Did I do something to make you think I'm not... me? I just... I

, his brow furrowed. "Okay, that's... better than the last

ued. She had simply doubled down on emotional vulnerability. She had taken his attack and tw

e voice memo a third time, focusing on the littl

n't pity. Dereck Campos didn't do pity. It

mmer. The sound of her voice, the manufactured pain-it triggered

He wanted to be the one who made her cry. A

," Dereck said

urprised. "What? You're

deleted the "I know who you are" message from the

, his thumbs moving wi

edical kit and a private nurse to be delivered to

taking control. He was fixing the problem he'd let Preston

. The relief that flooded her system was i

nurse. I

se would see that she wasn't the girl in the photos. A nurse w

dn't use the "I'm too sick" excuse. He was offeri

sibilities. What would a sugar baby hate more tha

arted

t me, but a private nurse is too much! I can't accept s

m not a hooker" card. It was a risky mo

now. Just let me rest. If you send anyone

betting her life on the idea that a man who was used to wome