Obsessed

"How did you find out about the others?" She's sobbing heavily again.

"He told me." I point my index finger directly at Mark. "Call it a guilty conscience."

"I hate you." Liz grabs my shoulders and pushes me.

The instant I fall I feel a deep pain in my head. It takes me a moment to realize I hit the corner of the foyer table on my way to the floor.

I start to pull myself up. "Get out. Both of you," I scream.

Liz lunges for me again. I raise my hands to stop her, but she pushes me. I fall hard against the door.

"Stop it, Liz." Mark grabs her from behind. "You're going to hurt her."

"Let go of me you bastard." Her arms flail wildly behind her head as she desperately tries to make contact with Mark's face.

I stand, staring at them. I can feel the doorknob in my fist. I twist it, quickly opening the door and running out into the hallway. I hurriedly press the elevator button before hearing the sound of more breaking glass coming from my apartment. I panic, slipping through the door for the stairs.

Chapter 13

“Look, Lady, I'm not leaving until I get paid, kapeesh?"

I nod as I press the buzzer for Jax's apartment for the sixth time.

"It's raining cats and dogs. I need my money now." The taxi driver barks at me through the open window of his car.

I press the buzzer again, hoping Jax is asleep and this last time will wake him. "Please answer," I whisper as I shiver on the front step of his building, my bare feet numb, my clothing completely drenched.

I curse as there's no response. My eye catches the sight of headlights coming around the corner. A dark sedan stops, the driver gets out and opens a large black umbrella. Before he can walk around the car, Jax swings open the back passenger door, darting up the steps.

"Ivy! Jesus!" He quickly removes his suit jacket, wrapping it around my quivering body. "What the hell happened to you?"

"Hey! You! I need to get paid." The taxi driver honks his horn ensuring Jax, and the entire block hears him.

"Leonard, take care of that," Jax calls to his driver who is still standing under the umbrella near the car.

"You're bleeding." He runs his hand over the back of my head. "Where are your shoes? Were you mugged?"

I shake my head back and forth, unable to form any words.

"We need to go to the hospital." He scoops me off the ground and into his arms.

"No. Please, no," I murmur against his chest. My hand clutching the front of his now drenched shirt.

"Leonard, the door. Help us."

The driver jumps into action, unlocking the door and leading the way up to Jax's apartment.

Jax places me gently on the couch before walking back to talk with Leonard. Jax's voice is hushed but I hear him say Mark's name, my apartment address and something about shoes. I hear the hushed click of the apartment door closing as Leonard takes his leave.

"Did Mark do this to you?" Jax is kneeling next to the couch now, his right hand stroking my forehead.

I feel my lips tremble as my eyes, once again, fill with tears. "Liz." I manage to say.

"Liz? Your friend, Liz?"

"Yes...her... she... and then Mark came to my place." My body starts to shake, the coldness overtaking me now.

"You're shivering. You need a shower." Jax picks me up again, taking me down the hallway to a bathroom.