Page 17 of His Obsession
A grin slipped across my face. “Welcome to the club.”
“Yeah, it was a good place until they fed me roughage.” Tonk scowled, shooting me a glare that promised revenge.
I ignored his complaints and took a large fork full of lobster. Liz jumped as her phone rang, and she dug it out of her purse. She put the phone to her ear, and her eyes widened, shaking her head slightly as if the caller could see her. Unshed tears welled in her eyes, and she bit the tip of her thumb.
“Liz, what’s wrong? Who is it?” I demand something was wrong.
She pulled her phone away from her ear and hit the red button. Her brows knit together in confusion. “H-he said… he said, I should ask you what you really do for work.” Those unshed tears fall down her cheeks, and she took in short, panicked breaths. “He said, ‘Donovan bled like a stuck pig and squealed like one too.’ What’s going on? Why would he do that to Mr. Donovan?” Her face turning pale, she picked up the drinks special menu and fanned herself. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
Fury shook my body, and I reached across the table, yanking the phone from her hand, hitting redial. I knewhewould find Liz, eventually; it was just a matter of time. The phone rang once, then went to a generic voice-mail. Fuck. I didn’t want to deal with this shit right now. How dare he speak to her? I stood from my chair and grabbed her purse, dropping her phone back inside. “It’s time to go.”
All I knew was I needed to take her home; she should be safe there. I could monitor the house and put a few guys out to watch her. Pulling out my wallet, I threw money down on the table to cover the meals and tips. Liz kept staring into oblivion with a petrified look on her face. “Come on. Up,” I ordered, pulling her out of her seat. She needed direction.
“Tonk, you know what to do.” He gave me a nod as I walked us out of the restaurant. I relied on Tonk to handle the details of keeping her safe, seeing as how he was the head of my private security and for Blackstone Tech.
“What’s going on, Alek? Who was that?” she asked, coming out of her stupor. She attempted to get her arm free from my bruising grip, but I held her tight. I needed to get her out of here, and I didn’t have the time nor the patience for theatrics.
“Don’t make a scene. Just walk out quietly.” I gave her a stern warning. “I’m taking you home.” Pulling open the car door, I pushed her inside and shut the door hard.
Fuck.
My hands shook with anger, and I clenched them, desperately wanting to punch something. I blew out a breath, calming myself before opening the driver’s door and sitting down. My gaze locked with her wild, scared eyes.
“Are you going to answer me?” she pleaded. I wanted to pull her in my arms and take the fear from her.
“I can’t. It’s better if you don’t know.” I’d tear him limb from limb when I found him. Over the years, I had imagined so many ways I’d wanted to kill him. If only you could kill someone and bring them back to do it again, it would be satisfying.
“That’s a bullshit response. I don’t accept that answer!” Liz yelled at me, turning in her seat to face me. Anger and fear shook through her words like a knife. Her newfound confidence turned me on.
“That’s all you’re getting.” I shrugged her off and ignored her inaudible muttering. Turning the car on, I punched it towards her home.
∞∞∞
Pulling up to her townhome, I put the car in park and opened her door. She stood, brushing her shoulder into mine, and stormed off to her door, bubbling with anger. It amused me to watch her stomping around. Control was something Liz lacked when she was in foster care. She thrived on it now, and it’d been something she had struggled to gain ever since. It was her own personal addiction that no one liked to admit. Her desire to be in control didn’t work with me. I wouldn’t relinquish my power to satiate her desperation.
“I’m calling the police and telling them what happened.” Her words a threat as she dug her finger into my chest.
I lunged at her, wrapping my hand against her delicate throat, shoving her into the wall, and gave a little squeeze. She needed to hear what I was about to say, and she would not like a word of it.
“You do that, and you won’t see tomorrow. He won’t hesitate to slit that lovely little throat before giving your report to the cops.” I gave her a strong warning. “He thinks I have you under control and knows that I wouldn’t allow you to contact the police.” He was right about one thing; I wouldn’t allow the police to get involved, but I definitely didn’t have her under control.
This asshole wasn’t someone to fuck with. I would know, my scars were deep from the psychotic bastard. She needed to understand that, for her safety, no one would stand in my way this time, not even her. I’d lock her in my basement until this was over if I had to. I couldn’t risk losing her too.
I watched her face move from absolute confidence to take me on to her legs, weak with fear. I ran my lips across her ear before I thought about it. “What is it about you that makes me want to protect you?” I studied her sage-green eyes, searching for my answers within. “You tear me up inside, Liz.”
What the hell was this, confession day? It was better when I was just a shadow in her life, no interaction that she knew of, no conversations to give me away. Her deep intake of breath showing I had shocked her, regardless of whether or not that was good, we’d see.
I brushed my lips against hers, losing what shred of control I had left, and I released her throat. My face stung from the pale hand that slapped my cheek. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm.
“Don’t you fucking touch me,” she raged, shoving me away.
I rubbed my hand over my jaw. “Worth it,” I growled.
I underestimated Liz. I’d make sure not to do that again. “Stay in the house and lock the fucking doors. I’m posting men outside. Remember what I said.” I spun on my heel, not giving her a chance to say anything, and took off, my tires leaving rubber on the asphalt. I punched my steering wheel repeatedly.
“Fuck!” I yelled to my empty car.
Istood at the door and watched him speed away. My body trembled with feelings I couldn’t place. So much just happened, and I couldn’t help but feel a combination of emotions, all of them trying to bombard my body all at once. I rushed inside to my room and buried my face in my pillow, letting out a scream, hoping it would release the energy zinging through my body.