Page 25 of His Obsession

“I think so. Don’t worry about it. I can still use my arm. We need to move,” I ordered.

I tapped Tonk on the back, letting him know to cover me if anyone else came through the side door. I ran across quicker than I expected and placed my back against the wall, bouncing back and forth to catch a glimpse through the cracked door.

Bodies were on the ground; they tipped motorcycles on their sides, and one was in flames. It looked like a fucking war zone out there.

I looked back at them, waving them forward. Tonk took off across as Jake followed behind. A suicidal man sprang through the door and took aim at Jake.

Jake hit the ground, and the sound of gunfire ricocheted off the metal walls. The man fell to his knees, dead, with a bullet to the eye. Jake may look like Mr. Geek, but he was just as dangerous with any weapon as he was with a computer.

Scrambling back to his feet, he picked up running and caught up to Tonk, yelling for information.

“Diego says it’s all clear,” said Tonk.

My gun in one hand and my four-inch serrated blade in the other, I walked out the door. Our eyes were flicking around, looking for the enemy. We ran to theEscaladewe arrived in. Tonk ran to the driver’s seat, Jake dove into the back, and I ran around to the front. A man crouching down by the tire stood and ran towards me, striking me hard in the jaw, hitting the bruise already there.

I raised my gun, intending to wipe his ugly mug off the face of the earth when he kicked it from my hands, and it went skidding across the asphalt. I lunged at him and slashed my knife across his chest, the blade catching his shirt and tearing. The kid hunched down and ran at me, plowing into my torso, my head smacking against the ground.

His hand went around my throat, and his fist came in, rattling my teeth. I reached for the knife that fell away, grabbed the handle, and dug it deep into the man’s ribs. He stilled above me, releasing his hold on my neck, and his eyes went wide with shock. My hand warmed from the blood leaking from his side. I locked eyes with him, pulled the knife out, and stabbed him again, twisting the blade back and forth. If you have to kill a man, look him in the eyes and watch their demons slip out.

I pushed on his shoulder with my free hand until he fell to the ground. Keeping my hand on the knife, I pulled it out. A grunt came from him, letting me know he was still alive.

Goddammit.

Walking over to my gun, I picked it up and blew his brains all over the ground. Adrenaline coursing through my veins, I hopped in the SUV and slammed the door. Blood covered the sleeves, and a rip where the bullet grazed my arm left a gaping hole in the material, ruining my suit. Tonk took off, driving from what now resembled a massacre.

“What the fuck just happened back there?” I hollered while loosening my tie. I knew they were just as puzzled as I was. Who were they? “Is anyone hit?” I asked, throwing my tie to the ground.

“No!” they said in unison.

“Shit, what a mess.” I took off my jacket and pressed it to my wound. It wasn’t as bad as it felt, but it didn’t stop the searing pain from radiating to my fingers.

The day had come and gone. I sat on the couch reading all day, practically ignoring Lucy. She danced up and down the stairs naked as the day she was born. Her music turned up loud, shaking her tits, trying to make me laugh. I think she took something. It was the only explanation for someone to act so wild, for so long.

I was alone, left in a dark, quiet home once Lucy went to work. Free for my mind to wander places it shouldn’t. I wanted to go back to the days where it never bothered me to be alone. Where I would relish the silence. It was the only place I could think. Now, all I felt was fear and paranoia.

I watched two action movies, secretly taking notes, and ate a bowl of ice cream since Lucy left. She told me to come with her since it was a Saturday, but I was drunk last night, and I didn’t feel like having a repeat performance so soon. My head still hurt from the wine, anyway.

I climbed into my bed, the sheets cold against my bare legs, and set a reminder to take out the trash. Across my screen, a message from Alek flashed.

Alek: What are you doing?

Me: I’m in bed like an old person.

Why did this text bring a smile to my face? Shouldn’t I be irritated that he was nosy?

Alek: What are you wearing?

Me: A 16th-century nightdress.

A grin cracked my face, and I chewed on my lip.

Come on, Liz, you will not flirt with him.

It shouldn’t be okay with me that he asked that question.

Alek: So practically naked with a night-cap. Intriguing.

Alek: Show up on Monday, or you’re fired.