Page 58 of His Obsession

“Ah, damn,” Tonk hollered. My eyes left her sexy body writhing to the music and planted them on the blood, coating Tonk’s hand. “I broke my glass,” he said as his other hand kept pressure on the cut to staunch the flow.

“Here,” I said, reaching in my pocket for a tissue. Pulling out the small tissue bag, a piece of paper came along with it. I threw the tissues at Jake for him to help Tonk and opened the note, reading it. Panic settled in my chest.

Alek,

I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’ll come right out with it. That man called me three weeks ago, and I told him I’d hand you over. I never had plans to do this, please know that. I told him to meet me here, hoping to draw him out for you. I know what you are thinking, I’m stupid, and I shouldn’t have done it. I couldn’t stand to see the worry and stress this was causing you. So I did what needed to be done. If I told you my plans, you would have never allowed me to be the bait. I bought a ticket hoping you’d find it, making it look like I was planning to run. I knew that if you found out, you’d keep a closer eye on me. I may be resistant to everything you do, but I’m not used to someone trying to take care of me. So, don’t hold it against me for trying to take matters into my own hands. I’ll be on the dance floor, drawing him in.

Forgive me,

Elizabeth

I threw the paper to the floor and stood, trying to put my eyes back on her. Where was she?Where was she?My eyes frantic, scanning the crowded room. My gaze landed on Lucy, obliviously dancing, grinding on random men. I searched the immediate area around her and didn’t see her anywhere—my golden-haired vixen was missing.

I yelled for Tonk and ran into the crowd, heading for the last place I saw her. People jumped in my way, slowing me down, causing me to become violent. I shoved people away like a snowplow clearing the road of its latest storm.

Lucy danced in front of me, and I spun around, looking at every face surrounding me—she wasn’t here. Tonk and Jake caught up to me as I grabbed Lucy by the arms and shook her. The startled look on her face frustrated me.

“Where is she?” I yelled at her.

Jake came up behind me and tried to take over. Lucy looked confused. Her eyes bounced from Jake to me, trying to figure out what was going on. “She said she was going to the restroom.”

Before she could finish, I ran through the crowd to the restrooms, busting in the door. Women screamed as I shoved open the stalls, calling her name. She wasn’t here. Tonk ran in behind, grabbed some paper towels, and pressed them to his still bleeding hand.

“Liz is not here.” The panic in my voice obvious. Something I hated to show anyone.

“It’s okay. We’ll find her,” said Tonk.

“He was here. He took her. She used herself as bait. And I didn’t find out in time,” I roared as I punched the metal mirror. “I failed her.”

“What are you talking about? I thought she was trying to leave?”

“She made other plans of her own. She toldJimmythat she would turn on me and told him to meet her here tonight. I must have had too much security. So he took her instead. Fuck.” I raged.

Dammit, Liz. What have you done?

I raced outside, hoping to find her while Tonk got on the coms with the team and searched high and low. How did he get through my men and not get seen… again? I drew my gun and hit the alleyway, watching a white van take off, hitting the street at break-neck speeds. I raised my Glock to take aim at the tire, but it turned the corner before I could lock onto it.

I got into my car and threw it in reverse, peeling out of the parking lot, heading in the same direction I saw him leave. Tonk rang my phone, and I gave him turn-by-turn directions and the van’s description. I watched the van speed through red lights, narrowly missing cars coming at him. It pissed me off more that he put Liz in even more danger.

I swerved through my red light, missing the car that should have t-boned me. Making it to the other side of the intersection, I picked up speed to the next cross-section, slowing down before crossing. My mind racing, thinking of the fear she must be experiencing. I pushed the accelerator down, and the car screamed, power forcing me into my seat.

“He just turned right on Overton, right out of town,” I informed Tonk. That was a mistake, Overton was a straight shot to the highway, and he didn’t stand a chance in outrunning me in his van. I drifted around the turn and hit seventy before the highway ramp. I pulled in to his right, rolled down my window, and shot out his rear passenger tire. My gun kicked back in my sweat-slicked hand, and I nearly lost it as I pulled it back in.

Rubber pieces soared through the air as he continued to drive down the highway, zipping in and out of traffic. Sparks from his rim shot all over the road, causing people to break away from him and slow down to gain some distance. I seized the space beside him and pulled my gun, this time holding it tighter, and blew out his front tire. His vehicle lurched towards me, and I slammed on my brakes, missing his tail end by just a hair. That was stupid. I could have taken both of us out. The van ran off the steep embankment, and it flipped. Dirt and metal flew in the air as the vehicle toppled from side to side.

No, Liz!

What was I thinking? I should have known better. I let my emotions cloud my judgment, and I made a terrible call that jeopardized her life. I pulled the car to the side of the road and put it in park. The van rested at the bottom of the ditch, sitting on its side, with smoke billowing from the engine. One of the back doors stood wide-open while the other stayed closed, crushed in from the impact. There was no chance of opening that one, even if I needed to.

I ran down the embankment with my gun drawn, searching for Liz—or any movement that would alert me to her, or anyone else. I pointed my pistol inside the back of the van, expecting to find the body of the woman I killed with my reckless actions. When I ducked my head inside, I blew out a shaking breath. She wasn’t here.

My gut clenched, and I felt ill. Did she get thrown out? Was she lying somewhere hurt or dying? Did I jump to conclusions and followed the wrong vehicle?

I made a quick decision when I saw the van leaving. What if I was wrong, and I sent everyone on a wild goose chase?

I noticed movement through the metal grate separating the van and the back. The driver was breaking open his door. I stepped out of the rear of the vehicle and turned the corner. He kicked the door open, and a man crawled out—the bartender from tonight. I knew there was another place I had seen him. Where was it? I wracked my brain, trying to recall why he was so familiar as I pulled him out by his hair and kicked him, causing him to roll to his back. A deranged laugh ripped from his bloody face.

“Where is she?” I yelled at him, my gun digging into his chin.