Page 63 of His Obsession

He pushed away from the table, and the back of his hand connected in an ear-thumping backhand. Pinpricks hit my eyes, and the burn scorched my cheek. The pounding in my head now felt like a jackhammer going to work on a county road.

“He may find your mouth appealing, but I was never one to allow a woman to backtalk,” he said, bending to meet my face. His breath smelled of stale cigarettes and mint gum. His teeth yellowed from the tobacco, and two molars were missing from the side. He reminded me of a regular hillbilly from the deep bayou, minus the accent.

An unwanted tear trickled to my chin. “Probably because you don’t like hearing the truth, you ugly fuck.” I clenched my teeth together and braced for the blow coming. The new sting on my cheek melded with the other, and it was now impossible to tell them apart.

He backed up and leaned against the table, flexing his fingers. “You know, when I escaped, I heard he had a woman. I never guessed that you would be like her,” he said, folding his arms.

“God, whatever do you mean? Like who?” I said, rolling my eyes.

“Oh, didn’t he tell you? You look just like her. It’s no surprise why he’s obsessed with you.” Jimmy ran his hands through his beard, being cryptic.

“Okay, I'll bite. Who do I look like, Jimmy?” I knew he was baiting me, but my curiosity was getting the better of me. "And obsessed really isn't the word I'd use, but whatever floats your boat."

Jimmy placed a cigarette between his lips and lit the end, taking a long hard drag. The cherry ember on the tip of his smoke glowed dangerously red in the dim room.

He blew out a cloud of smoke from his lungs, and my eyes watched it drift towards the ceiling, creating a haze in the light. “His mother. Didn’t he tell you about her?”

I shrugged and shook my head. “He isn’t exactly the chatty type,” I said, apathetic. This didn’t surprise me; most guys seek a woman that resembles their mothers, while most women seek a man who favors their fathers. I couldn’t care less that I looked like his mother. I’m not sure why he thought that would be a significant revelation.

“Figures. He was always the quiet type. He preferred to watch you from a distance and while you were sleeping. He’s been doing it for quite a while, I’ve heard.”

I felt the color leave my face but tried not to give anything away.

I knew that Alek was controlling and wanted to protect me, but I didn’t think he would watch me while I slept. I mean, he came into my room and would sleep with me, but that was at his house. How would Jimmy know that?

“You’re wrong. I’ve only known Alek for a week before moving in because ofyou,I might add.”

“Yeah, well,youonly knew him for a week. He’s known you for, from what I was told, over a year,” he said, taking another drag from the cancer stick.

“Again, you aren’t telling me something revolutionary here. It would make sense Alek knewmelonger than I did. I work for his company.”

“Are you dense or something?”

I gave a lame one-shoulder shrug and shook my head. “Can’t say that I don’t have my moments, so how about you spell it out?”

Jimmy gave a quick laugh. “He’s been stalking you for over a year, you dim-wit.”

I went slack in my chair. Now, thatwasa revelation. I retreated into my mind and searched for all the encounters I had with him over the year.

There were only two interactions I’ve had with him before he came into the office, and they were on the same day as my interview. One of those times wasn’t even an “interaction,” I just happened upon him. I wouldn’t call that stalking.

“This is anti-climactic. You should do better.”

Sometimes, sarcasm spoke for me, and I didn’t really get a say in the matter.

“With pleasure.” A twisted grin accompanied his dead eyes I hadn’t noticed before.

A sense of dread came over me, rattling me to the core.

He took another drag, and the smoke left his lungs as he laughed. “Let’s get started, shall we?”

It had been twelve hours.

I started working with one of the three men yesterday when I realized we weren’t getting anything from Tim. Tonk had worked him hard, but he kept to his story; he didn’t know where she was. That may be true, but he was a gory mess now. I was getting anxious; I wanted her back. I needed her safe.

Walking into the room where Tim was, I witnessed him crying, drenched in his piss and stench, strapped to a table.

“I don’t know anything, I’ve told you.”