Page 37 of Deepest Obsession

“Oh, this?” Blaze lifts up his flute. “This is fake stuff. Tastes like ass. We’re working tonight. Undercover.” He winks at me.

“The Ellisons insisted.” Dominic rolls his eyes. “Never mind that we have plenty of other guys who could’ve handled this job without us.”

“That’s what you get for being the best of the best.” Alexander smirks before murmuring in my ear, “I’m going to get us something to drink. Are you comfortable with the guys, or do you want to come with me?”

I gulp. I want to stay glued to Alexander’s side all night. But I also don’t want to look like a lost puppy dog following him around. “I’ll stay.” With the best smile of confidence I can muster, I let him go.

“Soooo.” Blaze sidles up to me, slipping a big arm around my shoulders. He was never skinny, but he’s bulked up a lot since I last saw him. “You and Hendricks, huh? Wanna tell me how he managed to win you back?”

I bite back my response of, He hasn’t. “A lot of luck, I guess. Just watch out, he’s as possessive as ever.”

Felix barks out a laugh. “Possessive? Alexander? I’ve only ever seen him treat his women with cold indifference.”

“Not Soph.” Dominic’s quiet seriousness cuts through our laughter, and I meet his gaze.

However much I hate that Alexander has had other women, it makes my heart swell with happiness that he treats me differently. Maybe he really does mean what he’s been saying.

That thought is shattered in an instant, though, as another one replaces it:

Or maybe he just wants to make sure you don’t get away until he’s finished breaking you into pieces again.

I shiver, and Blaze tightens his arm around me. “You always did get cold easily. Want my jacket?” His grin is mischievous as he starts slipping off his jacket.

“No, I’m actually not cold. I was just... thinking, I guess.” Before they ask any more questions, I turn the conversation back around. “So how long have you guys been at Grayson Security?”

Dominic nods. “I worked through all of college, and Blaze through his last three years. Dad retired, so I run everything now. Couldn’t do it without these two.”

I smile. It’s a relief to know that Dominic and Blaze are still close. They were inseparable in high school. We all were.

“That fucking bitch.”

I feel Blaze’s whole body tense, and when I follow his gaze, mine does too.

Alexander has been stopped by his mother, and a gorgeous brunette in a fuchsia gown has an arm wrapped tightly around his waist.

Vanessa.

“Some things never change.” I ignore the bitterness in my voice. Who the hell does she think she is?

I almost storm over there and rip her off of him by her hair, but I stop myself. Because, when it comes down to it, Alexander isn’t actually mine. And I’m still not sure if I trust him.

And as I watch him give her a heart-stopping smile, the little bit of trust he does have begins to slip away.

“I’ll handle this,” Dominic growls, separating from the group and making a beeline for Everly’s dream couple.

Blaze turns me away, leading me to the dance floor. “Let’s make him jealous, shall we?”

“Are you sure you want to experience Alexander’s wrath?” I say with a giggle. But I don’t hesitate when Blaze pulls me into his arms, waltzing me around the room.

“The bastard needs to know what a treasure he has. God, I wanna kill him sometimes.”

I bite back the urge to ask him if he thinks Alexander’s feelings for me are genuine. But thankfully, I keep my mouth shut. How would he know?

“I feel like we’re in high school again.” I let out a sigh, trying to get a peek at Alexander, but Blaze keeps me angled so I can’t see.

But then he stops as a dark figure stumbles into us, spilling wine all over Blaze’s crisp white shirt.

“Oh, fuck! I’m so sorry!”