Page 6 of Twisted In Obsession

I laugh sardonically. “I already have one person that I’m trying to track down, Dante. Don’t make it three.”

He opens his mouth to respond but is cut off by my cell ringing. Glancing down, my teeth grind together when I see Tony’s name flashing on the screen. He better be calling me because he has good news. If not, I’m likely to put a bullet in his head. Grabbing my phone, I swipe to answer, raising it to my ear in the next second. “Yes?”

“Nico,” he greets, and I hear the smile in his voice. My skin prickles with awareness. Stiffening, I sit up straighter in my chair, my heart pounding in anticipation. This is it. I can feel it. Feel that this is the call I have been waiting for, for what feels like a lifetime.

“I think I found her,” he drawls triumphantly.

“Go on,” I try to keep my voice even, though my pulse picks up to an unnatural speed.

“One of my men is on vacation. He is visiting with family in Charleston and was having lunch in a diner. He is ninety-five percent sure it’s your girl, but he didn’t have his work cell on him to check the picture that I sent over. Trevor took a sly picture of the girl on his personal cell and is going to double check when he gets back to where he is staying. He will send me an update when he confirms whether it’s her or not.”

Adrenaline pulses in my veins, my hand gripping my phone so tight, I’m surprised it doesn’t break from the pressure. “I want confirmation within the hour.” My tone leaves no room for argument. I have waited too long already. If it’s her, I won’t wait any longer.

“Sure thing, Nic,” he replies, ending the call without a goodbye.

That’s okay, I don’t need one. I just need to know whether it ismywoman.

Determination floods my veins, my blood heating and my cock hardening in my pants. With my reaction to the news Tony just relayed, I know it’s her. I can feel it in every part of my body.

A smirk curves my lips.

Within the next twenty-four hours, I’m going to have her back.

“Good news?” Dante asks, breaking me from my thoughts.

I glance up to find him staring at me curiously. A devilish smile I have no control over breaks out on my face.

“The best. Tell Hansen to get the jet ready. We are going to Charleston.”

It’s presumptuous of me, but in my heart, I know it’s her.

I want to be prepared when the confirmation I am waiting for comes.

Ocean is mine.

It’s time to bring her home.

Chapter5

Ocean

“Two dates in a week. I must be doing something right.” Harrison says, beaming at me from across the table.

He’s brought me to a restaurant just outside of town. He said it’s his favorite place to eat and wanted me to experience it for myself. He is considerate and thoughtful like that. Though I am still hesitant about this whole dating thing, I like Harrison. I would even go as far as saying that I feel comfortable with him. He doesn’t set my pulse racing or set my whole body on fire like Nico used to, but maybe that’s a good thing. After all, Nico may have had that effect on me, but look how it ended. Shaking all thoughts of the devil away, I focus on Harrison.

“You are,” I agree, a big smile curving my lips. “It must be the nice restaurants you keep bringing me to and all this delicious food.”

He laughs, shaking his head. He sobers, his eyes turning serious. My heart flutters in my chest when he reaches across the table, taking my hand in his. He gives me a gentle squeeze, comforting me as if he is afraid I might run when he speaks his next words. “I know you’re not ready for anything serious, Lyra, but…” noticing me stiffen, he trails off but doesn’t let me go. He sucks in a breath, his kind eyes lock on mine, imploring me just to hear him out. To not bolt. “I know you have your reservations, that you’re not ready for anything serious. But I really like you. I think we could be good together.” My pulse kicks up a notch and I shift in my seat, growing uncomfortable with where this conversation is going. I know what comes next and I’m not sure whether it’s what I want – yet. He said it himself, that I am not ready, so why is he pushing this? Why can’t he just let things happen slowly, organically. He must spot my panic because he grimaces, as if he knows he said too much. His next words confirm it. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I just couldn’t let another minute go by without telling you how I feel.”

I relax a little, only to feel guilty when his face falls at my resistance. Gripping his hand, I force a soft smile. I don’t want to lead him on, but I should open myself up to him more. Wanting to give him something,anything,because he is a good person and has respected my boundaries, I blurt my next words before I can stop myself. “Look Harrison, I may not be one hundred percent ready but, if it helps, I like where this is going. I just want to take it slow. See what happens. Is that okay with you?” I say timidly.

His whole face lights up like a firework at my words and, though I’m hesitant about everything, I know telling him that was the right thing to do. Harrison deserves happiness and if me saying a couple of words gives him that, then so be it. He nods. “That’s perfectly okay with me. And I promise not to push you. I am happy with whatever you have to give me right now. Just know that when you are ready for more, I will be waiting. I want to take care of you and Romeo, be the man you need. I want you to know that I cherish you both. A lot,” he adds sincerely.

My heart squeezes at the honesty in his voice. He really means everything he says. Now if I could only forget about and get over Nico, that would be fantastic. I know Harrison is everything I need in a man. Dependable. Good. Loyal.Nota mafia heir. Though it should be easy to give myself to the man in front of me, it’s just not as simple as that. The heart wants what it wants, and currently mine is still stuck on the dark, dangerous, blue-eyed man that is bad for me and my health. I can never regret Nico because then I wouldn’t have Romeo, but I wish with everything in me I could erase him from my heart, head and soul. Things would be so much easier that way.

Pushing thoughts of the past aside, I lock eyes with Harrison. He deserves my attention more than Nico ever will. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. I think I found a dance studio. It’s around twenty minutes from Patty’s,” the excitement is evident in my voice. “Martha, the lady who owns it, is a retired ballet dancer. I showed her what I could do and though I was a little rusty, she agreed that in exchange for teaching one of the beginners’ classes a week, I could use the studio to practice whenever I want.” I grin when I recall my meeting earlier. I’ve been wanting to get back to dance for a while now. Not only to get back into shape but to help with my mental health. Dancing is my therapy. I need it to survive.

Harrison smiles. “That’s great. I will have to come and watch you sometime.” I blush, only for my face to fall when memories of how Nico watched me resurface. A shudder runs through my body, the whole scene of how he fucked me on the bar against the mirror at my old studio, assaulting my head on loop. “Everything okay?” My gaze snaps up to a concerned looking Harrison. Frowning, he studies my face. For what, I’m not sure.

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