Page 7 of Filthy Obsession

“It feels like fate,” I say, wanting to say so much more.

“Yeah,” he replies, his gaze growing dark when he steps back. “Like fate.”

Chapter 5

Michael

I’ve been watching Sabrina, and she doesn’t have a clue. At first I just wanted to be able to check up on her when I was at work, but it’s devolved into something entirely different. Having this kind of access to her has done nothing to quell my obsession. Sometimes I scare myself with how gone I am on her, and I worry how she’ll react if she finds out.

I don’t intend to let her find out.

Gaining access to the cameras was easy enough. I was assigned to a special investigations unit pretty quickly after transferring here. It’s not much different from what I was doing on the force before, and apparently my name carries more weight than I thought. So, when I asked one of my old buddies from the technical services unit if they could hack into a home security system for me, he did it with no questions asked.

I swore I’d keep her safe. And that’s what I intend to do. She only checks the cameras before she enters rooms. I’m able to monitor her home all day. Plus, I can keep an eye on the balcony door. It’s the only entry point to her apartment that isn’t reinforced. She keeps it locked, but glass is easily broken. Since Lester Povich escaped, I feel a little more justified about my constant monitoring – especially because of how distraught Sabrina was when she heard the news.

I’m not even sure how the bastard got away. There’s rumors floating around that he has an accomplice on the outside.. Our priority is finding the guy and putting that son of a bitch back where he belongs.

As much as it pains me, I’ve been spending more time at work the past few weeks. Obviously I want to be with Sabrina, but my top priority is her safety. Listening to the police scanner while I’m at her apartment isn’t really a productive use of my time. I’m more effective when I’m at the station with all of the precinct’s resources available to me.

This week, I’m working the night shift. Thank god for her home security system, and the app on my phone that allows me to watch what she’s doing.

As I’m clicking through each of the cameras in search of my beloved, something catches my eye in the living room. It’s nothing too strange, just a shadow stretching across the sparkling clean hardwood floor. I make a note of it, continuing my search for Sabrina.

When I find her asleep on the bed, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. She looks so serene and at peace, and I’m tempted to linger on the video feed for a few minutes. I force myself to look away, though – I can stare once I work out what’s casting that unusual shadow. It’s probably nothing, but something in my gut tells me it’s something.

I go back to the living room cameras, leaning closer to my computer screen as I try to locate the source. I follow the dark lines to the balcony window, the pit in my stomach growing. There’s something new out there, something shaped suspiciously like a person.

I have to get home. Now.

Without bothering to tell anyone where I’m going, I tear out of the building, racing into my police cruiser and taking off toward Sabrina. There’s a glimmer of hope in my mind that I’m wrong about this, but my instincts are rarely wrong.

As soon as I get onto our street, I kill the lights and slow down. To anyone watching me pull into the parking lot, I look like I’m coming home for lunch. It’s exactly what I’m going for – an inconspicuous approach.

When I look up at Sabrina’s balcony, I worry I might be too late. On the sliding glass door, there’s no reflection, almost like the glass isn’t there anymore.

My blood runs cold, and I run for the entrance, taking the stairs two at a time to the fourth floor. I step into the hallway, rage coursing through my body when I hear my girl’s muffled screams. How dare this bastard come into our home, the one place she feels safe.

This motherfucker is gonna pay.

Without a second thought, I kick the door down, tearing her multiple deadbolts out of the wooden frame. The sound of her struggle gets louder, no longer muffled. I see red as I tear through the apartment in search of her.

Lester has a knife in his hand, gripped tight and pointed directly at Sabrina in our bedroom. She’s holding him at bay, her eyes wide with fear and determination. She kicks at him, but he sidesteps the movement, nearly dropping his knife in the process.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” I yell, coming at him from behind.

Both of them falter, Sabrina’s eyes snapping to me. Her assailant takes the opportunity to twist free of her grip, turning to face me fully. His eyes are wild, his hair unkempt. There’s a bright red mark on his face, and I can’t help but feel a swell of pride – Sabrina had to be the one to give that to him.

“Fuck you,” he curses before surging at me.

I’m prepared, grabbing him expertly and knocking the knife loose from his hand. Somewhere outside of my line of vision, Sabrina gasps and her back hits her dresser, knocking over photos of her friends and family. In my grasp, Lester thrashes, slamming the top of his head against my chin.

My teeth clack together, pain radiating through my jaw. I don’t let go of him though, twisting his arm and forcing him to take a step back to combat the sharp discomfort. I take the opportunity to adjust my hold, pulling back a fist and hitting him so hard blood trickles from his mouth. When he tries to get away, I bring him back in and drive my knee into his groin, enjoying the way he whimpers in agony and folds in half.

I know I should stop, but now that I’ve started, I can’t. Another blow lands against his cheek, then another. I’m about to hit him again, but the sound of Sabrina crying brings me back to reality. Instead of pummeling the escaped convict, I throw him to the ground, pushing him onto his front and slapping cuffs onto his wrists while reciting his Miranda Rights.

“I’ve got him,” I say into my radio, keeping a knee on his back. “I got Lester Povich.”

“Where are you?” my captain’s voice replies. “Do you need backup?”

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