Page 63 of Forbidden Obsession

“I’ll do it for you,” Magic offered with a helpful smile. “I’ll keep the wolves off your girl.”

I whipped my head toward Emma, searching her eyes. “You okay with that?”

“Of course.” She smiled. “I’ll be sitting right here until you get back.”

“Swear to me you won’t go anywhere,” I said, somehow keeping the fear shrinking my balls from my voice.

“I swear,” Emma replied, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Relax, Blade. I’ll tie her down myself if I have to.” Magic grinned, then in a stage whisper said to Emma, “I’m just teasing, Breeze. No one here, including me, is gonna touch you.”

“I know, Mistress.” Emma chuckled.

Though I knew Magic would keep her word, leaving Emma alone and unprotected made me want to howl. But I couldn’t stand here with my dick in my hand. I had to find out just how big of a threat Ian was.

“Thanks, doll,” I said to Magic, then nodded to Axel. “Tell him I’m on my way, please.”

After pressing a soft kiss to Emma’s lips, I promised I’d be right back, then forced myself to step away. I strolled toward the hallway, focusing on slowing my heart rate, then clearing my mind.

Though I knew Emma wouldn’t leave her barstool, I had no clue how she’d react if this meeting went to shit and I was forced to toss her over my shoulder and sprint to my truck.

Like every mission I’d been on, I hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor, racking my brain for some place safe to hide Emma from Ian and James…hell, from the whole fucking world. Mack had a cabin in the Missouri Ozarks. I knew he’d let us hole up there if needed until I found something better. The hard part was gonna be alluding the two pricks in Dalton’s office long enough to get Emma there.

As I cleared the last step, I drew in a deep breath, clenched my jaw, and knocked on the door.

“Come on in,” Dalton called.

Wiping all emotion from my face, I turned the handle and stepped inside.

“Thanks for coming up, Blade. Please, have a seat,” Dalton said, sweeping his hand toward the empty chair in front of his desk between Ian and James.

When I sat down, Dalton opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times. With frustration written all over his face, he scowled and shook his head. “I’m not sure how to tell you this, man, but Aubrey isn’t who she says she is.”

“I know.”

Dalton blinked, jaw dropping open. “Youknow?”

“Exactly, whatdoyou know?” Ian asked.

“I know you recognized Emma. I know her rich, pathetic, heartless parents hired you to find her, so they can sign her fucking death warrant. And I know if you try to take her from me, you’re not getting out of this room alive,” I bit out with a low snarl.

“Whoa. Whoa. Hold up,” James said, raising a hand in the air. “Ian didn’t recognize her, I did. And trust me. We’renottaking her anywhere. We’re not working with the Bishops.”

“Then you’re working for the Fairchilds. Either way, you’re not taking Emma,” I growled.

“Easy, man,” Ian whispered, showing an unexpected solicitous side. “We’re not working foreitherof them, but a fuck-ton of other PIs are.”

“How many?”

“After the families offered their reward?” James shrugged. “Hundreds…maybe thousands.”

“What reward?”

“This one,” Ian replied, calmly handing me his cell phone.

Willing my hand to stop shaking from the dread charging through me, I gripped the device. A photo of Emma, eyes sparkling and a blinding smile stretched across her lush lips, filled the screen. The need to touch her…to shield her with my body and get her out of the club rode me like a desperate whore.

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