Page 84 of Obsession

“I don’t know what this is. This constant need to be around you. The way you can touch me when no one else can. The red haze that filled me when I knew you were taken. The knowledge that if I hadn’t made it in time, I would’ve killed myself to be with you.”

My heart beat an erratic rhythm. It was crazy. Wrong. Obsessive.

And perfect.

A smile broke out across my face. “That’s love.”

“Then I love you too, Songbird.” He kissed me deep, but quick. My fingers curled into his shirt, trying to keep him for longer.

“I know.” I sighed. “Just like I knew you’d save me.”

I wished we’d had more time to enjoy the moment. But that would come later when we were all safe. Because right now, we weren’t.

As if to prove my point, the door flew open. Violet screamed as Vander, Cole, and Angelo burst into the room. They looked scary as hell with angry expressions and guns in their hands.

“We need to go,” Vander said as Nathan and I scrambled to our feet.

“We’re not the only ones here.” Cole added as he clicked another magazine into his gun. Nathan pulled a spare weapon from his pocket, pressing it into my hand.

“Violet.” My stomach jumped as I turned towards her. “Come on. We’re leaving. Together.”

Tears burned my eyes as I really looked at her for the first time since Nathan had entered. Her hair shielded her face as she rested on her knees, staring down at Aaron. Her hands hovered over the body like she wanted to touch him, but didn’t know where.

“Violet.” I whispered as I closed the distance between us. Nathan grasped my wrist, keeping me close as he followed. “We have to go.”

“He was my brother.” Her voice wavered and her hand shook. “I loved him.”

“I know.” She flinched as I reached out to grasp her shoulder. “But he was hurting you.”

A tear slid down her cheek. It didn’t seem like she could hear me. I jolted as a loud crash sounded nearby. My heart raced; fear flooding my veins again.

“We need to leave!” Vander ordered.

“Violet.” My gut tightened. I didn’t want to rush her, but we weren’t safe here. She stared up at me and the men. Her eyes were blank, like she wasn’t really seeing us. I’m sure she was scared. But she was too emotionally wrung out to show it. “We have to go.”

She blinked, but didn’t move. The guys moved towards the exit. Nathan tugged my arm. “Lark, there’s no time for this.”

“I can’t leave her!” My chest tightened as I tried to pull her to her feet, but she was staring down at her brother again. Lost in her thoughts. “Violet, please.”

The door burst open. The metal cracked against the wall. Nathan tucked me behind him, raising his gun at the intruders.

I jumped in front of Violet, who still hadn’t moved. My skin grew clammy. Fear snaking down my spine as three more men entered.

If I thought the Kents were scary, then I wasn’t prepared for these guys. The look in their eyes told me they were out for blood. It already coated their skin.

Any happiness or relief I’d felt evaporated in that instant.

48

Nathan

Ithought I was out of emotions. That I’d spent them all today. The fear, agony, relief. There should be nothing left.

But anxiety surged through me as three unknown men barged into the room. I reacted on instinct, shoving Lark behind me. She moved to block the girl she’d bonded with from view. I still had no idea who she was, but we couldn’t abandon her.

My brothers had their weapons aimed at the intruders, and I followed suit. We knew all of Aaron’s men. It was survival in this business to know your enemy. And we didn’t recognize the ones in front of us.

“Who are you?” Vander said, reluctant to pull the trigger on people we didn’t know.

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