Page 14 of Obsession

“You start now, Miss Price.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Violet

Skylar.I know enough about body language to know Skylar is someone who matters to him. He moves like he’s at war, preparing for an ambush, and whoever’s responsible for hurting Skylar’s goingdown.

Yikes.

Who is it? An ex? I doubt she’s a current girlfriend or significant other. He’s the type that would want a woman who mattered to him nearby, under his protection and watchful eye. I haven’t missed the way his team trains right here on his property.

I go through a myriad of feelings at once.

Elation—he hired me!

Fear—will this go the way I planned?

Panic—what does this mean? What’s happened to Skylar?

He walks at a clip I have to run to keep up with, either oblivious or unconcerned with my trailing behind him. I don’t mind it, though. Moving fast burns the adrenaline that courses through me like fire.

When we reach the house, a tall, lanky man with a shaved head comes out. Two meaty pit bulls circle Lanky Man’s legs, prowling as if they smell the blood of someone new in their territory.

My heart swells. God, I love pit bulls. What most people don’t know about them is that they used to be nanny dogs, hired to watch over and protect babies and small children. A cross between terriers and bulldogs, pit bulls were once used as symbols of American strength during the First World War.

They’re fiercely loyal and protective to a fault, though. And once trained to guard illegal activity, drug dealers and the like used them for their own benefit. When they attack, they don’t let go. They’ll bite to kill. And while that might’ve once kept children safe, pit bulls have gotten a bad rap in recent years.

I love them. I want to kneel in front of them and nuzzle their chocolate-brown necks and scratch their perky ears.

I’ve always been attracted to powerful, lethal creatures.

“Just got a call from Lottie.”

Cain nods. “And?”

“Said she never came home last night. They expected her at midnight, and when she didn’t show, they figured she was spending the night with her date.”

His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t otherwise react. “And?”

“And when she didn’t come home this morning, Lottie got scared. Said she didn’t know what to do or how to reach her, and thought you’d want to know.”

“I would’ve wanted to know last night,” he says through gritted teeth.

I’m glad I’m not the one on the receiving end of that anger. It boils at a low simmer, threatening to scald and eradicate anything it touches.

“Right, sir, but you were traveling, and not even due back until today.”

Cain curses under his breath, then turns and jerks his chin at me. “You. Come with me.” Like I’m going anywhere else? I’m wearing his damn T-shirt, and he just hired me. If he gave me a cot to sleep on, I’d camp right here.

I thought there were a lot of people around his house before. Now, it seems like people that work for him come out of the damn woodwork. Big, muscled guys. A few in military fatigues and others in civilian clothing mill around the large house, talking in hushed tones. None of them speak to Cain, and it takes me a minute to realize the reason they don’t is because they’re waiting for his command.

“Who’s Skylar?” I ask, panting as I follow him up the steps two at a time.

His jaw tenses before he responds.

“My sister.”

Oh, wow. Shit. Nowthatdidn’t show up in the search history. And why is a part of me relieved she’s family, that she isn’t a woman he has romantic ties to? My gut reaction spells danger,but I shove it down. I’ll deal with that later. Now, I’ve got shit to do.

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