Page 39 of Obsession

I can’t help but snort at that. “Uh, no.” No one’s got a “thing” for me, but I don’t think Cain believes me. Troy anchors his hands on his hips and glares at us.

“Come at me, bro,” Cain says quietly.

“Okay, relax,” I say with an eye roll. “He isnotworth your time. Trust me. I can handle him.”

“That was never in question,” he mutters, releasing the wheel and cracking his neck, like he’s limbering up for a fight. Maybe he wants someone to pick a fight with him, to help burn off the intensity of the aggression that rolls off him. Maybe he wants to kick some ass.

Shiver.

“Alright, fine. I’ll have a car brought here within the hour, and I want you at my place at eight a.m. sharp tomorrow morning.”

Well then. Someone likes to gain back control. Well played, Mr. Master.

I’ll play along right back.

“Of course. And thank you.”

“Don’t forget to pack your clothes.”

I bite down some snarky remarks and turn away from him so he doesn’t see my eye roll.

“Yessiree,” I mutter, as I swing my legs around toward my side of the truck. The clouds shift, and a stream of moonlight hits the ground beside it. I look up at the full, brilliant white moon, anda pang hits my heart.Skylar.Where is she? What’s happening to her? Is she okay?

And she isn’t even my sister. I can’t begin to imagine what he’s going through. He’s learned how to school his features, how to hide his feelings. Years of service and what he’s been through would do that to a person.

We’ll find her.

I push open the truck door. Cain opens his mouth to say something, but I don’t give him a chance.

“Thank you for everything,” I say loudly, infusing a lilt of flirtation in my voice, as if he just brought me home after homecoming, for Troy’s benefit.Cringe.“I’ll see you in the morning.”

He gives me a little finger wave but doesn’t reply. He’s focused instead on watching Troy.

“If this fucker gives you any trouble…” he begins in a low rumble.

“Kick him where the sun don’t shine. On it.” To be more accurate, I’d curse him out and call Candi, since I typically try not to get into any altercations with my landlord. I did that once, and things got a bit… messy. It’s hard to find a new apartment mid-month.

I step down from the truck, and Cain yells from behind me, “Call me before you go to bed, baby!”

God.He’s doing that fake boyfriend thing again. I shoot him a glare over my shoulder, but that only makes him do this deep, manly, sexy chuckle I feel straight between my legs.Grrr!

Troy stares. What the hell is his problem? “Tell your boyfriend he can’t park there,” he says, but once he catches sight of Cain, he starts to take a step backward. Smart move, asshole.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him he’s not my boyfriend, but I think better of it. It might be good for word to get around I’ve got a boyfriend the size of Paul Bunyan, who drives a truck the size of Paul’s big blue ox. I amuse myself with the memory of the fabled Paul Bunyan rolling over in his sleep and causing an earthquake, and digging out the Great Lakes by hand.

I fantasized about being friends with Paul Bunyan when I was a little girl, bullied by my foster parents and bullied at school. No one would bully a girl with a friend who was bigger than life.

I guess I never outgrew that.

As Cain’s truck drives away, I square my shoulders and head inside.

I walk up the steps and grab my mail, and for once in my life my landlord doesn’t give me shit or follow me. Thank you, Mr. Master. I did tell him I don’t need help, and I don’t, but I might as well take advantage when opportunity knocks.

Now that the sun has set, it’s cooler, and even the humidity’s lessened. My phone beeps. I look down to see a text from Candi.

Just checking to see if you’re still alive.

I will be more alive after I get some food in my belly.

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