Page 65 of Edging Obsession

“The police department has been receiving hush money from us since my father was alive. There’s no way they’ll shut that shit down. Plus, a couple of them are racists against Turks, so they’re okay with having a couple of them dead.”

“Miles.”

He places his hand on his chest. “Hey, I didn’t say I was racist. I said a few cops are. I shot the fuckers for what they did to you, not for their nationality.” His hand reaches out to my face, brushing some hair from it. “And nothing like that will happen again. I’ll die before it does.”

“How about we keep dying out of the equation?”

33

It took some coaxing on Jules’ part to convince her parents to stay on the property. As long as they don’t have to talk to me or see me, they’ll remain for convenience’s sake to meet Anja when school permits. Jules sees Elisabeth often. They go for walks in the park, heavily protected, along with me interpreting, stop for afternoon cakes and coffees, and she comes for dinner several nights a week. She doesn’t like leaving Anja home alone, so she’ll come when Anja goes over to Elise and Elliott’s. Jules has wanted to invite Anja for dinner, too, but neither one of them know about my crime life or Jules’ abduction. She felt it was best to keep them in the dark.

Elisabeth and Jules suffer from mental illness, except Elisabeth’s isn’t as extreme as Jules’. Jules’ body relaxes every time she meets Elisabeth, because she says it’s nice to talk to someone who can relate to her mental issues. Through interpretation, I learn about Anja and Elisabeth’s sacrifices. She’s a better mother than mine ever was. She talks about Anja and what a handful she was growing up. Very inquisitive and active. While juggling a couple of jobs, she’d leave Anja with an older neighbor who had a habit of falling asleep in the afternoons. As Anja got older, she’d sneak out of thewohnungto run around outside and play with the other kids in the area. Elisabeth couldn’t say much about it, because she had no one else to care for Anja.

They’ve been financially struggling. Jules is thinking about getting a job so she can give the money to Elisabeth. I told her I’ll set up an account for her. It’s the least I can do for the mother of the woman I’m in love with. Plus, I love having Jules at home. Aside from Elisabeth, I don’t like to share my Schatzi.

It’s a new year, new weather, so the women bundle up for another walk in Dortmund Park. An overcast sky, which is a trend in Germany, and the biting wind cuts it short. The women decide to sit in one of the cafeterias in the park. My men search the inside and subtly surround the outside area. Elisabeth hasn’t mentioned the men who follow us. I’m guessing she’s so caught up in Jules, she doesn’t even notice them.

Inside the cafeteria, they sit at a table near the back, glassed in so they can gaze at the outdoor scenery. They orderGulaschsuppeand waters. Aside from interpreting, I stay out of the conversation, even though they both try to include me. This is their time. The more Jules connects with Elizabeth, the more the possibility she’ll consider spending time in Germany. Elisabeth tests out her English, only to become self-conscious.

There’s arguing outside the cafeteria. Hendrick texts me to let me know Yusuf and his men are here. I curse, and Elisabeth and Jules look at me in shock. This asshole kidnapped my Jules, and in the process, his slimy men almost raped her. I tell Hendrick to send someone in to watch over the women so I can beat the fuck out of Yusuf. Tomas comes in and I explain to the women I’ll be right back.

Several meters away, Yusuf and his men are in my guys’ faces. When Yusuf sees me, I take a run for him, barreling into his torso, knocking him over a small hedge. We roll to the side, but I’m up before him, fists connecting with his face, chest, and stomach. Hendrick and another guy pull me off. People have distanced themselves from us, gasping at the blood leaking down Yusuf’s face and my arm. I must have cut it on the hedge.

Hendrick whispers, “Matthias, stop. We don’t need any more cop interventions.”

I jab a finger toward Yusuf while talking to Hendrick. “That piece of shit hurt Jules. Luckily, I got there in time before more damage was done.”

Yusuf spits on the ground and smiles. “I told you not to let your guard down. You threatened me, so I threatened you. Fortunately for me, I was able to get a hold of your precious little lamb, at a small cost of some of my men.”

The guys physically hold me back from tearing him to pieces. “If you’d stay out of our fucking territory, we wouldn’t have issues. But now…”

Yusuf waggles his finger at me. “Uh, uh. Careful what you say or next time your lamb won’t be so lucky.”

Hendrick’s grip is tight across my chest, which is probably good since I want to kill Yusuf. “We’ll take you and your little sick skin trade empire down.”

He barks out a laugh. “You’re calling me sick? What about all the guns and drugs you supply to innocent people?”

“Drug dealers aren’t innocent. What they do with the drugs is up to them. But trading people for sex and money is fucking vile.”

He’s about to talk, but I hear Jules’ voice. “What’s going on Miles?”

I snap at Tomas. “Did younotunderstand the instructions for you to keep them inside?”

“Sorry, boss. They wouldn’t listen.”

There’s a gasp and Jules asks Elisabeth what’s wrong.

She’s visibly shaking, staring at Yusuf, and whispers, “Dein Vater.”

Father? My head whips toward Yusuf, narrowing my eyes, yet his eyes are locked on Elisabeth. Past conversations begin to unfurl in my head.“I fell in love with your father. Our backgrounds and beliefs were different…we parted ways…I found out I was pregnant…I didn’t tell him. I thought it best.

Fuck me! It can’t be.

Yusuf is Jules’ father? I take a closer look at him. Jules’ hair is brown with loose curls and his wavy hair is the same color. Elisabeth has gray eyes, but Jules’ are the same hazel as his.

Jules doesn’t know whatDeinVatermeans. She goes into protective mode, draping an arm over Elisabeth’s shoulders and holding her close. It’s as if she’s afraid her mother will vanish into thin air. Elisabeth turns to Jules, eyes roaming her face while Jules is skimming everyone to figure out what’s going on. She’s unaware Yusuf was the one who kidnapped her.

The confusion on Jules’ face breaks my heart. She’s been handed a shitty deal. First, her mental illness, and now finding out she was switched at birth. The only great thing to come of it is Jules’ parents. They’ve taken care of her. I’d do anything to protect her from finding out about Yusuf. He’s scum. The man traffics humans. He kidnapped my Schatzi. I’m sure her attempted assault didn’t bother him. I just hope when he finds out about his daughter and pieces everything together, he’ll show some humanity. Apologize to Jules. Quit that part of his illegal business. And if she wants a relationship with him, God help me, I’ll do whatever I can to make it happen.

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