Page 113 of Blades of Obsession

His eyes widen, and he scrambles out, nearly tripping over himself in the process. I keep the gun trained on him, walking him back to where Amelia is still bent over the passenger seat. The only thing exposed is her back.

I grab some tissues from the dash and shove them into Rowan’s hands. “Clean up my mess.”

Relishing in the sight of reducing a grown man to a shaking, nervous wreck as he cleans up what he’s told, a surge of exhilaration floods my veins.

I get drunk on the power and control.

And I might’ve “accidentally” shot him in the foot once he was all done—whoops. What can I say? My hands tend to get a little shaky when I’m annoyed. Must be a condition.

Chapter 42

AMELIA

“C’mon, c’mon.”

It’s the fifth time today I’ve called my dad and still no answer. Each time, the endless ringing on the other end gnaws at me. I haven’t spoken to my mom since that day in the hallway, and my worry is starting to morph into full-blown panic.

She hasn’t answered my calls or texts—I’ve left probably a dozen voicemails over the past few days. The last few times I called, the number was disconnected. So I’ve resorted to calling my dad’s number instead.

Ever since she got back with dad, this uneasy feeling has settled in my gut, and I can’t shake it.

“Ugh!” I practically yell at the top of my lungs in frustration. The voicemail came on again.

Just then, the bathroom door flies open. Blade stands there, looking like he rushed out of the shower with only a towel over his waist. His skin glistens with water droplets, and his hair is tousled. I can’t help but admire the view.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, concern etched on his face as he catches his breath.

I bite the inside of my cheek to suppress a smile. “Nothing, just my dad isn’t answering. I really want to talk to my mom.”

“Oh, shit,” he mutters under his breath.

“What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing. Here, use my phone. Maybe he’ll answer if he sees it’s me—he might think it’s important.”

I reach over and take his phone, dialing my dad’s number again. To my surprise, he picks up almost immediately. So hehasbeen avoiding my calls. Blade retreats into the bathroom as I start talking to my dad, and I may or may not sneak a peek at his firm back and ass.

“Dad, hey, how’ve you been?”

“Oh, like you care.”

I sigh inwardly at the confirmation that he’s still the same grumpy old man. “I do care.” I’m trying to keep the peace, but he just laughs bitterly. “Where’s mom? I heard the news of you guys, um… getting back together.”

“Oh, how the tables have turned,” he says cryptically, his voice sending a chill through me.

“What do you mean?”

“You know, he told me I wouldn’t be able to speak to you unless I had permission from him. Do you know what that felt like? I neededhispermission to talk to my own daughter. The girlIraised. So now, you’ll need mine to talk to your mother. How does it feel not being able to talk to your family, hm? Feels shitty, right?”

“But… I want to talk to you both. Freely.”

“Nope. Don’t want to hear it. You went months without calling and now all of a sudden you want to talk to me.” He scoffs. “Ask me.”

“What?”

“Ask me nicely to talk to your mother and I’ll consider it.”

I blow out a shaky breath, steeling myself. “Can I talk to mom, please?”

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