Page 23 of Blades of Obsession

“With a down payment, it’ll be less than five thousand a month. C’mon, you probably piss that amount out.” I hear a slosh of liquid after he talks which indicates he’s finally picked up his choice of alcohol for the day.

The sound triggers something inside of me. I need to end this call.

“I’m not doing monthly payments so you can bother me every month about a mortgage. Send me the realtor’s information and this better be the last time you ask for something.”

“Thank you. Thank you. You’re the best son ev—”

I cut the line before he can lie straight to my face and say unnecessary things that I don’t need to hear right now. Maybe I needed to hear it when I was growing up, but not now. So he missed his chance.

On a brighter note, my mission isfinallyover and I can’t wait to get back to see my angel.

Chapter 10

AMELIA

I’m strolling through the halls with Frankie, dropping her off at her next lecture. Skye is at the dorm, probably in her pajamas by now, but Frankie had an evening class today. After she hung out at our dorm, Skye suggested one of us should walk her.

Frankie has fit right into our friend group so far. I guess that’s what John intended in the first place. I’m not sure if he set us up because I’m supposed to look after her or she’s supposed to look after me. She’s really funny and energetic, like a firecracker, the exact opposite of her cold father. How she came out of his ball sack, I’ll never know.

After I drop Frankie at class, I suddenly find myself cornered—literally—by Rhett and Rhys while passing through the library.

“What is your problem?!” My fists clench at my sides. They’re not letting me walk. I feel trapped, just like I did when he held a gun to me.

“Come with us,” Rhys says, looking annoyed.

I become hyper-aware that if Rhys is back, that means Blade is too. “Where?”

“Restaurant.”

“What, are you going to hold a gun to me again if I say no?” I cross my arms.

“No, but we could give you a sedative, dress you ourselves while you’re passed out naked, then drive you to the restaurant right when you wake up.” Rhys has a crude smile on his face.

Rhett elbows him, a gesture to ‘knock it off’, and I’m thankful that at least one of them is rational. Their opposing personalities are like Yin and Yang. Rhett must’ve stolen all the level-headed traits in the womb.

“Fine, I’ll go.” I sigh, uncrossing my arms. “How do you feel being someone else’s lapdog?”

Rhys gets in my face, the surprise of his quick movements drawing a small yelp from my lips. “I’m not anyone’s fucking lapdog,” he says through gritted teeth. He reaches out and grabs a tight hold of my arm.

“Let me go,” I hiss, trying to pull away, but his grip is too tight.

Fortunately, Rhett yanks away his evil twin with a forceful pull, causing him to release my arm. “Just stop now or I’ll tell Blade about what you just did,” Rhett threatens.

We walk to the parking lot and pile into the car, with Rhett opening the door for me to get in the backseat. See? Level-headed.

Rhys rants while Rhett is driving, intending for me to hear every word. “He needs to hurry up and get bored of her like he got bored with the other ones. She makes our job so much harder, at least we didn’t have to follow the other ones around or give them any special treatment.”

He acts like this is my fault all of this is happening. Like I’m the one who barreled my way into their lives on purpose.

After making a quick stop at my dorm to change, Blade meets us at the restaurant, and we step through the front door together. Blade’s hand rests on my lower back, his touch igniting a trail of heat against my skin. Of course, I had to wear a backless dress tonight.

I notice the hostess avoiding eye contact with either of us. A moment later, a male waiter in his mid-twenties approaches and whispers something in her ear before raking his eyes up and down my figure. He stares at me as if he’s peeling away my clothes with his gaze, and I shift uncomfortably.

Why do guys feel the need to ogle women in public? As if we’re nothing more than our bodies?

Blade clears his throat, and the hostess sends the waiter a glare, causing him to throw his hands up and walk off. We follow the hostess to a secluded private room, and she speaks up, “Sorry about him, he’s new. We’ll handle him.”

Instead of responding, Blade gives a slight nod, pulling out my seat for me and going to sit on his side of the table.

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