Page 67 of King of Obsession

Exploding air and mini dust blooms erupted in the truck’s wake.

It carried on for a few meters before its tires gave out.

It veered to one side of the roadway, then the other, rubber peeling and one tire coming clean off.

The vehicle came to a screeching halt, smoke rising from its engine.

I curled my lip and lowered my weapon, waiting.

She exploded from the car, clad in jeans, a zipped-up jacket, leather boots, and pure flaming rage.

Hair flying, eyes wild, arms pumping as she ran toward me.

She’d never appeared more fuckin’ beguiling to me.

I braced as she came to a stop before me, chest heaving, hands clenched in fists at her side.

We locked eyes, caught in an intense standoff between us.

‘What in the actual?’ she whispered. ‘You shot at me.’

I sucked my teeth. ‘Let’s be precise, mia sola. I blew out your wheels.’

‘Bastard! What in devil’s inferno were you thinking?’

‘What the fuck were you?’ I growled back. ‘Of more importance, where the hell were you going?’

I reached my gun hand for her and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her flush to my front.

It gave me the advantage of height, intimidation, and commanding control.

Her hands fell on my chest, trying to pull away.

I scoffed, tightening my grip.

She’d no bloody chance of getting away.

Not now. Not ever.

‘I won’t ask again, carissima,’ I rasped with menace, unleashing the full brutal extent of my ruthlessness.

Giving her flavors of my brutality.

She tossed her head back to stare up at me, fuckin’ undaunted.

‘To the Hendersons,’ she hissed. ‘To use their phone.’

‘Who were you going to call? The cops?’

Her nostrils flared with rage. ‘No, you paranoid freak. My Nonna. It’s her birthday. I always call her on her flaming birthday.’

Her voice broke, and I jolted.

‘I don’t know if she’s alive or dead, well or unwell,’ Cleo went on, railing into me. ‘I have no idea how she is. I need to know, especially today.’

Guilt, heated and lashed with condemnation, hit in a crushing wave.

I sucked her teeth and loosened my hold.

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