Page 21 of His Obsession

The raw certainty in his voice made her knees weak, and she hated herself for the way her body responded to him. She should be afraid, furious even. But instead, all she could think about was how the heat of his body pressed against hers chased away the cold that had seeped into her bones.

The sound of distant footsteps broke the moment, and Callum tensed, his head snapping toward the source. His hand came to rest on her hip, steadying her as he shifted slightly to block her from view. She didn’t dare move, her breath caught in her throat as the voices from earlier faded into the night.

When he turned back to her, his expression was darker, more dangerous than before. “This isn’t over. Whoever sent them won’t stop until they get what they want. And right now, that’s you.”

Her stomach twisted at his words, fear clawing at her chest. “Why me?” she whispered. “I’m just… no one. I don’t understand.”

His hand tightened on her hip, the pressure grounding her. “You’re not no one, Isolde. You’re in this now, whether you realize it or not. But as long as I’m here, they won’t touch you.”

The promise in his voice was as terrifying as it was comforting. She wanted to push him away, to fight the hold he had on her, but the truth was undeniable. She needed him. And that realization scared her more than anything else.

“I don’t trust you,” she said, her voice barely audible.

“You don’t have to,” he replied, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “You just have to stay alive.”

The words hung heavy in the air until Callum finally stepped back. The absence of his warmth was startling, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

“Come on,” he said, his tone softer now, though no less commanding. “We’re leaving.”

She hesitated, her mind a whirlwind of emotions she couldn’t untangle. But as she looked up at him, at the storm in his eyes and the strength in his posture, she knew there was no choice.

“Where are we going?” she asked, her voice steadying.

Callum’s lips curved into that dangerous smile again, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his eyes. “Somewhere they can’t find you.”

And as he took her hand, leading her out of the shadows and into the night, Isolde couldn’t shake the feeling that her world had just been turned upside down. She wasn’t sure if she was running from danger—or deeper into it.

8

CALLUM

There was a feeling of unease in the alley as Callum hustled Isolde toward the SUV parked just beyond the shadows. Her steps faltered in her attempts to keep pace with him, but his grip on her wrist was firm—unyielding. She wasn’t escaping him tonight. Not after the stunt she’d pulled.

“Slow down,” she hissed, her voice trembling, though whether from fear or anger, he wasn’t sure. “Callum, I can’t?—”

“You’ll manage,” he cut her off, his tone rougher than he’d intended. He didn’t slow down. Not when he could still feel those men’s presence lingering like a specter in the night. Not when her recklessness had nearly gotten her killed.

She was damn lucky he’d gotten to her first.

The SUV’s headlights flared to life as Padraig, ever-reliable, swung open the passenger door. Callum didn’t hesitate, practically shoving Isolde into the seat before slamming the door behind her.

“You stay behind, Padraig. Keep to the shadows and make sure no one is following us,” he said quietly.

“Right-o, boss.”

Callum rounded the front of the vehicle and slid into the driver’s seat, the vehicle’s locks clicking shut with a finality that hung in the air.

“Put on your seatbelt,” he ordered, his voice clipped as he adjusted the rearview mirror to check for tails.

Isolde glared at him, her arms crossed like a stubborn child. “You don’t get to bark orders at me like I’m some—some captive.”

“Buckle up,Isolde,” he growled in a low, menacing voice.

Her eyes flared with defiance, but with a frustrated huff, she yanked the belt across her chest and clicked it into place. Callum wasted no time pulling away from the curb, the low hum of the engine cutting through the silence. The city blurred past in streaks of light and shadow, but his mind stayed sharp, tuned to the danger that still clawed at the edges of the night.

“Where are you taking me?” she demanded after a few minutes of charged silence.

“Somewhere safe,” he replied without looking at her, his hands gripping the wheel with a controlled strength that betrayed his fury.

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