Page 15 of Dark Obsession

Then I move. Fast.

I’m on him in a heartbeat, grabbing his wrist and twisting his arm behind his back. Dollar lets out a yelp, but I’m not done. I slam his face down into the table, right into the pile of cocaine scattered across it. The drugs explode in the air, and Dollar’s nose grinds into the wood as he struggles beneath me.

“You got any other smartass comments to make?” I ask. “You gonna keep testing my patience?”

Dollar sputters, his breath ragged, trying to get a word out through the pain. He knows he’s out of his league now, and I’m done playing nice.

I press harder on Dollar’s twisted arm, feeling the resistance of bone and muscle. He squirms beneath me, his face grinding further into the table, smearing the coke across his nose and lips. He struggles, trying to free himself, but it’s no use. When the pain becomes too much, the tough-guy act drops, and the pleading begins.

“Please, man, just let me—” he starts, voice desperate.

“Shut the fuck up and give me what I want,” I growl, twisting his arm a little more for good measure. The sharp whimper that escapes him tells me he’s ready to spill.

“What do you want?” Dollar pants, face streaked with white powder, eyes wide with fear.

“You know what I want.” My voice is ice. “I want to know what the cartel’s planning.”

Dollar swallows hard, realizing this is his only way out. “Okay, okay! I’ll give it to you straight.”

“I’m not playing,” I say, my grip tightening just enough to remind him that I’m in control here.

“The Molina Cartel… they’re planning to take over the whole city,” Dollar says, his voice strained. “They’re gonna torch Ivanov’s business to the ground. A warning, you know? Make a statement.”

“And me?” I ask, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it from him.

“They’ve got you in their crosshairs,” Dollar gasps. “They want to make a special example out of you.”

“Who’s running the show? Oscar Molina’s dead.”

Dollar’s face twists in pain. “I don’t know, man! I swear! All I know is a guy named Claudio Sanchez is making moves here in Chicago. That’s all I’ve heard.”

Claudio Sanchez. The name hangs in the air. It’s a start.

I release my grip slightly, letting Dollar catch his breath.

I keep him pinned down for a little longer, pressing just enough to make sure the fear sticks. His shallow breaths come in ragged bursts, and I can feel the tremor running through his body. He needs to understand that his life is hanging by a thread—and I’m the one holding the scissors.

Finally, I release him, shoving him off the table. He stumbles, wiping his face with the back of his hand, smearing the coke even more. He sniffs the remnants off his fingers, desperate to regain some composure.

“I’ll be back,” I say coldly, “if I need more info. And when I come back, I expect you to clear your fucking schedule.”

Dollar nods quickly, rubbing his sore arm, still shaking like a kicked dog. “Yeah, yeah, man. Whatever you say. But listen, there’s a war coming. The Molina Cartel—man, they’re not like anything you’ve dealt with before. You and your family, you’re gonna face arealenemy this time.”

I smirk, the challenge stirring something dark inside me. "Good. I could use the thrill."

Dollar stares at me. I take a step toward the door but stop long enough to look back over my shoulder. “Choose your side wisely,” I warn. “You don’t want to be on the wrong one when this all goes down.”

With that, I leave the room, my mind racing. The pieces are starting to come together, and it’s clear now—everyone I care about is in danger.

Chapter 7

Elena

I’m in my element, seated in front of my computer, my fingers flying over the keyboard.

The glow of the screen bathes the room in a soft, blue light, and I’m already three layers deep into the CPD database. Normally, I wouldn’t touch police systems. It’s a hassle, and there’s no need to poke the bear—especially when half of the bears are on your payroll.

But this is different. After last night, I’m not waiting around for answers.

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