Page 9 of Dark Obsession

I spot my clothes neatly folded on the chair. At least he’s thoughtful when he’s being a bossy pain in my ass. I start pulling them on, still grumbling under my breath, but deep down I know something’s wrong.

I finish dressing, tugging on my heels with a bit more force than necessary. When I step into the living room, I try to lighten the mood, if only for myself.

“Good morning. That is, if it’s still morning. Not like I have a phone to check,” I say, casting an exaggerated glance around the room. No clock in sight and it’s still dark outside.

Grigori barely acknowledges me, his face buried in his phone.

Wait a second.

“Didn’t you toss your phone out the window last night too?” I cross my arms, raising an eyebrow.

“Backup,” he mutters, still staring at the screen.

I open my mouth to say something else, but he holds up a finger, silencing me. Silencingme. My teeth grind together. He’s back in full asshole bodyguard mode. So much for last night’s version of him.I should’ve known better.

"Really?" I snap, crossing my arms tighter. But he doesn’t answer. He sends off a text with his usual annoyingly calm expression.

Finally, he looks up.

“We’re going to the mansion.”

“Now?” I ask, still bristling.

“Now.” He’s already moving to grab his jacket.

I sigh, rolling my eyes as I grab my things.

We step outside, the cold air hitting me like a slap. I’m still half in a daze, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and the lingering heat from my dream. I glance up at the sky, wondering what time it is.

“What the hell happened?”

He doesn’t answer right away. We get into the car, and he turns the ignition, the engine rumbling to life. The controlled, focused Grigori is back in full force.

“We need to get you to the mansion,” is all he says.

My brother Luk and his wife technically live there, but it’s more like a fortress masquerading as a luxury estate, big enough to house an army of guests when needed. After the security breaches a few years back, it’s damn near impossible to get in or out without some serious clearance.

I close my eyes, rubbing my temples. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“I’ll explain more once I know more,” he says, his voice clipped, back to being maddeningly cryptic. “Your friends made it out safely last night, by the way.”

I exhale, the tension easing a bit. That’s no small relief. At least Sasha and Natalia are safe. But this whole situation still has my nerves on edge.

After driving in tense silence for what feels like forever, I can’t take it anymore. “So, that’s it? You’re just going to stonewall me? What the hell was last night? Don’t tell me it’s nothing.”

“It’s nothing,” he says, his eyes on the road, voice flat. The nerve.

I sit up, my frustration bubbling over. “They were speaking Spanish, Grigori.Youwere speaking Spanish. Since when did you learn the language?”

He doesn’t answer, and that only pisses me off more.

“Look, even if this wasn’t about me, I still almost died. I have a right to know what’s going on.”

He clenches the steering wheel a little tighter, his eyes flicking to me for a brief second. “What right?”

His words hit me hard. My chest tightens with anger.

“Excuse me?” I spit, my voice rising as we get closer to the estate. “I deserve to know what’s happening when I’m getting shot at.”

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