Page 53 of Hunted Obsession

Actual.

Fuck.

Starting my car, I head to the office. It doesn’t take me long to get there. I head upstairs to my office and bury myself in the Willow Club secret project. I think I have everything mapped out the way it’s supposed to be, and then I can put in my own devices as well and place those where I think they should go. Before I make anything permanent, I text the men and ask them into my office.

Everyone responds that they’re close by, except Vaughn. His text causes me to pause. I’m not sure I understand where he is and why he’s there.

VAUGHN: I’M AT THE STORE. BE BACK WHEN I CAN.

The store.

In the years that I’ve known Vaughn, the only time he’s ever gone to a store was when we were first starting and poor as fuck. As our business and bank accounts have grown, he has, without a doubt, participated in the luxuries that life has to offer, and grocery delivery along with online shopping has been his life.

COME TO MY OFFICE WHEN YOU’RE DONE… AT THE STORE.

In a few moments, my brothers are all standing around my desk, waiting for me to speak. Standing up straight, I push the plans into the middle of my desk and dip my chin toward them.

Merrick is the first one to reach for them. I watch as his gaze scans the paperwork. He dips his chin before his gaze lifts to meet mine. “You have everything where it needs to be seen and where it doesn’t.”

My lips twitch into a smirk. I was hoping he would say that. The rest of the men look at the plans, too, but none of them have anything to add except Boden. He reaches out, taking the paper in his hand, and I watch as he scans the document.

I can almost see the wheels inside of his head turning as he takes in everything, almost as if he’s drawing a mental picture of the rooms. “What about this door?” he asks. “Don’t you think we need eyes on it?”

Slowly, he lowers the paper down on my desk and extends his index finger, touching the spot that he’s talking about. Fucking shit, he’s right. Taking my pen, I mark the spot before I lift my gaze to meet his.

“Would have missed it. Thanks.”

He dips his chin, his gaze holding mine for a moment, and then he clears his throat and takes a step backward. The rest of the men agree that it looks good, and I let them know that I’ll be out of pocket for the next week getting it set up.

“When are you getting rid of that succubus?” Merrick asks.

I almost laugh because this man is in the same position as I am right now, except he married his. Arching a brow, I watch him for a moment, tilting my head to the side. Merrick runs his fingers through his hair.

“Mine wasn’t by choice. This was.”

Clearing my throat, I rock back on my heels as I shove my hands in my pockets. “She targeted me. She knew who I was. I didn’t know who she was. Which seems to be pretty similar to your situation, except I’m not married to her.”

Every man in the room winces, but Merrick doesn’t. He knows what he’s done and, without a doubt, is feeling the pain of the choices he’s made. I shouldn’t rub it in his face. Honestly, it could be any one of us. I mean, not me because I won’t be marrying Emmie, no matter what the fuck her father wants from me.

I’d kill them all before I let that… succubus is right... share my name. Sharing a bed is a different story, but I probably shouldn’t be doing that with Emmie anymore, either. It leaves a bunch of shit open that should not be options. Like marriage and kids. Which are definitely not things I have ever wanted with her.

“Difference?” Merrick begins. “I wanted Colette from the moment I laid eyes on her. I took her, and I’m not upset about the fact that she’s mine. I’m pissed at her fucking piece of shit father.”

“That is a difference,” I murmur. “Quite the difference.”

Inhaling a deep breath, I hold it for a moment, then let it out slowly. “That was a low blow,” I say.

He shrugs a shoulder. “It was, but it wasn’t wrong. What I did was a fuckup, even if I’m not mad about it. That’s what it was, and I still don’t know all of the ramifications of it all.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

THERON

Emmie is sittingon a chair in the corner of the room, watching me set everything up. She is acting as if she’s not paying attention, but I know she’s watching every move I make, which is making it really fucking hard to put my own cameras around the rooms, and she’s following me from place to place without a fucking break.

“Hey,” I call out, looking over my shoulder at her. She lifts her eyes from her phone and looks up at me. “Get me a bottle of water?”

She stands up quickly, and I watch as she walks out of the room. I don’t have much time, so I quickly place the cameras in position for my own personal use. I’m finishing the last one for this room when she opens the door and makes her way back inside.

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