Page 38 of Hunted Obsession

THERON

Slidingmy hand down the center of my white shirt, I take in my reflection for a moment. My hair is perfect, my suit on point, and at the same time, I wish I were going anywhere else. Closing my eyes for a moment, I take a few cleansing breaths.

“You good?” Hale asks through the small speaker in my ear.

“I’m good,” I murmur.

Turning away from the mirror, I head toward my front door and head toward my car. I have been looking forward to this for ten years, and now that the moment is here, now that I can finally get some closure, I’m not sure if I’m ready.

Although, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. This is a wound that has never closed properly. A wound that will not heal until Ravet is taken out. And he will be taken out. Tonight is the night.

When I pick up Emmie, I should be turned on at the sight of her. She’s beautiful. She is put together perfectly. Not a single hair is out of place. Then again, neither is mine. She kisses my cheek and holds my hand as I drive us to her father’s home.

To anyone from the outside looking in, she appears as though she’s my girlfriend. That we’re a couple in love. I try to be as affectionate as possible, but as each moment passes, I can feel the guilt consuming me, filling me—I feel like I’m cheating on Lucille.

“What’s wrong, baby?” Emmie asks.

With a grunt, I clear my throat, squeezing her hand as I pull into her father’s driveway.

“Nothing,” I murmur.

I turn my head to look at her, trying to appear as if I’m giving her all my attention. In reality, my mind is spinning a mile a minute.

Emmie leans over, and her lips touch the shell of my ear. “Baby, I want to fuck you right here,” she purrs.

“Here?” I ask. “In your dad’s driveway?”

She nips my earlobe before she leans back slightly. Her eyes find mine and hold them for a moment. “Right here,” she whispers again. “In my dad’s driveway. Doesn’t that sound exciting?”

If I wanted to fuck her, I could have her right here and now. But I don’t. Releasing her hand, I shake my head. “Not right now. Maybe the second time we meet,” I say.

She smiles as she sits back in her seat. Opening the driver’s door, I walk over to her side and help her out of her seat. I place my hand on the small of her back and take a few cleansing breaths as we walk up the steps to the front door.

The door opens before I can knock. There, in front of me, in the flesh, is Asher Grant. I’ve been looking at his picture and watching his office at the Willow Club with the other guys for weeks.

“Darling girl,” he calls out as Emmie steps away from me. I watch as she runs toward her father, and they embrace oneanother. Then his gaze slides over to mine. “You must be Theron. I’ve heard so many wonderful things.”

I’m sure he has, and they all have to do with my company and not me as a person. I don’t say that, though. If this were any other situation, I probably would. Smiling, I extend my hand. Emmie releases him and takes a step to the side. Asher lifts his hand, gripping mine in a strong shake.

“I’m Asher Grant,” he introduces himself.

What an absolute fuck.

Smiling, I bite the inside of my cheek as I shake his hand. “Theron Henderson,” I say.

He steps back and to the side, allowing us into the house. It’s exactly the way I would have guessed that his house would be. It’s ostentatious. Everything is completely over the fucking top.

I hate everything about this place.

And him.

And everything else about this night.

Asher guides us to the formal living room, where he offers us each a cocktail. I wish to hell that this was already done. This dinner is going to be excruciating. Thanking Asher for the whiskey, I take a drink and look around at the people in the room.

There’s Emmie’s brother, Charlie, who looks like a whole asshole. And then there is a man I recognize. I’m not sure from where, but I recognize him, and that doesn’t sit well with me.

He’s introduced to me as Victor Marlowe.

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