Page 40 of Obsession

I’m supposed to be working on a way to get him out of the picture, not out of prison.

“I can’t do that,” I blurt out.

John tilts his head in mock confusion. “You are a lawyer, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but Sam-” There are so many things I could say, reasons to give, but John waves his hand to silence me.

“Well, now you’re Sam’s lawyer.”

It feels like a rock is sinking to the bottom of my stomach. Normally, I can pitch a solution, find a way out of a bad situation. It’s been my superpower since I was a kid. But right now, my mind reels for an angle, a sliver of light I’m not seeing.

I can’t defend Sam for many reasons. The top one beingDamien will kill me.

“I can’t defend Sam Costello…” I trail off. “His fingerprints were found on the murder weapon. That’s hard evidence.”

“I guess you have your work cut out for you, then.” John brushes his hands over his thighs. “And if you need some extra motivation, Christopher and Tommy here will make sure you get the job done.”

I take a deep breath. “And if I can’t?”

John chuckles. “You should, Adrian. You really should...” He leans in again, leveling his face with mine. “Because if you don’t, Christopher and Tommy are going to pick you up again and bring you back here. Only, unlike today, it won’t be a chat we’re having. Next time, I’m going to bring my blade down here and take my time slicing off every inch of your skin. Just for fun.” He straightens with an elated smile stretching across his features. “Well then, I think that should be enough motivation for you, hmm?”

“Yeah,” I mutter. “That about does it.”

John stands, fastening the button at the center of his suit jacket. “Nice seeing ya, Adrian.” He pats my shoulder before walking past me and out of the warehouse.

Goon one, I’m not sure if it’s Christopher or Tommy, slips the bag back over my head while two sacks me with something heavy. They land a few more hits, the motivation coming in punches to my gut and head. I slip off to the thought of blood, lots of it dripping off my skinless body, while Madi watches in horror.

TWENTY-ONE

Madi

“You’re going to wear out the carpet,” Roman says gruffly, gesturing to the stretch of floor I’ve been pacing. If I’m not pacing, I’m sitting on the couch while my leg bounces furiously.

“What happened to the guy who was following me earlier?” I ask Roman. I know enough to know Roman is one of Sam’s men. So when he pushed me into a black sedan behind the van that kidnapped Adrian, I quickly realized that it was Sam who had taken my new husband. Maybe not my cousin himself, since he’s still locked up in Orleans Parish Prison, but someone on his orders.

Adrian’s loyalty lies with my side of the family, my mom and uncle Damien, so Sam kidnapping him means he’s trying to get him to switch sides. A dangerous game.

“Don’t worry about it,” Roman tells me. I’m assuming he’s dead, then, whoever he was. I didn’t get to learn his name, but I knew he was just a kid. A big, scary kid who probably spent a lot of time punching other kids, but still, he couldn’t have been much older than me.

“They’ll kill him, ya know?” I stop my pacing to face Roman.

“Not tonight,” he says.

“But eventually.” I don’t know why the idea bothers me. I should want my husband dead. Not that long ago, I was begging John to get me out of this fake marriage. There was nothing more I wanted than to not be married to Adrian Russo. And yet, the idea of Sam finally offing my husband only makes my stomach sink. He doesn’t deserve todie.

“Not if he does what he’s asked.”

“And what is he being asked?” My hands have landed on each of my hips as I stare down Roman.

He sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. “Listen, if I were you, Madi, I’d encourage him to do whatever Sam asks. It’s better for everyone in the long game.”

“And if he doesn’t? If I can’t get him to listen? Then what happens?”

“You’ll be safe,” Roman says. “Sam won’t do anything to hurt you.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

This must surprise Roman, his dark eyes lifting to assess me. After a moment, the corners of his lips tilt into a smile and he nods. “This is good.”

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