Page 108 of Love Without Control

“Yes, tomorrow. A full-body massage… My wife’s name is Eden Osbourne… Yes, that will be fine.” A scowl formed on his face, and he answered sharply. “No, a female provider… Okay then… She’ll be there after lunch.”

“You booked me a massage?” I asked when he hung up, trying not to laugh at his request for a female massage therapist.

“You’ll be sore tomorrow,” he explained, scooping me up like a bride. “I would do it myself, but we both know where it will lead if I get my hands on your body, and I wanted you to have a little pampering.”

“You’re too good to me,” I sighed, leaning my head against his shoulder as he carried me to the bed.

“I know, but you’ll just have to live with it.”

“Gladly,” I said when he tucked me into bed and crawled in beside me. “Forever.”

Chapter 35

FOURYEARSINHIDING

“No,” I said forcefully.

“Yes,” Eden replied with just as much fervor.

I walked over to where she was sitting on our couch with her phone in her hand and glared down at her. “You are not getting one of those facepage things.”

“It’s called Facebook, and yes I am.” She stood and propped her hands on her hips. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I can turn you over my fucking knee until you listen to me,” I shot back.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, Osbourne,” she said, poking me in the chest with her finger, and I fought the need to laugh. God, even when she was being infuriating, she was adorable. “I had a Facebook profile before.”

“That has nothing to do with our situation now. What if someone recognizes you?” I demanded, managing to keep my face stoic.

“They won’t because I’m not going to post any pictures of myself. I just want to be able to see my family.”

“I can put the surveillance team back on them and get videos of them for you,” I countered. We’d stopped having her family watched last year since Luca seemed to have lost his concern with the Bouviers.

“That’s dumb. This is totally free, and I can follow them on there. I’ve already talked to Robert about it.”

That got my attention. Robert, as our own personal computer guru, was well-versed in the social media craze. “And he said it was okay?” I asked, feeling myself softening to the idea.

“He did. He suggested that I not follow their personal accounts. I can follow the Bouvier business account though because I would just be one of millions.. Monty doesn’t seem to have a Facebook page, but Auburn does, and it’s not set to private, so I can see what he posts, even if I don’t send him a friend request.”

That all sounded like Greek to me, but I sighed and flopped onto the couch. “Show me.”

“Wow, your brother really gets around,” I said, watching as Eden flipped through picture after picture of Auburn and a never-ending line of beautiful women.

She giggled. “The ladies love Auburn. He’s quiet and a little broody, so they all think they can change him.”

“Looks like he’s working for your family’s company now since he graduated with his master’s degree,” I said when she flipped to a picture of Auburn sitting in an office with the city of New York as a backdrop. He was wearing a finely cut suit, and the Bouvier logo was visible on a side wall.

“And Monty’s not,” Eden replied sadly. “I can’t believe he’s decided to go into law enforcement. I’m sure it has something to do with my disappearance.”

I put my arm around her and pulled her close. Those fucking traffickers had altered so many lives, and I was struck with an idea.

“Would you like to find a nice charity to donate to? One that supports victims of human trafficking?”

She looked up at me with moony eyes and nodded. “I would. Thank you.”

I gave her a soft kiss and then watched as she looked up her college friends on the Facebook thing. Arya was in medical school in California, Holly was working on her master’s in criminal justice, the Papadopoulos twins were traveling in Europe after graduating, and Juliette McNamara…

“Oh my god, look!” Eden shrieked. “Juli is publishing her book!” She shoved the phone so close to my face, I saw double.

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