Page 24 of Brutal Obsession

Guilt and uncertainty slice between my ribs.

Her chest lifts and falls, gentle and serene, like she’s at peace. She blows air between her lips, burbling like… Wait.Is she asleep?Harper’s head rolls from one side to the other. A little snore escapes when she inhales.

It takes every ounce of strength I have not to burst out laughing. First she faints, and now she’s asleep in my arms? I enjoy the ridiculousness of it for a few seconds more, before the humor dies a quick, sharp death.

Watching Harper sleeping, breathing…brings me back to that night in the hospital, after the last time my mother collapsed. The memory slams into me, and a giant clog forms in my throat. I try to swallow but can’t.

That’s the last time I ever saw my mother’s green eyes.

I’d do anything to never feel that helpless again.

The truck’s still idling, Harper’s out cold, and I’m probably giving off major criminal vibes. I pull the rest of her body into my arms, lean into the truck’s cab, and deposit her on the passenger seat before hopping behind the wheel. Three more trucks sit around the back of this house, so that’s where I plan to park this one.

The first thing I did after I lost sight of Harper in Waikiki was look up the restaurant where she worked.

That’s how I discovered Fukuoka Farms. After several minutes of googling the business and prowling around their social media feeds, I found what I needed—a photo of the company owners and a group of farmhands gathered around them, everyone happily holding fat, golden pineapples.

I spotted her unmistakable face on the far right. The captioned text beneath Harper’s image readElena Dane.

Called it. A new identity.

Harper used her middle name as her surname.

Once I found the farm, I drove straight here, thinking I’d break into the farm’s office and hunt for her job application that I figure they keep on file. That form would contain a local address.

When I arrived, it seemed like the family was headed out for the evening. I was just about to make my move when Harper wheeled this truck into the driveway and nearly killed us both.

The gearshift clunks into park, loud enough to wake Harper. My eyes snap to where her head reclines against the rest.

She doesn’t stir.

When I pull it open, the passenger-side door squeals. Harper mumbles something inaudible but doesn’t open her eyes. I gather her off the seat and into my arms once again.

I must look like a tool, walking down a back road at night, carrying an unconscious woman in my arms like the fucking princess she is. I just hope we can get back to my car without incident.

This would be ahorribletime for Enzo’s men to ambush me. That’s what I should be focused on, staying hyperalert and aware of our surroundings.

Instead, all I seem capable of focusing on is Harper.

The weight of her head thumping against my chest. The way the line of her shoulders bends perfectly into my arm. The cool underside of her knees, my fingers pressed into her soft skin, her jasmine scent tickling my nose.

She’s got my heart jumping, wondering if she’s going to wake up to me carrying her.

Would she struggle out of my grasp or let it happen, nestling deeper into me?

Just the thought of that springs my dick up. Is this what I’ve been reduced to? I’m so sex deprived that half a hug gets me going? Super glad Harper’s unconscious.

If the guys back home knew, they’d have a field day. I’d never hear the end of it.

Up ahead, the trunk of my rental car comes into view, its paint glinting in the light of a lonely half-dead streetlight. I wanted an Audi, but the best the place could do was a Porsche Macan in white, theworstof all car colors.

So conspicuous. Worse than red, in my opinion.

Tension between my shoulder blades makes my posture even more rigid as I approach the passenger-side door. I glimpse my reflection in the window.

I appear every bit as intense and dangerous as the sexual obsession I harbor for her. It’s absurd, I know. She’s the daughter of my boss. The one-time fiancée of my best friend.

Right now, she’s also a traitor and a disgrace to the family.

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